Posts Tagged: Program Support Unit

Program Support restructured to meet growing event demands

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to let you know about some new and exciting changes within UC ANR's Program Support Unit. 

The PSU team is integral to UC ANR's mission delivery and is a highly sought-after service partner. As the UC ANR organization has grown, so too has the demand for assistance with both in-person and virtual events, conferences, meetings, symposia, tours, trainings, etc. To ensure that this unit is optimally resourced and structured to support growing demands, we engaged a consultant to undertake a full organizational review including a benchmarking study of events management teams across the UC system. Based on those findings and recommendations, PSU will be restructured so that it is aligned to better serve UC ANR's diverse needs. The unit will now be divided into two sub-units: 1) External & Executive Events, and 2) Internal Research, Extension & Programmatic Events. Each sub-unit will be led by a separate director. This new structure will go into effect Jan. 22, 2024. 

I am very pleased to announce that Sherry Cooper will be the director of the External & Executive Events sub-unit. This function will focus on managing all high-profile external and executive events, including those generated directly through UC ANR's Vice President's office, those involving elected officials, UC Regents, the President's Advisory Commission on ANR, the UC ANR Governing Council, foundations, the Rosenburg Forum and other external affairs. This new role will also allow Sherry to apply her extensive experience and knowledge across the system on a variety of strategic projects.   

Given Sherry's transition into this new role, we will begin a search later this month for a new director to lead the Research, Extension & Programmatic Events function. The rest of the PSU team will be aligned under this sub-unit and will continue to focus on events that are requested by UC ANR administrative offices, statewide programs or institutes, RECs, county offices, UCCE personnel, etc.   

Although Sherry will undoubtedly have a full plate in her new role, she will continue to be part of PSU and will remain a valuable resource to the team as questions arise. PSU will continue to report to me. 

UC ANR is very fortunate to have an outstanding Program Support Unit and I have no doubt that during this transition, the entire team will continue to provide the same exceptional customer service and support for which they are known. Please continue to send all meeting/event requests using PSU's online form: https://ucanr.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0qY3nrex7360RWS and you may continue to communicate with the existing PSU mailbox: ANRProgramSupport@ucanr.edu. 

Please reach out to me if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Kathy Eftekhari, Ph.D.                               
Chief of Staff to the Vice President

 

New phone numbers for staff in ANR building in Davis

Everyone who moved into the new ANR building located at 2801 Second Street in Davis has a new phone number. Before calling them, please check the ANR directory for their new phone numbers. Email addresses remain unchanged.

The following units have relocated to the new building:

• 4-H Foundation
• 4-H Youth Development Program
• Academic Personnel Unit
• Business Operations Center
• Communication Services and Information Technology
• Contracts and Grants
• Development Services
• Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)
• Facilities Planning and Management
• Risk & Safety Services
• Integrated Pest Management Program
• Master Gardener Program
• Program Planning and Evaluation Unit
• Program Support Unit
• Research and Extension Center Administrative Office
• Staff Personnel Unit
• Western IPM Center
• Youth, Families and Communities Administrative Office

If you haven’t been in the new building, Steve Heindl gives a virtual tour of the transition from roller skating rink to LEED-certified offices at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ht47V3GZEY&feature=youtu.be.

 

View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.

This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.

Administrative reorganization saves ANR $1.3 million

A year ago, Vice President Dooley made a series of announcements outlining action steps needed to address both unprecedented budget cuts totaling over $9 million in permanent reductions and unfunded liabilities while also realigning ANR administrative units and procedures to efficiently support the UC ANR Strategic Vision and to implement its initiatives.

As a significant part of our response to these challenges, a major effort was launched to maximize administrative efficiency, eliminate duplication, and redirect resources to program support. While minor adjustments are still possible, the major elements of this restructuring are in place and fully operational. Moreover, the actions taken have resulted in substantial savings across ANR.

Maximizing Efficiencies:

Steps taken included:

• Closing two executive offices in Oakland ANR
• Closing the North Coast and Mountain, Central Valley, and Central Coast and South regional offices

The closing of the three regional offices accounted for over 34 administrative FTE and over $2.8 million salary and related expenses. Oakland ANR office closings and other actions generated an additional $400,000.

Redistribution and Streamlining:

To streamline administrative support to our roughly 400 academics and program representatives and to consolidate operations across ANR, we redirected these resources along with those from support units and statewide programs to create three centralized support units:

• The Business Operations Center at Kearney for county needs
• The Business Operations Center at Davis for support units and statewide programs
• The Program Support Unit for support of all phases of ANR program delivery.

Total savings from the administrative reorganization is just under $1.3 million. ANR business, personnel, and program support activities and workflow are being handled. Also, we benefit from the fact that coverage and business controls requirements are met.

These changes have not been without other costs as well. Many staff have been affected by closures or restructuring. Virtually all staff have adapted to new realities and accepted new responsibilities. The result is that we are now structured to more efficiently conduct the business of ANR and more effectively support our research and extension mission.

View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group

This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.

ANR Update, March 9, 2010

These announcements are also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.

County directors to discuss fundraising

Don Klingborg will be holding conference calls with the county directors to discuss fundraising in the counties. During the calls on March 19 and 24, Klingborg will ask the CDs for their opinions about whether we should pursue fundraising at the local level and, if so, what are the potential roles and approaches that should be standardized?

Business Operations Centers

Two ANR Business Operations Centers have been established, one in Davis and one at the Kearney Research & Extension Center in Parlier.

Nikki Humphreys is the lead for the Business Operations Center-Davis (BOC-Davis).  The unit is charged with the responsibility to provide administrative services to Davis-based ANR service units & statewide programs.

Cherie McDougald is the lead for the Business Operations Center—Kearney (BOC-Kearney).  This unit is charged with the responsibility for providing administrative services to county-based Cooperative Extension offices throughout the state.

Some of the major functions of the Business Operations Centers include:

• Contracts & Grants (budget review, new account set up and notice, cost-share/effort reporting)
• Payroll (time & leave reporting for academic and staff employees)
• Payroll/Personnel System (personnel action entries for academic and staff employees)
• Gift acceptance
• Purchasing
• Accounts payable
• Bank accounts
• Direct charges
• Travel and entertainment

Joining Humphreys in the BOC-Davis unit will be Marianne Goetze from the REC A/O and Laura Hernandez from IPM, both transferring from their respective units effective April 1. Jeri Hansen from Communication Services and Information Technology (CSIT) will follow on May 1. The Administrative Review Council (ARC) will continue discussing the design and make-up of this unit at its March 16 meeting.

The BOC-Kearney unit is currently staffed by McDougald, Kathy Montanez, Kennieth Nasalroad, Diane Chadwick, Lorraine Holm, Nora Rodriguez, Cathy Edwards, and Joyce Hatanaka, all formerly with the Central Valley Regional Office. Currently, the BOC-Kearney provides services to advisors and staff from the Central Valley and North Coast & Mountain regions. In April, they will begin phasing in services to the Central Coast & Southern Region CE advisors and staff. The BOC-Kearney is now recruiting to fill one payroll services assistant position and three financial services assistant positions as part of the approved staffing plan.

Program Support Unit

The new Program Support Unit is up and running under the leadership of Joni Rippee. While the entire scope of responsibilities for the ANR Program Support Unit is still in development, the major responsibilities have been identified as follows:

• Support for regional/statewide workshops/conferences/symposia—Provide logistical support in terms of planning, coordination, meeting arrangements, business and contract management associated with the meeting, catering, A/V, other hotel agreements, etc.
• Support for ANR initiatives—Work with initiative leaders to plan, coordinate and conduct meetings of initiative panels, advisory group, etc., to facilitate the development and implementation of programs.
• Support for ANR advocacy efforts—Work with advocacy leaders to plan, coordinate and conduct meetings to facilitate the development and implementation of advocacy goals.
• Support for internal ANR competitive grants programs—Assist appropriate leaders in developing requests for proposals, coordination of review panels, compilation of funding decisions, and interfacing with Business Operations Centers to communicate funding decisions.

Working with Rippee are Sherry Cooper, who was formerly based at UCCE Shasta County and joined the Program Support Unit on January 1, Heidi O’Guinn from the REC AO, and Melanie Caruso from IPM who both joined March 1. The Program Support Unit is directed by Bill Frost.

View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group

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