John Fox

Fox joined ANR as executive director – human resources in 2015 after serving 25 years in the UC Office of President. 

After earning a bachelor's degree in English Literature at UC Berkeley, Fox accepted his first job with UCOP as an administrative assistant processing disability claims for the retirement system. From there, he progressed through a series of positions including retirement policy, benefits communications, project management, and Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Human Resources.

“I and the senior leadership of ANR have thoroughly enjoyed working with John these last five years,” said Tu Tran, Associate Vice President for Business Operations. “I will always be grateful to him for taking on new responsibilities and important projects with me to improve the climate and well-being of the ANR communities.”

Among the highlights of his contributions to UC ANR, Fox implemented the multi-year compensation equity programs for UCCE advisors and staff, which were designed to elevate ANR's compensation structures to more competitive levels. Most recently Fox played a critical role in implementing the ANR@work Survey, which gives ANR staff and academics an opportunity to give unfettered feedback and guidance to ANR leadership. In response to the survey results, he worked with ANR members and leadership to establish the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council for ANR. 

His retirement plans include biking, beer brewing, home improvement projects and he hopes someday soon to begin traveling around the U.S. and the world. 

“I personally benefited every day from John's advice, dedication and strong work ethic,” Tran said.

With Fox's departure, Bethanie Brown will become interim executive director of Human Resources. Academic Personnel Director Tina Jordan will also assume new responsibilities – overseeing ANR's Learning and Development unit and serving as ANR's Affirmation Action compliance officer, representing ANR at systemwide meetings and councils.

Decisions regarding recruitment for executive director of Human Resources will be made later this year when UC ANR's budget picture is clearer.

In the past year, UC has announced several agreements with major publishers of scholarly journals, including Elsevier and Springer Nature. These agreements include provisions for funding to cover the article processing charges (APCs) for open-access publication of articles in those publishers' journals. APCs would otherwise be borne by authors. 

Under the agreements, UC campus libraries all contribute to a systemwide fund to cover the APCs.

This message is to clarify that all UC ANR personnel – advisors, specialists, academic coordinators and all staff – are eligible for funding for open-access article processing charges under these agreements.

Here's how the process works: After acceptance of an article in one of the journals covered by the agreements, the corresponding author will see the default open-access option in the publishing workflow. If the author chooses open access, the systemwide fund will automatically cover the first $1,000 of the APC to the publisher. APCs are typically greater than $1,000. If the author has research funding to cover the remaining APC, those research funds will be used to cover the balance. If the author does not have research funding to cover the remaining open access fee, the systemwide fund will cover the balance. 

Here's a link to a comprehensive FAQ about the Elsevier agreement, which takes effect April 1. The agreement also restores and expands online access for UC personnel to Elsevier's paywalled journal content.

The Springer Nature agreement went into effect in January – here's information on that agreement.

Here's a page with information on all the other similar agreements with journal publishers.

The UC Davis Open Access Publishing site is a good resource for general questions about open access publishing. 

Jim Downing can also help answer questions at jdowning@ucanr.edu. 

Doris H. Calloway

Several of Calloway's former students are working on a book chronicling her role in establishing the research base for addressing nutrition and health problems across the lifespan.

If you knew Calloway, and would be willing to write a few sentences on your interactions with her, please contact Mary Blackburn at mlblackburn@ucanr.edu.

A renowned human nutrition scientist, Calloway was recruited as chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at UC Berkeley in 1961. She is known worldwide for her pioneering metabolic research in food irradiation, food composition, nutritional needs during space travel, protein and energy requirements, nutrient needs during pregnancy and lactation, and functional consequences of malnutrition on health and well-being of populations – particularly vulnerable populations. Of note is her work on the National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council and Food and Nutrition Board to establish the 1969-1974 and 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances, and her advocacy on the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Nutritional Sciences for the reduction of hunger and malnutrition.

As the first woman appointed to the position of provost at UC Berkeley, she advocated forcefully, and persistently, for hiring and promoting women, and for racial/ethnic diversity among faculty. In 1999, the Regents of the University of California created an endowed chair in human nutrition at Berkeley in her name. 

The University of California Office of the President seeks employee comments on the two policy changes proposed below.

PPSM-2.210 Absence from Work – Pay for Family Care & Bonding Employee Consultation Period

The University of California is proposing revisions to PPSM-2.210 (Absence from Work), which applies to staff employees in the Professional & Support Staff, Managers & Senior Professionals, and Senior Management personnel groups. 

PPSM-2.210 has been updated to include language that describes the new Pay for Family Care and Bonding option, which will be implemented on July 1, 2021. Please note that only the sections of the Absence from Work policy that were updated as part of this review are included.

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 April 24, 2021. Please indicate “Absence from Work Policy” in the subject line.

UC Health Participation in Activities under the End of Life Options Act

The University of California Office of the President invites comments on a proposed Presidential Policy UC Health Participation in Activities under the End of Life Option Act. The policy is proposed to be revised and includes the following key issues: 

• The issuance of the Interim Presidential Policy: UC Health Participation in Activities under the End of Life Option Act in 2016, coincided with the issuance of the End of Life Option Act (California Health and Safety Code §443, et seq., referred to in this policy as the “Option Act”) which allows terminally ill adult patients with the mental capacity to make medical decisions to request to be prescribed and self-administer an aid-in-dying drug to end their life if specific conditions are met.
• The Option Act establishes specific procedures and requirements to be followed by patients and health care providers who choose to assist them. It also provides that, upon proper notice, a health care provider may “opt out.”
• UC Health has chosen not to opt out but acknowledges the rights of individual employees to refrain from participating in activities authorized under the Option Act.
• It is the policy of the University of California to extend to its patients the choices made available through the Option Act and to comply with its terms. The University, however, neither requires nor encourages any individual provider to participate. Participation in activities authorized under the Act is strictly voluntary.

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, 2021. Please indicate “UC Health Option Act” in the subject line.