ANR Update

SAREP program review provides recommendations for new strategy

Recently, the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program completed a UC ANR five-year statewide program review in 2019. Vice President Humiston and I extend a thank you to the ad-hoc committee for their time commitment and thoroughness in examining the program and providing recommendations to UC ANR's Program Council. We greatly appreciate the time the UC SAREP program staff spent providing detailed information on all aspects of the program. Feedback submitted by UC SAREP partners and stakeholders during the review process is also appreciated.

We recognize the program has made significant accomplishments towards food systems goals that have led to greater health and well-being for Californians. The program has contributed to public values and condition changes such as: 

• promoting economic prosperity by developing new markets for farmers through the Farm to School program, agritourism and new specialty crops;
• improving food security by supporting urban gardening, food hubs networks and food policy councils; 
• developing an inclusive and equitable society, by helping to increase diversity, inclusiveness and cultural competency in California's workplaces by working with small-scale and immigrant farmers and providing trainings for extension professionals on uprooting racism; and
• protecting California's natural resources by assessing environmental risks, leading to policies for ensuring safe drinking-water standards for nitrates and mitigation targets for greenhouse gas reduction in crops.

The UC ANR five-year program review was coordinated with the timing of the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences review of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute. UC SAREP has been operating as a unit housed in ASI since a memorandum of understanding between UC Davis and UC ANR went into effect in 2007.

Recently announced changes to the MOU with UC Davis and the leadership of SAREP were not an outcome of the program review. However, in response to recommendations from Program Council and the ad hoc review committee, and as a result of the recent organizational change, SAREP will begin to develop a new strategic plan that addresses the program's original legislative mandate to support long-term research toward food systems and agriculture production. The strategic planning committee will be asked to consider the following recommendations as it develops the plan:

• Explore how to better meet the needs around agriculture production.
• Determine how to best engage colleagues around the state who are working in sustainable agriculture.
• Support existing work being done by UCCE by being a facilitator, translating research to useful products for clientele, and collaborating with academics on final extension products.
• Consider including rangelands as part of agricultural production and food systems.
• Clearly define sustainability for the program's mission and vision.
• Be a conduit between UC students and UCCE and the research and extension centers by providing job training and internships.
• Consider an affiliate program such as the UC IPM model, identifying advisors to be affiliates for five years.
• Consider a role as a hub/curator of sustainable agriculture information from across the UC ANR network. Increase collaboration in development of, production or distribution of how-to materials for practitioners.
• Consider developing a precise strategy to engage with UC ANR Program Teams and other UC ANR Statewide Programs and Institutes. Work with these groups to develop user-friendly, sustainable agriculture practitioner documents.
• Increase representation of UC ANR academics on SAREP's Academic Advisory Committee.
• Develop a communications strategy for disseminating and archiving information, with input from the UC ANR network. 
• Identify additional opportunities for partnerships across UC and beyond.
• Develop a fundraising plan working with UC ANR Development Services.

I look forward to working with UC SAREP as it pursues these and other opportunities that may arise. Best wishes for the ongoing success and growth of UC SAREP!

Sincerely,

Wendy Powers
Associate Vice President

 

UC ANR expanding role and reach of SAREP

I am pleased to announce that UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) will be welcoming the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP) back to being administered by UC ANR effective July 1, 2020. This change in management will enable closer collaboration between SAREP and the other statewide programs and institutes administered by UC ANR while also expanding our current affiliation with the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) to other campuses and partners.

Since 1986, SAREP has supported scientific research and education to advance agricultural and food systems that are economically viable, sustain beneficial ecosystem services, and enhance the quality of life in local communities. Moving forward, our farms and food systems face an ever-larger set of challenges: shifting consumer demands,invasive pests, climate change, additional regulations, lack of access to labor, and more. The need for new technologies, better systems and effective problem-solving is greater than ever.

UC ANR envisions positioning SAREP to serve as a much broader umbrella of sustainability, addressing all aspects of the triple-bottom-line: People, Planet and Prosperity. To accomplish this, SAREP will provide leadership and/or support to several promising initiatives and will facilitate our ability to capture synergies among them. Those include agritourism, ecosystem services, Climate Smart Agriculture, regional food systems, community and economic development and more.

Our sincere thanks go to UC Davis CAES and Dr. Tom Tomich, who has served as Director for SAREP for the past several years, for their leadership and support of the program since 2007. 

As part of the transition, the SAREP team will relocate to the UC ANR building at 2801 Second Street in Davis, California. The move is planned to be completed by July 1, although timing may be impacted by ongoing shelter-in-place orders.

I am also pleased to announce that Dr. Gail Feenstra, who has been serving as acting director since October 2019, has been appointed director of SAREP effective July 1, 2020. Please join me in welcoming SAREP into our UC ANR building and offering Gail and her team best wishes for the future success of the program.

Glenda Humiston
Vice President

Soule named Assistant Vice Provost for Cooperative Extension

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that Katherine Soule, Ph.D., will serve as ANR's new Assistant Vice Provost for Cooperative Extension. She will start her new duties on July 1, 2020, continue to serve as County Director for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and as UCCE youth, families and communities advisor. The role was previously held by Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty until she assumed the role of Statewide 4-H Youth Development Program director.

We are excited to have Katherine on the Cooperative Extension administrative team! She brings a breadth of Cooperative Extension experiences and leadership skills.

Katherine Soule obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, Athens in 2013. The same year, she became the youth, families and communities advisor for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. In 2017, she accepted an additional appointment at County Director for these counties. She was elected as UC ANR's Academic Assembly Council President (7/18 -6/20). 

Katherine is known for her innovative, collaborative, and strengths-based leadership. She cares deeply about improving lives and working environments for her unit, her community and ANR. 

"As the Assistant Vice Provost of Cooperative Extension, I look forward to supporting the development and successes of new and existing County Directors,” she said. “I hope to promote collaborative, cross-county communication, while focusing on identifying and meeting the needs of County Directors across the division. We are all most effective when we learn from and support one another, so I look forward to connecting with academics, County Directors, ANR Leadership, and other UC ANR personnel in this new role."

Please join me in wishing Katherine much success in her new role.

L. Mark Lagrimini
Vice Provost for Research and Extension

UC ANR COVID-19 Update: Telecommute extended to May 31, COVID-19 reporting

Revised date for UC ANR telecommute and limited on-site operations status

As you know, Governor Newsom's statewide stay-at-home order remains in effect with no defined end date. That said, there has been considerable statewide conversation regarding return-to-workplace timeline and protocols. The Governor has noted that there is no light switch for re-opening California, that decisions will be driven by evidence, and that even when reopened, we must modify how we conduct business.

I had previously asked that all UC ANR locations continue the telecommute and limited on-site operations protocols at least through May 3. Given that the Governor's order remains in effect, and that the state is still ramping up essential protocols to ensure public safety, such as testing and contact tracing, I am extending this date through May 31, unless we receive new information from the state.

I am also asking that all meetings/events/gatherings statewide be cancelled, postponed or conducted online at least through May 31, 2020. All volunteers and program participants should also continue remote protocols through the end of May.

While schools and day care across the state remain closed, it may be difficult for some to return to the workplace. The continuation of remote work is designed to assist with this situation. For those unable to work or work a typical work schedule while at home, I know that our supervisors will continue to be flexible and I want to remind everyone that COVID-19 Administrative Leave is available.

Each California county has different public safety protocols in place and return-to-work dates will likely be staggered. UCOP suggests that all locations follow the guidance of their local county health officials. Even in counties that seek to “reopen” ahead of May 31, 2020, UC ANR employees who can work remotely, should continue the telecommute and limit on-site operations protocols through the end of May or until we receive further direction from the Governor. 

Our Emergency Response Team is developing standardized safety protocols for reopening UC ANR worksites. These protocols are informed by state and local guidelines and will be distributed to all UC ANR locations in the near future. If your county determines that any UC ANR employees should be returning earlier than 5/31, your county director will ensure that science-based safety protocols are in place and followed. It is up to all of us to adhere to established protective practices. If you are asked to return prior to 5/31 and you are uncomfortable with this, please discuss the situation with your supervisor and/or HR.

I would like to thank you all for your continued flexibility and patience as this unprecedented situation unfolds. I know that everyone is eager to return to “normalcy,” but the safety and well-being of you and your families is of utmost importance. We are making every effort to thoughtfully chart the best course of action for reopening our UC ANR locations. 

Reporting of confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure

In a previous ANR Update, we provided information about the process for an employee or supervisor to report a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. This is to remind you of that process and also add a note about reporting potential exposure to another person who has a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Please understand that this is confidential medical information and we will protect the privacy of individuals, while taking the appropriate measures to protect the workplace and the community from exposure.

Employees are requested to report a positive COVID-19 diagnosis to Jodi Rosenbaum, UC ANR's disability and leave coordinator, and provide the employee name, primary work location, and any guidance provided by the local public health authority. If a supervisor receives a report from an employee, they should forward this information to Jodi. If you receive a medical note, please FAX it to 1-530-231-0103, a confidential FAX line. Additionally, if an ANR employee reports that they have been exposed to another person who has tested positive for coronavirus, the same reporting steps apply.

Jodi will provide the necessary information to members of UC ANR's Emergency Response Team (ERT). The ERT will determine what measures should be taken, potentially including coordination with the local Public Health department for contact tracing, temporarily closing, cleaning and disinfecting ANR facilities based on the infected person's recent movements, communication with potentially exposed individuals, and notification to the ANR community. The ERT will work with your local director and/or supervisors to implement any of these measures. Jodi will also continue to monitor the employee's status and eventual return to work.

Our number one goal with this process is to protect the health of our employees and program participants, while respecting each person's privacy. It is critically important to protect personal medical information, especially in this situation. In no circumstance should you reveal any personally identifiable information about the infected person except what is required to communicate with ANR Human Resources and other relevant authorities. 

Celebration Corner

UCCE Orange County repackaged hotline services hosted by Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver groups to assist people who are looking for gardening/food safety assistance during stay at home orders. To help residents find fresh food, they've been using social media and email to bring awareness to Farm Bureau farmers markets and other relevant pop-up businesses.

California Naturalist program is updating resources for instructors to support online delivery of the California Naturalist course and a new online training on community and citizen science. In addition, the program is transitioning its summer instructor training for the new Climate Stewards course to hybrid delivery and, if necessary, fully online delivery.

4-H youth and volunteers continue to sew masks all around the state. Here's a short video celebrating that effort.

Glenda Humiston 
Vice President

Employee comment sought on Native American cultural affiliation and repatriation policy

The University of California Office of the President invites comments on a proposed Presidential Policy on Native American Cultural Affiliation and Repatriation. The proposed policy substantively revises the existing Policy and Procedures on Curation and Repatriation of Human Remains and Cultural Items (“Current Policy”). The policy pertains to the treatment and repatriation of Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains and cultural items under the University's stewardship and the University's compliance with the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (“NAGPRA”), its accompanying regulations, and the California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (“CalNAGPRA”). 

California AB 2836 (enacted in 2018 and now incorporated into CalNAGPRA) requires the University to revise its Current Policy. In collaboration with the Cultural Affiliation and Repatriation Policy Advisory Workgroup (“Workgroup”)[1] established by Provost Michael Brown, UC developed Version 1 of this revised policy (“Policy Version 1”), which underwent systemwide review in August 2019. Policy Version 1 was also distributed to stakeholders across California for comment, including California Native American tribes on the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) contact list and the NAHC itself. With the Workgroup, UC drafted a second version of this revised policy (“Policy Version 2”) in response to the feedback from the Academic Senate, Native American tribes, and the NAHC. UC then engaged in further consultation with California Native American tribes by inviting them to attend four public work sessions on UC campuses (UC Berkeley, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Davis) in January and February 2020. In addition, UC representatives met with tribes one-on-one as requested to hear individual concerns. UC deliberated with the Workgroup to discuss concerns raised during the public work sessions, the one-on-one meetings, and letters sent by tribes and the NAHC. In conjunction with the Workgroup, UC drafted “Policy Version 3,” which is now being considered for systemwide review. Please visit http://ucal.us/nagpra for more details.

Below is a list of the significant changes present in Policy Version 3 from the Current Policy.

• Creates a list of principles that emphasize the repatriation of Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains as a fundamental objective and value of the University.
• Reconstitutes the Systemwide Committee and Campus Committees, if necessary, to include equal Native American representation.
• Shifts final approvals of repatriation to the campus from UCOP to reduce delays in repatriation; the Systemwide Committee and UCOP will provide an oversight role and hear appeals of campus decisions.
• Provides a detailed description of the Repatriation process via a Flowchart and Flowchart Narrative.
• Provides a detailed description of the Consultation process all campuses must use when engaging with Native American tribes.
• Requires campuses with NAGPRA/CalNAGPRA-eligible Cultural Items to appoint a Repatriation Coordinator to work with and assist Native American tribes to facilitate Repatriation.
• Incorporates a process for disposition of Culturally Unidentifiable Human Remains and Cultural Items to either federally recognized tribes or non-federally recognized tribes (including California Indian Tribes) via NAGPRA (43 C.F.R. §10.11) and/or CalNAGPRA (Ca H&SC §§8010-30). 
• Requires campuses create repatriation implementation plans including the following elements: invitations for consultation and proactive reevaluations of all previous determinations of culturally unidentifiable human remains or associated funerary objects; outreach to culturally affiliated tribes; outreach to controlling agencies to prompt and encourage their repatriation efforts; budgets; and timelines.
• Prohibits research, instruction, destructive analysis, and other manipulation without tribal approval requirements.
• Provides a more robust mechanism for tribes to appeal campus determinations.
• Provides a means for tribes to submit complaints about the consultation process or access.
• Provides direction for whistleblowers that would like to report noncompliance with this Policy.

[1] The Workgroup is comprised of four members nominated by the Academic Senate and four members nominated by the Native American Advisory Council, a body established by President Janet Napolitano to advise on a broad range of issues pertaining to Native Americans and Native Hawaiians at the University. 

The proposed policy is posted at https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Administration/Business_Operations/Controller/Administrative_Policies_-_Business_Contracts/Policy_and_administrative_handbooks/ANR_Administrative_Handbook/Recent_Updates/

If you have any questions or if you wish to comment, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu, no later than June 24, 2020. Please indicate “Native American Cultural Affiliation and Repatriation” in the subject line.

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