ANR Update

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.

UC ANR COVID-19 Update: End of year funds

End of year funds

UC ANR leadership has made the difficult decision that due to the current and projected financial demands on ANR resources related to the COVID-19 situation, all unspent FY 19/20 funds from ANR centrally allocated sources (across the entire Division) as of 6/30/20 will not be carried forward into FY 20/21. This action would apply to, but is not limited to, all program support funds for county-based CE Advisors and staff Community Education Specialists as well as campus-based and ANR CE Specialists, travel funds and professional development funds.

For example, many of you had reserved funds for travel late in the fiscal year and now have unused fund balances due to the curtailment of travel. Many professional organizations with previously scheduled state or national conferences in the May - August timeframe have either been cancelled for the year or further postponed, also leaving unused funds. 

While a difficult decision, this action is for the overall good of the ANR organization in dealing with the significant financial impacts of the COVID-19 situation in this fiscal year and continuing into FY 20/21.

Should you have questions about your situation, please contact Vice Provost Bell (Statewide Programs and Institutes) or Vice Provost Lagrimini (county operations or RECs).

Please stay safe while we work through this shelter-in-place time period.

Celebration corner

In just a week, 4-H Youth Development in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties organized, planned and began to market a virtual Computer Science Coding Program. Along with teaching coding, the program engages teens in leadership as they co-teach classes with 4-H program staff and volunteers. Within three days of accepting registrations, they had over 60 registrants from 10 California counties and two out-of-state participants.

UCCE in Sonoma County developed a Coronavirus Resources page for finding local produce and agricultural products, resources for ag business and employees, and opportunities to volunteer, as well as a Sonoma County Food Recovery Coalition page with opportunities to volunteer, donate and more.

The IGIS Team expanded their online office hours by quadrupling and lengthening the time slots and introducing dedicated office hour appointments for consultations in the statistical programming language R.

Glenda Humiston 
Vice President

UC ANR COVID-19 Update: Understand your COVID-19 leave options, inventory of IT assets, extending the academic advancement clock

Understand your COVID-19 leave options 

As members of the UC ANR community continue to be impacted by stay-at-home orders, school closures and health concerns due to COVID-19, it is of great importance that we remind employees of their options when it comes to paid leave and workplace flexibility. We are committed to providing our employees with a flexible, safe and healthy work environment while we continue to deliver extraordinary programming throughout California. We highly encourage all employees and supervisors to check in with each other regularly to reassess individual situations and discuss ongoing needs and expectations. To the extent possible, supervisors should be flexible about work schedules for employees with family care needs.

A number of leave options are available to UC ANR employees (both staff and academic) whose ability to work at full capacity is impacted by the COVID-19 situation:

• COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave – On March 16, President Napolitano issued an Executive Order outlining expanded paid administrative leave to address the extraordinary demands placed on UC employees due to impacts related to COVID-19 on themselves and their family members.
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) – Effective April 1, 2020, the FFCRA provides employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.
• Others – Eligible employees continue to have access to traditional options such as flexible work schedules and standard UC leave programs.

Human Resources is available to help employees and supervisors understand the leave options. The UC Office of the President has developed COVID-19 Related Leaves and Job Protections Guidance with detailed information. The leave options are complex, and there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Should you have further questions please feel free to visit the UC ANR Leave of Absence webpage or contact Jodi Rosenbaum at jrosenbaum@ucanr.edu. 

Inventory of IT assets 

Cyberattacks against many organizations are increasing. Although we have the necessary network safeguards in place, we still rely on you as an essential first line of defense against attackers. As part of this effort and to maintain IS-3 security standards at UC ANR, we are required to keep an inventory of all IT assets owned by ANR. The ANR IT asset inventory is a list of all computing and networking related devices owned and managed by ANR. These devices include computers (desktops, notebooks, servers), network devices (switches, routers, etc.), printers, appliances, etc. However, to simplify the asset inventory process, we created an online survey that is available for everyone on the UC ANR Portal main page.

This asset and data inventory will help us in multiple ways, including the following:

1) Provides a record of assets for accounting/tracking purposes. 
2) Provides information useful during technical support or in the event of loss/theft or procuring software licenses. 
3) Serves as an important piece of information for business continuity planning.

Curious about the IS-3 policy? Find more details at https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/7000543/BFB-IS-3.

By April 30, 2020, everyone must register ANR-owned devices currently in use. For any assistance or questions, please contact help@ucanr.edu.

Extending the academic advancement clock

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way in which each of us lives and works. We have a creative and talented team across the state that is able to pivot in response to disruptions. Implications of COVID-19 on one's academic program are program-specific and continue to evolve. UC policy allows an academic to request an extension of their academic advancement review due to implications caused by a natural disaster. The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a natural disaster. Consistent with actions taken by our campus partners, any UC ANR academic who feels an extension is necessary will, upon request, be automatically granted a 1-year extension if they are up for a merit, a promotion or a term review for review periods ending Sept 30, 2020, through September 30, 2022. Campus-based CE Specialists who are reviewed through their campus, should consult their campus regarding their merit and promotion process. For more details please see the announcement on the Academic HR website available here. 

Celebration corner

CalFresh Healthy Living, UC in Butte County is partnering with Enloe Medical Center and the “Stay Healthy at Home" campaign. UCCE donated over 1,000 herb seed packets for the medical center to mail out to patients/customers as an uplifting spring mailer that also included a link to the Butte Cluster Nutrition FaceBook page and an instructional video for planting the seeds.

Elaine Silver, Nutrition Educator with CalFresh Healthy Living, UC in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, was able to virtually deliver a cancelled in-person training with 12 managers of a San Francisco Childcare Organization without a glitch.

4-H in San Benito County started a project to share messages of kindness with emergency workers and people who may be feeling sick or lonely. Watch the video at https://vimeo.com/406316032.

Glenda Humiston 
Vice President

 

 

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