In an effort to provide support to UC employees during these challenging times, a workgroup was convened at the Office of the President to research and gather information about resources available to faculty and staff to assist them through the furlough/salary reduction period.

The team gathered Systemwide, local and external resource information for the following areas:

•      Health and Welfare Programs
•      Financial Resources, including Retirement Savings and Loan Programs
•      Staff and Academic Personnel Policies
•      Faculty and Staff Assistance Programs
•      Work-Life Programs
•      Wellness Programs
•      Health Care Facilitators
•      External Information – Federal and State
•      Reference Materials

The team has completed their work and Communications has built an area on the At Your Service website where employees can go to access the information – the link is http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/emp_resources/index.html.

Daniel M. Dooley, senior vice president -- External Relations, and vice president -- Agriculture and Natural Resources, announced the first changes in ANR related to the 2009-10 budget reductions.

As a part of the budget reductions and after careful consideration and evaluation,  the executive office of the Vice President and the Office of Government and External Relations will be restructured.

The Office of the Associate Vice President (Rick Standiford) will be eliminated and its functions redistributed to the two assistant vice presidents (Barbara Allen-Diaz and Kay Harrison Taber), effective Sept. 30. Effective Oct. 31, the Office of Government and External Relations (Steve Nation) will be closed.

These changes reduce the number of ANR executives from five to three -- the VP, one for programs and one for administration. A half-time advocacy position will be created in Sacramento, working in concert with the new advocacy program in UC's State Governmental Relations.

“These are difficult decisions, but ones that are necessary in these difficult times,” said Dooley. “It is an alignment that has existed in the past and one that I believe is more efficient and clear as to executive responsibilities.  I am very respectful of both Rick's and Steve's dedicated service to the University and the Division and will do everything within reason to facilitate a smooth transition.  Please join me in thanking them for their long and outstanding service at UC's Office of the President.”

These are only the first changes in response to the deep budget cuts affecting UC and ANR. More changes will follow in the next few weeks.

At the July 15-16 UC regents meeting, Sr. VP External Relations and VP ANR Dan Dooley presented the “Strategic Vision for the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources” and the regents approved the salary reduction and furlough policy proposed by President Yudof to cope with state budget cuts.

Dooley briefed the ANR community on these topics and answered questions at an online town hall on July 17, 9 - 10 a.m.

To view a recording of this town hall, log on to https://breeze.ucdavis.edu/p30052598/. For audio, turn on your computer speakers or use headphones.