Never mind who wrote the letter, TAPS or Transportation Services, the bottom line is the same: The cost of long-term monthly permit parking will remain unchanged for 2015-16.

The July 1 parking update letter starts with the announcement that Transportation and Parking Services has changed its name to Transportation Services to reflect the unit’s recent expansion to take in a broader range of services that support the campus’s transportation programs.

The website remains the same, taps.ucdavis.edu, and Cliff Contreras, the unit’s director, said he fully expects people will continue to use the TAPS acronym — and that’s fine by him.

Still, in his parking update letter, he encouraged people to visit the TAPS website to learn more about the unit’s expanded services, which now include road and path construction and maintenance; heavy-equipment rentals, leases and maintenance; and sign production and installation.

The road construction and heavy-equipment components formerly comprised Civil and Industrial Services, which was a unit of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. The sign shop was part of Facilities Management.

TAPS continues to run campus parking and the Bicycle Program, as well as the goClub. The club promotes commuting by carpool and vanpool; bike, bus and train; and walking — all forms of what TAPS now calls "preferred transportation" as opposed to alternative transportation.

“Transportation Services continues to implement multiple strategies to reduce costs and create efficiencies within its operations,” Contreras wrote in his parking update letter. “As a result, I am pleased to announce that for fiscal year 2015-16, there will be no increases to the long-term monthly permit rates.”

The letter states TAPS will continue to offer lower-cost L parking permit options to eligible faculty, staff and students, and notes that the recent establishment of a new L permit area along Garrod Drive west of Highway 113.

'Very successful turnout': 298 pints of blood

BloodSource took care of its donors on two very hot days last week and the donors took care of BloodSource — providing nearly 300 pints of blood.

The organizers provided plenty of shade and water, and got people into the air-conditioned bloodmobiles as quickly as possible. “Donor wait times were minimal and we had a very successful turnout,” said Felicia Roper of BloodSource, which works with the Community Service Resource Center in putting on campus blood drives.

Roper reported a total registration count of 397, including 80 first-time donors. The blood collection totaled 298 pints (not everyone who registers can complete the process, for a variety of reasons). Eight people donated platelets.

"Thank you all so much for all of your support of the blood drive," Roper said by email.

BloodSource will return for a second summer blood draw, Wednesday-Thursday, Aug. 26-27.

Pitzer Center progress report

Check out a progress report on construction of the  Ann E. Pitzer classroom and recital hall.

The July 6 update from the music department’s Phil Dailey includes photos and a link to a “fantastic time lapse” of the walls being set.

Dailey also included an update on the music department’s 9-foot Steinway piano, which has been sent away for a complete renovation and “will go directly into the Pitzer Center when it is finished.”

Software alert: Windows Server 2003

Information and Educational Technology issued a reminder about Microsoft’s Windows Server 2003 software: Microsoft is ending its regular support for this software effective July 14.

“By far, the best response is to replace it with new software,” according to IET, which estimates the software is still in use in 275 campus machines, mostly servers.

A TechNews article states: “But anyone on campus who absolutely positively can’t stop using Windows Server 2003 by July 14 has a new short-term option. If they pay $1,500 per server and meet certain conditions, they can buy limited, extended support from Microsoft for one year. Microsoft says it will charge $6,000 next year.”

Software without manufacturer support is too insecure to use on machines that connect to the campus network, as per UC Davis policy.

Windows Server 2003 machines, usually overseen by administrators and technologists, typically support research and run equipment or applications.

Read the complete TechNews article.