getting started

introduction

Want to know where to cash a check on campus? Or find specialized audiovisual equipment for a class? Or buy postage stamps?

To whom should you speak about holding a conference, hiring a photographer or getting an advance on travel expenses?

Interested in joining a faculty club or in opportunities to teach abroad?

This is the publication that will answer questions such as these. As its name implies, the UCLA Faculty Handbook and Resource Guide is designed as a reference guide to the services and facilities available to academic employees of UCLA and where to find them. You will also get a sense of the organization of the University (Section II) and read about key policies governing faculty duties and responsibilities (Section III). New faculty will find the information especially useful to ease their transition to campus and even seasoned faculty members may discover some helpful resources they were not aware of.

If you are new on campus, this chapter titled "Getting Started" will help you do just that. It summarizes available resources for such necessities as housing, parking, computers and textbooks; in most cases, you will find referrals to more complete information to be found in subsequent chapters. A detailed index will help you to quickly locate exactly what you need.

The information in this Faculty Guide is as current as possible as of Fall 2002 but on a dynamic campus such as UCLA change is a constant. Campus locations are particularly subject to change, so initial phone contact is suggested.

The Faculty Handbook & Resource Guide is also available on the Academic Personnel web page at  http://www.apo.ucla.edu or by direct access at http://www.apo.ucla.edu/facultyhandbook.
 

getting started

GETTING STARTED ACADEMICALLY

Ordering Textbooks
Ordering class textbooks is done approximately eight weeks before the beginning of the quarter through an online textbook requisition to the UCLA Store at http://www.uclastore.ucla.edu. A password is required. Contact your departmental textbook coordinator. To find out about courtesy discounts and the textbook guarantee policy, call (310) 206-0775. For other information see Section IV.

Applying for Contracts and Grants
The Office of Contract and Grant Administration, (310) 794-0102, is responsible for the submission of proposals, acceptance of grants and negotiation of contracts for extramurally funded research, training and public service programs. See Section IV.

Instructional Support
The Office of Instructional Development, (310) 825-9149, offers a variety of programs, services, emerging technologies and multimedia labs to enhance teaching and learning. See Section IV for a complete listing.

Academic Senate Research Grants: See Section III.

Library Services
The UCLA Library system, (310) 825-1201, consisting of the Charles E. Young Research Library, the College Library and seven subject libraries, contains more than 7.6 million volumes and more than 90,000 current serial publications in support of the research and instructional missions of the University.  Information on collections and services can be accessed through the Library's website.  See Section IV.

Computing Services
Academic Technology Services, (310) 825-6635, formerly Office of Academic Computing, provides information technology to support UCLA's research and instruction. Administrative Information Systems, (310) 206-2268, develops and maintains core administrative applications such as student records, payroll and financial systems. For more information on campus computing services, see Section IV.

HOUSING

UCLA offers a wide range of housing services for the UCLA community. UCLA is committed to helping its faculty find convenient and affordable housing by offering buyer-assistance programs and rental-housing services.

Buyer Assistance
For information about purchasing a home, through UCLA or the open market, contact the UCLA Real Estate Office at (310) 794-2649. The Real Estate Office can provide consultation, assistance with mortgage programs and information about relocation. 10920 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 810.

University Owned Apartments
UCLA Faculty Housing is comprised of three apartment complexes with a total of 151 units. The units are unfurnished and include a stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, air-conditioning and parking. UCLA also owns and rents a limited number of condominium units located in Westwood Village and on the Miracle Mile. Call the Housing Office for more information. 270 De Neve Drive, http://www.housing.ucla.edu/, (310) 794-8600.

Community Housing
If you are seeking off-campus housing, the best way to begin your search is to visit the UCLA Community Housing Office on the east patio of Sproul Hall.  Housing Assistants are available to help you find privately-owned houses, apartments and rooms available for rent. Faculty members can access the vacant listings in person or online at http://www.cho.ucla.edu by obtaining a Community Housing Office Membership for a $25.00 annual fee. The Office also has extensive information on average rental rates, neighborhood profiles, search strategies, hotel/motel lists, furniture rentals, maps and transportation. Prospective faculty members are invited to call (310) 825-4491, visit the office at 350 De Neve Drive, or email at cho@ha.ucla.edu.

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

Carpools and Vanpools
All employees are encouraged to carpool to work, ride a UCLA Vanpool or use public transportation. Parking Services offers special discounted parking permits and other privileges to those who participate in carpools and vanpools. Call the campus Commuter Assistance-Ridesharing Office (CAR) at (310) 794-RIDE and ask for your free RideGuide. The RideGuide provides helpful information for forming carpools and is the easiest way to learn about the major ridesharing options that can work for you. Request your RideGuide online at http://www.transportation.ucla.edu.

Parking
All employees must obtain applications for parking permits through their departmental parking coordinator. Regular-Rank Faculty may pay their parking fees by automatic payroll deduction. Free parking is available on campus for a motorcycles, scooters and bicycles.

On-Campus Transportation
To get from one part of campus to another, the Campus Express and Ackerman Express shuttle services run every 10-15 minutes free of charge. They transport employees and students between specific shuttle stops ranging from Macgowan Hall in North Campus to Lot 32 adjacent to Wilshire Boulevard. Call Fleet & Transit Services at (310) 206-2908 for more information and the latest shuttle map.  The shuttle map is also available online at http://www.transportation.ucla.edu.

For safe and convenient means of transportation around campus at night, consider using the Evening Van or Evening Escort Service, which is operated in conjunction with the UCLA CSOs (Community Service Officers).  The Evening Van service is free to employees and students and runs between campus buildings, on-campus housing and nearby residential areas. Call (310) 825-9800 for van service.   For extra safety walking around campus at night, please use the CSOs Evening Escort Service. Escorts will accompany you anywhere within the UCLA Community and are available from dusk until 1:00 a.m. seven days a week, including holidays. Call (310) 794-WALK for escort service.  More information about both services are available online at http://www.ucpd.ucla.edu.

Vehicle Rentals
Fleet & Transit Services owns, maintains and rents out a wide range of cars, trucks and vans for University use. Employees who need to rent a vehicle for a day or longer should call (310) 825-2963.

Bus Service
Five public bus companies offer 23 lines which service the UCLA campus from virtually any Southern California community. Call the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) at (800) COMMUTE; Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines at (310) 451-5444; Culver City Municipal Bus Lines at (310) 253-6500; Santa Clarita Transit at (661) 294-1BUS; and L.A.D.O.T. (City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation) Commuter Express at (310) 808-2273.  

The BruinGo! Transit Pass Pilot Program
BruinGo! gives UCLA employees (and students) with a valid BruinCard unlimited access to any Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines). The fare is pre-paid by UCLA Transportation Services, which is sponsoring the program during the current academic year. The program, now in its third year, will be in effect from September 16, 2002 through June 13, 2003. For more information and Big Blue Bus routes, visit http://transportation.ucla.edu/bruingo.

BANKING SERVICES

The University Credit Union provides a full range of low-cost financial services to its members, including savings, checking, investments and consumer, auto and home loans. Call (310) 477-6628 for more information or go online at http://www.ucu.org.

There are also several automated teller machines (ATMs) located throughout campus, which are run either by the credit union to access credit union accounts, or by ASUCLA to access commercial bank accounts. For a complete listing of on-campus ATM locations and details on University Credit Union services, see Section VI.

CHILD CARE SERVICES

UCLA Child Care Services operates three programs. The two on-campus centers, the Fernald Center and the Bellagio Center, both enroll children ages two months to five years. The third center, University Village Center is located in the University Village Family Student Housing Complex at 3233 Sepulveda Blvd. This center accommodates children two months to six years and includes a full-day developmental kindergarten. For alternative child care services off campus, contact the Outreach Program at (310) 825-8474. For fees and other information regarding these programs, visit the Child Care Services' website at http://www.childcare.ucla.edu or call (310) 825-5086.
 

BRUINCARD

BruinCard is a multi-purpose card available to UCLA students, faculty and staff that serves as the official UCLA identification card and is used for student registration, library services, recreation and building access, a BruinGo pass for the Big Blue Bus and much more.  Purchases can be made using the debit feature of the card, which is accepted at all on-campus stores and restaurants as well as at 20 merchant locations in Westwood Village.  Deposits to a BruinCard account can easily be made through a payroll deduction or via the BruinCard Web Center online.  All faculty and staff are encouraged to get a card at one of three BruinCard Centers: 123 Kerckhoff Hall, 150A Sproul Hall, or 107 Wilshire Center (B8-153 NPI for Medical Center employees).  For more information on deposits, account information or to report a card lost or stolen, visit the BruinCard Web Center online at http:/www.bruincard.ucla.edu.  Administrative office: 123 Kerckhoff Hall, (310) 825-2336.

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