- Author: Wendy Powers
- Author: Wendy Powers
The conference was hectic. The INTJ in me came out when I went back to my room to grab my bag before checkout; a part of me just wanted to sit in the dark for a bit and process everything. But I didn't. Instead I attended a focus group to talk about program evaluation; sharing approaches and challenges. The group, approximately 12 persons, was comprised of people from across program areas including the nutrition programs, the small farms programs and 4 economists.
Earlier that day I stopped into a data party. If you saw anyone running around with birthday party hats on, that's likely where they had been. I had never been to such a thing. The focus was around the award- winning Youth Retention Study. During the party, participants took a gallery walk to review data and then they reviewed a data placemat. While there wasn't cake, there were streamers and party horns. Contact Kendra Lewis #kendramlewis for her experience with data parties; everyone was definitely having a great time!
A number of people stayed after the end of the conference to participate in the New Academic Cohort meeting. While a number of participants were close to 4 years with ANR, 2 had been with ANR for only 2 weeks. You can imagine, then, the variation in needs. But also apparent was the willingness of the 3 to 4 year employees to help their new colleague and provide tips related to documenting things that later go into ones PR and how to navigate things like travel reimbursement. We had good discussions about hiring staff and left with a list of topics for upcoming conversations and calls. John Fox, Katherine Webb-Martinez, Mark Bell and Katherine Jarvis-Shean put together a great afternoon. If you fit the ‘new academic' definition (4 years or less) and haven't yet been involved, give it a try.
I ended the week with a number of ideas that will make things better and/or easier for people across ANR. These are the low-hanging fruit. I will see what we can accomplish and how soon. I took much of the weekend off from ANR work and instead spent time in the garden. There's definitely a down side to owning a property with beautiful gardens. My allergies are glad to be back to work.
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- Author: Wendy Powers
So far, so good in Ontario. I have some homework as a result of the PAC meeting that was held on Monday, but it was something I really needed to do anyway. My ‘responsibilities' for the statewide conference 2018 are over. I think the keynote speakers, both Karen Ross and Antwi Akom were a hit! Antwi mentioned a book, Just Mercy, which I need to look into, though I'm not a big reader. Perhaps there is a TED-talk-style, abridged version.
I've heard great things about a number of the sessions and have been discussing some follow-up ideas to build on concepts covered during some of those sessions. It would be a disappointment if we all left the meeting, got caught up in our obligations and programs, and didn't continue the conversations. I've heard some fabulous ideas, from displaying the SI posters in the ANR building to offering some of the most popular sessions to all of ANR via future Zoom sessions, and all of the ideas deserve further discussion. I've discovered who not to negotiate real estate sales with and had the privilege of awarding the 2018 UC ANR Distinguished Service Awards to a number of truly deserving individuals and teams for their impactful work. Imagine achieving 95% compliance with water quality regulations or a 500% growth in Latino enrollment! This is why I have no doubt that if we all start thinking about how we can come together, brainstorm then improve upon ideas, we can surpass our vision.
This evening was the Staff Assembly Council meeting. It was a lot of fun. The planning group did a great job providing updates, and overview of the Council, and having games as well as networking. Kudos to all who were involved in putting that together and thanks for the invitation!
My sense is that tonight will be a quiet evening. Several have had to head back home to fulfill other obligations. Others need to catch up on email or sleep. And still others are finalizing preparations for their sessions tomorrow. Tomorrow afternoon, the New Academic Peer Cohort meets. They represent our future UC ANR – an impressive group with big dreams and strong ideals. I can't wait to spend a couple hours with them identifying how we can position them for success.
Though nothing is ever perfect, and we will always strive for continuous improvement I hope everyone left the meeting feeling like part of something bigger than themselves, part of something amazing, a force that can change California for the better.
- Author: Wendy Powers
I thought for sure I had things to prepare for today's VP Council but it turns out I misread the agenda. Fortunately I caught my mistake in time. So instead I visited Jan Corlett. She looks great. No surprise given the great care she is getting from family and UC ANR friends who are keeping her well-fed. She is very appreciative of the meals, flowers, plants, and good thoughts everyone has sent her way. In other uplifting news, I saw Andrea Ambrose in the Davis building today! I didn't get a chance to say ‘hi' before she left but I'm sure I'll get to catch up with her soon.
Ann Senuta shared at VP Council that Cal Ag just won a prestigious national award! Go Cal Ag team! Given all of the reviewers, editors, authors, designers and the Communications Advisory Board input and effort into the publication, Cal Ag is a team effort with too many individuals to acknowledge each without forgetting someone.
Have you got the WebANRs on your calendar? I'm looking forward to these third Thursday learning opportunities. You know I like the TED talk format – that brief ‘seminar' fits my attention span. That's the format of the WebANRs, followed by brief interaction. And the best part – there are 3 themes that will rotate each month, anyone with a computer and internet connection can attend, and they will be recorded in case I can't attend the live session! Jodi Azuli and team are working really hard to get these learning opportunities started. Thanks to those who have submitted topics and/or volunteered to present a topic! We can learn so much from each other and this approach gives us each a chance to hear from people internal and external to the division that we may not otherwise have a chance to meet.
It occurred to me today that VP Council is a great place to learn from each other. Because both programmatic and business units are represented and each unit operates differently, we have a chance to capitalize on the differences and get new ideas from each other. I've found it often rewarding to attend meetings of groups that are outside my ‘usual' peers just to hear a different perspective and see what creative ideas I can glean. Next week's conference offers a similar opportunity – hopefully many will use it as a chance to meet someone new or sit in on a session that is outside of their ‘usual' topic.
I do have weekend homework in preparation for meetings next week. Perhaps it's karma, the result of not doing homework during primary education.
See everyone next week! Safe travels to Ontario!
- Author: Wendy Powers
Over the weekend I went in search of the bowling balls near Schooner Gulch in Mendocino County. I didn't fantasize the experience would be anything that rivals the Moeraki Boulders of New Zealand or the ice balls on Lake Superior but I had hoped to add the bowling balls to my bucket list of sights, nonetheless. I didn't find them. The trail was closed due to erosion of the steps. So we took a different route and instead came across this sand/limestone formation that looked like a huge lizard and at times other than low tide obscured our access to the beach path that would take us to the bowling balls. Then we tried a different route that had magnificent ocean views but none of our intended destination. Fortunately the weekend was about the journey and not the destination itself; it did not disappoint.
Now it's back to work, a week full of various meetings and preparations for next week's Statewide Conference. Tomorrow I have a meeting with VP Tu Tran to review the budget requests and feedback received to date from Program Council and the Administrative Review Process. Based on that, Tu and I formulate recommendations that we will present to Glenda later in the spring. What we are looking for are opportunities to invest in programs and units that use that investment as leverage for achieving more than what the investment actually funds.
The VP Council will be meeting on Thursday. Agenda items include updates on accomplishments of the strategic plan, an overview of the ANR budget process for FY18-19 followed by conversations about budget priorities, a conversation about reorganization of UCOP, and updates from the various program and unit leaders that comprise VP Council. I need to prepare the updates for strategic plan goals that I own and, in particular, identify areas where the goal outcomes would be strengthened by input from the VP Council. There isn't any input in particular that I am seeking. Rather there are particular areas where I think the VP Council can contribute different approaches and ideas to strategies already identified.
Friday starts with the monthly call with REC directors followed by the CD call. Each call has a full agenda and promise to be productive. Following, I will be spending much of the afternoon with a candidate for the Vice Provost – Academic Personnel and Development position. This is a new position for ANR that has specific responsibilities in working with academics to foster and support professional development. I hope a large number of people are able to attend the interview, either in Davis or by Zoom. At this point, it is too early to tell if the candidate is what we are looking for but even if it doesn't work out, no doubt we will learn much along the journey and likely find a better path.