UCLA research center announces initiative for autism spectrum disorder

UCLA’s Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities recently announced the establishment of a national research initiative for people with autism spectrum disorder. The Autism Spectrum Disorder Health Care Transitions Research Network will research the health, family and social needs of adolescents, a group the center says is typically overlooked by most health care and […]

UCLA professor creates nonprofit to help children cope with cancer

On Aug. 5, 2011, doctors told Justin Wilford, a UCLA geography lecturer, what no parent wants to hear­­­. His 4-year-old son, Max, had brain cancer. About two months later, Wilford and his wife, Audra Wilford, founded the MaxLove Project, a nonprofit organization that helps children fighting cancer and other life-threatening conditions. The idea for the […]

Spanish and Portuguese classes to receive new curriculum

Students enrolled in Spanish and Portuguese language classes will meet just two days a week starting in the fall, despite some concerns from teaching assistants in the department. Currently, Spanish 1-3 classes meet five days a week, while Spanish 4-5 and Portuguese classes meet four days a week. When class days are reduced in fall, […]

Modified English major requirements drew diverse reactions

UCLA English students who took courses on Milton, Shakespeare or Chaucer saw a significant shift in class sizes in recent years, with classes decreasing from more than 100 students to barely 50 students. The decrease is a result of a series of changes to the English major that took effect in 2011, replacing requirements to […]

UCRP seeks to remain solvent after poor returns

The University of California Retirement Plan continues to try to maintain solvency as it struggles to pay down billions of dollars in unfunded liabilities as a result of its poor investment returns over the past five years. A defined benefits program, the UCRP guarantees its employees a certain percentage of their income upon retirement, and […]

UC reassesses investment decisions for retirement plans

The holdings of the University of California Retirement Plan span the global economy, including Indonesian government bonds, stakes in the Kazakhstani state oil and gas firm and holdings with the American mortgage giant Fannie Mae. But political turmoil abroad or other major global events can disrupt the typical investment policy of the UCRP, a $45 […]