- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
The University of California is proposing revisions to Staff Policy 3 – Types of Appointment, which applies to staff employees in the Professional & Support Staff and Managers & Senior Professionals personnel groups and to Senior Management Group members.
The policy has undergone full review and a systemwide workgroup with representatives from UC Davis, UC San Francisco, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and the Office of the President was formed to propose revisions to clarify the various types of appointments at the University. The proposed policy revisions will combine PPSM 3 with PPSM 24 (Per Diem Positions) and PPSM 61 (Release During the Probationary Period or from Limited Casual/Restricted, and Floater Positions) in order to have all relevant language in one policy.
The proposed policy is posted on UCnet: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/tools-and-services/administrators/policies/proposed/ppsm-3.html.
Employees covered by this policy who wish to provide comments on the proposed revisions may submit them to Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu by May 24, 2017.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Larry Godfrey, UC Cooperative Extension entomology specialist in the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, died April 18, after a six-year battle with cancer. He was 60.
Widely known for his research on applied insect ecology and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, Godfrey was internationally acclaimed for his research on rice and cotton. He also developed IPM strategies for such field and vegetable crops as alfalfa, dry beans, timothy grass, melons, mint and onions.
At UC Davis, he taught arthropod pest management and agricultural entomology. A member of the entomology department since 1991, Godfrey served as its vice chair in 2008.
“Larry was an outstanding contributor to the department, not only as a researcher and teacher, but also in the effective ways that he connected with clientele through outreach,” said Steve Nadler, professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. “He was a member of our department's Executive Committee and I could always count on Larry for sound advice.”
Rachael Long, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Yolo County, collaborated with Godfrey on dry bean research. Long said, “He was an incredibly dedicated field crop entomologist and terrific colleague with team spirit, and his loss leaves a big hole in our lives and I'll miss him.”
Godfrey, who grew up on an Indiana farm, was a 1974 graduate of Salem (Ind.) High School. He received two entomology d
He began his career as a product development specialist for Union Carbide Agricultural Products Co., Inc., Research Triangle, N.C., before joining the University of Nebraska's Department of Entomology from 1987 to 1991 as a research associate.
Godfrey was a founding member of the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee, appointed by then Secretary A.G. Kawamura of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
For his personal statement on the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee website, Godfrey wrote: “Growing up on a farm in Indiana, I saw first-hand the ‘battles' that farmers and homeowners face trying to produce crops and grow landscape plants in competition with insects. I became fascinated with insects through the typical ‘bug-in-a-jar' hobby. A county Natural Resources Field Day cultivated my interest in entomology and this led to enrollment in the 4-H entomology project. By the time I was several years into the 4-H project, I was transporting a dozen wooden collection boxes full of pinned insects to the county fair.”
At UC Davis, Godfrey zeroed in on invasive insect and mite pests such as silverleaf whitefly, panicle rice mite and rice water weevil. In addition, he targeted scores of pests, including alfalfa weevils, blue alfalfa aphids, spotted cucumber beetles, and two-spotted spider mites. He researched plant response to insect injury, refining economic thresholds. He also researched various pest management tactics, including biological control, reduced risk insecticides, mating disruption, cultural control and host plant resistance.
Highly respected by his peers, Godfrey received the Excellence in IPM Award in 2005 from the Pacific Branch, Entomological Society of America (PBESA), followed by the PBESA Distinguished Achievement Award in Extension in 2010. Nationally, he was elected chair of ESA's Section F (crop protection) in 2002 and served as president of the Pacific Branch, Entomological Society of America in 2008.
He is survived by his wife Kris Godfrey, his mother Laura Godfrey and sister Carol Green and family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to pet rescue groups or groups that support young people interested in entomology or agriculture. A memorial and celebration of his life will take place at UC Davis in the near future.
Read the full story at http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=23861.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources is committed to creating and maintaining a community where all individuals who are employed or participate in University programs and activities can work and learn together in an atmosphere free of sexual violence and sexual harassment.
This is a reminder that “Responsible Employees,” which is all UC employees who are not designated as confidential resources, are required to report sexual violence, sexual harassment or other conduct prohibited by the UC Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment. Please review UCOP's FAQs and the letter from Kathleen Salvaty, UC Systemwide Title IX coordinator, to understand your obligations as a responsible employee.
ANR's Affirmative Action Office has brought together the following resources for academic and staff employees to join the Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign:
- “Engaging New Voices” video
- President Trump's Proclamation of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month 2017
What is sexual assault?
Sexual assault is a term that is used to encompass the multitude of ways in which a person can be violated in a sexual nature against her or his will. Sexual assault is defined as any sexual act directed against another person that is forcible and/or against that person's will; or, where that person is incapable of giving consent. Sexual assault is a crime in all U.S. states and territories.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month Campaign
Did you know that Sexual Assault Awareness Campaigns began in the early 1970s and the 2017 campaign is part of the world SAAM history? The National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers a summary of this history that adds broader meaning to the campaign.
In April 2001, the U.S. began to observe the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Teal ribbons are worn to raise awareness in support of the cause.
Other Sexual Assault Awareness Month resources can be found at
For more information on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment, please visit UC ANR's Discrimination and Sexual Violence Prevention website at http://ucanr.edu/sites/DiscriminationSexual_Violence.
If you have questions, please contact John I. Sims at jsims@ucanr.edu or David White at dewhite@ucanr.edu.
The UC California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR) has announced the recipients of six grants to address the most critical water issues in the state. For this program, the Institute leverages funds it receives from the Water Resources Research Act of 1964 through the Department of Interior.
CIWR, which is part of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, facilitates collaborative research and outreach on water issues across California's academic institutions and with international, federal, state, regional, nonprofit, and campus communities.
Small grants to support initial work will be dispersed to the following projects (click the headline for more information):
Suitability of alfalfa for winter groundwater recharge
Helen Dahlke, professor in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis
One proposed solution for recharging overdrawn aquifers is flooding farmland during the rainy season. Optimizing agricultural groundwater banking for specific crops can be challenging. The goal of this project is to better understand how alfalfa, which is grown year-round, responds to winter flooding.
Fish habitat response to streamflow augmentation
Ted Grantham, UC Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management, UC Berkeley
Declining water levels can degrade or eliminate fish habitat during California's summer season. Storing water off-channel during the rainy season can improve flow during the summer. The study is designed to gain a better understanding of the relationship between stream flow and habitat.
Remote sensing of turfgrass response to irrigation
Amir Haghverdi, UC Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Environmental Science, UC Riverside
Turfgrass is common in urban landscapes and provides valuable recreation areas and ecosystem services. This project will help determine the best irrigation strategies for common turfgrass species.
Habitat restoration impacts on water management
Eric Palkovacs, professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UC Santa Cruz
The natural conditions of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have been changed by habitat alteration and non-native predacious fish introduction. This project will examine the interplay between altered habitat and predatory fish, and how they impact native salmon populations.
Evaluating water conservation policy in California
Leah Stokes, professor in the Department of Political Science, UC Santa Barbara
During the recent drought, California required that on-average urban water districts conserve 25 percent of their water. While some districts were successful, others failed to meet their target. This project will examine how variation in policy – pricing, messaging and penalties – and drought severity affected water conservation.
Groundwater dynamics after California drought
Amelia Vankeuren, professor in the Department of Geology, Sacramento State University
As part of California's groundwater management act, some basins were designated as high management priorities. This project will characterize groundwater using age, location and temperature. This information will be valuable for stakeholders creating a groundwater sustainability plan.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
“We visited offices of 26 of California's 55-member congressional delegation in two days!” said Lucas Frerichs, government and community relations manager.
On March 6-9, a UC ANR delegation attended the 35th Annual Council on Agriculture Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET) meetings in Washington D.C. CARET is part of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). They also made congressional visits to explain the importance of science and research to California.
Vice President Glenda Humiston was joined by AVP Wendy Powers, UCB College of Natural Resources Dean Keith Gilless, UCR College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Dean Kathryn Uhrich, Nutrition Policy Institute Director Lorrene Ritchie, UC Cooperative Extension Specialist Clare Gupta, Chief Innovation Officer Gabe Youtsey, and Frerichs. Industry partners Bill Frost, former UC ANR AVP; Cher Watte, executive director of the California Asparagus Commission; Mike Mellano, fresh cut flower grower; Dina Moore, Humboldt County rancher; and Jean-Mari Peltier, managing partner of Environmental Solutions Group, served as CARET delegates from California.
The group split up into teams to visit the offices of Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, agriculture committee members, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and other California representatives.
Although no U.S. secretary of agriculture had been confirmed at the time of their visit, members expressed their support for agriculture.
“One thing that members of Congress – Republicans and Democrats – can certainly agree on is that the support for agriculture and the University of California is strong,” Frerichs said.
Read more about the CARET visits in Powers' ANR Adventures blog.
