A revised version of UC policy APM – 015 (The Faculty Code of Conduct) and APM - 016 (University Policy on Faculty Conduct and the Administration of Discipline) will become effective on July 1, 2017.  Changes in policy include improving prevention of and response to sexual violence and sexual harassment. Academics should read the revised policy sections posted at http://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/academic-personnel-policy/policy-issuances-and-guidelines/revised-apm-015-and-016.html.

In her issuance letter, Aimee Dorr, UC provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, provides background and summarizes the policy changes. See http://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/academic-personnel-policy/policy-issuances-and-guidelines/revised-apm-015-and-016.html.

Marked up copies showing edits to the policy language are available at http://ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/academic-personnel-policy/policies-under-review/apm-015-016.html.

The following editorial, recently published in the Marysville Appeal-Democrat, focuses on funding challenges that face the Future Farmers of America. Similar issues confront UC ANR programs and stakeholders, however, particularly the topic of education in rural areas of the state. We've reprinted the editorial in its entirety and have highlighted in bold key sections that may apply to UC ANR.

Our View: Long term funding solution for FFA could be an opportunity

Posted in Marysville Appeal-Democrat: Opinion

Posted: Monday, May 22, 2017 10:17 pm

You know that story we printed earlier this week about how state funding for career technical education, which includes the Future Farmers of America programs and other vocational programs, was in jeopardy?

Never mind.

Wait, on second thought, go ahead and mind. Because no one knows what exactly will happen over the long term.

Gov. Jerry Brown, in his latest state budget proposal, had taken $15 million a year from the Department of Education — funding designated for vocational programs — and routed it to the community college system. We went through a similar situation a couple of years ago, and, just like then, you could feel — out here in the countryside — the swelling of reaction and support for FFA.

Word then was received that the governor thought better of the idea and left the funding alone for at least this year.

Assemblyman James Gallagher's office forwarded an email to us Monday from Secretary Karen Ross of the California Department of Food and Agriculture: "This week I have heard from many of you about the status of the $15.4 million allocated at the state level for career technical education and the FFA program. Please be assured, Governor Brown remains committed to ongoing funding for these programs funded through the California Department of Education."

She says Brown is committed for this year and beyond.

We're not totally sure.

Gallagher's office also forwarded a letter signed by him, our state Sen. Jim Nielsen and state Sen. Ted Gains (1st District) concerning plans by the Department of Education to not fill the vacancy for the regional supervisor position for the FFA of this region. That position, according to their letter, oversees more than 9,500 FFA students and is vital for organizing FFA events and programs.

We're just disappointed a program so important to any area dependent on agriculture and other vocational trades would be shortchanged at all. The sums are paltry when considering the tens of billions of dollars agriculture brings to the state economy along with the hundreds of thousands of jobs in production agriculture and value added processing.

We can see how a bunch of legislators and officials from California's huge metropolitan areas would misjudge the importance of the FFA program. They need to get a better handle on the importance of the program. And we need to make their education a top goal, because it doesn't stop at funding for vocational education out in California's rural areas ... it's all sorts of misunderstandings and miscalculation about what makes an ag economy work. [Emphasis ours.]

We heard some other legislators were working on a bill to reinstate that funding Brown previously considered pulling. We'd like to see our legislators team up with others across the state and find a permanent solution to this funding issue so it doesn't continue popping up every few years.

And in the process, they might be able to inform urban lawmakers and officials about life out in the sticks. [Emphasis ours.]

Appealdemocrat.com

Originally published at http://www.appeal-democrat.com/opinion/our-view-long-term-funding-solution-for-ffa-could-be/article_3f349a48-3f77-11e7-ae85-6fe9d389d2b3.html.

AVP Wendy Powers announced the letters of intent (LOIs) for which principal investigators have been invited to submit full proposals to ANR's Competitive Grants Program and High-Risk/High-Reward Grants Program. The list of 51 approved projects can be found at http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/261626.pdf.

This year ANR received a total of 108 letters of intent — 97 for the Competitive Grants Program and 11 for the High-Risk/High-Reward Grants Program. Strategic Initiative leaders and their respective panels reviewed all letters of intent thoroughly to address the appropriateness of the proposals in addressing the goals and criteria outlined by each funding opportunity.

ANR Competitive Grants Program

The purpose of the ANR competitive grants program is to address high-priority issue areas identified by at least one of the strategic initiatives: Endemic and Invasive Pests and Diseases (EIPD), Healthy Families and Communities (HFC), Sustainable Food Systems (SFS), Sustainable Natural Ecosystems (SNE), and Water Quality, Quantity and Security (Water).

ANR Competitive Grants Program 2017 Cycle:

• Full proposals due June 19
• Technical peer review: mid-June – early September 2017
• Strategic Initiative review and recommendations: end of September 2017
• Program Council review and recommendations: October/November 2017
• Announcement of funded grants: November/December 2017

High-Risk/High-Reward Grants Program

Given the complexity of societal problems, high-risk research is necessary to achieve gains for real progress in addressing present and emerging challenges. This program will provide funds to initiate and complete research and proof-of-concept efforts that serve as the basis for larger funding opportunities. These projects must be of a high-risk/high-reward nature that are best conducted in a controlled, research setting and, if successful, lend themselves to subsequent larger funding opportunities and/or intellectual property development.

Proposed projects must be within the scope of the ANR Strategic Vision. All ANR academics with PI status are eligible to apply. Proposals will be accepted using the same timeline as outlined for the traditional competitive grants program, but reviewed separately due to the nature of the proposal.

For questions about ANR's competitive grants program or high-risk/high-reward grants program, please contact Melanie Caruso at mmcaruso@ucanr.edu.

The Nutrition Policy Institute has launched a news brief called Research to Action. The publication will provide information on research, policy, news, announcements, events, articles and action items focused on nutrition and healthy communities. 

The first issue looks at the work of the National Drinking Water Alliance (NDWA). NPI is the “hub” for NDWA, which engages in and coordinates evidence-based efforts going on all over the country to improve tap water safety and access, especially for children, and to provide drinking water education and promotion. The NDWA website is a “go-to” resource for information on drinking water. 
 
Future editions of Research to Action will be sent several times per year. Please sign up for the Research to Action mailing list, and please share Research to Action with colleagues who would be interested in receiving it.