Davis Faculty Association

by Myrna Hays

It was with mixed feelings that I announced to DFA Chair Ian  Kennedy my decision to retire from my job as Executive Director. I  began working for the DFA in December, 1979; that is a long time! I  have enjoyed my work and have tried over the years to serve faculty  interests as well as possible. Many of you served in leadership  positions during my years with the DFA. So I will miss working with  all of you. It has been a wonderful journey from which I learned a lot and enjoyed many new experiences.  On the other hand, I am pleased that the DFA board has selected an excellent replacement for me: Eric Hays. He has  actually been serving the DFA in an informal way ever since he was a teenager when he persuaded me to invest in a computer and taught  me to use word processing; he has been my computer geek ever since.  It is time for the DFA to have new energy and his youth will help  to provide that while his experience of hearing DFA issues discussed around the dinner table for all these years will help to  maintain the long term memory of the organization. Eric has been working also with the CUCFA Vice President of External Relations  and the nexus of the two roles will serve both entities well. So I  hope that you will welcome him into the organization and bid me  farewell. It is time for me to move on to other activities such as  enjoying quilting and spending time traveling and playing with my  grandchildren. Thanks for all the support you all have given me over the years!

by Ian Kennedy

To the DFA membership:

After 29 years of dedicated service to the Davis Faculty Association, Myrna Hays has announced her retirement from the position of  Executive Director. During those years, Myrna has given her time  selflessly to the development, promotion and management of the DFA.  Without her efforts, the DFA would not today be one of the strongest  Faculty Associations in the UC system. We all, and I as Chair in particular, owe her a great deal of gratitude for her service. I have  enjoyed working with her greatly over the past few years – many times  I have relied on her memory of the DFA history and her insight into  the workings of the academic enterprise. I will miss her very much.  We are fortunate that Eric Hays (her son) will assume the role of  Executive Director, providing us with continuity. Eric has been working on behalf of the Council of UC Faculty Associations in the State Legislature and brings to the DFA an excellent background in areas related to the political fortunes of UC. I welcome him to his  new role and look forward to working with him.

The University of California, Davis, has an active “Work Life” program that helps faculty to balance their professional responsibilities with their personal responsibilities. Faculty can familiarize themselves with the benefits that are available in two locations: the Academic Personnel Manuel (APM) under sections 220-10, 16c, 16d, 18b, and Appendix B; and the Work Life website at http://academicpersonnel.ucdavis.edu/worklife/. That site also lists Work Life faculty advisors/mentors who can help interested faculty locate the information and resources they need. The benefits include leave for birth and/or adoption, reduced service in the subsequent period, time off the tenure clock, post-tenure deferrals and the potential to negotiate a part-time position. However, it is not clear whether all faculty who would like to take advantage of these benefits know about them or feel free to ask their department chairs to use these benefits. Moreover, alternative or additional resources may be needed. The Davis Faculty Association represents one source of information and advocacy for individual faculty surrounding these important issues. Let us know your thoughts.