- Author: Wendy Powers
Over the last couple of weeks the topic of indirect costs (IDC) has emerged in a number of conversations. The topic has emerged as a result of pending changes to the IDC rate charged on funds awarded to an academic from commodity groups. Of late there has been considerable confusion over what the rate is, what it will be in the future and what groups are included in this rate. So here's where the topic stands as of today. Funds awarded by CDFA now include an IDC rate of 10% (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017). Rates will increase 5 percentage points per year until the rate is 25% (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020). The IDC rate for CDFA funds July 1, 2020 and beyond remains under discussion.
The IDC rate for CDFA-established market orders and commodity board funds will remain at 0% at least through June 30, 2017. Beyond that date, the IDC rate is unknown at the present time. There is certainly interest in seeing the rate remain at 0% and there is an effort underway to quantify the contributions by market orders, commodity groups and growers to UC research as rationale for why the rate should remain 0%. Over the next few months a small task force will discuss and consider options of what and how to assess IDC for funds originating from growers. Once a decision is made, we will get that information to you.
Often times the conversation includes questions surrounding how IDC is used. Over my 20-year career writing grant proposals to commodity organizations, state agencies, and federal funding sources I have often questioned why I paid IDC and what that rate increased far quicker than funds available from funding sources. At a meeting 2 weeks ago with members of commodity groups, I shared a bit of what I have learned over the years. Attached is a file that may be of use to you if you, also, ask these questions.
While I can admit that I understand the purpose of IDC, it's a difficult thing to see almost as much of the awarded funds go towards something that I can't itemize and question how it directly benefits me or my funder. This is particularly difficult when I also watch salary, benefit, and tuition rates escalate. It seems like we have to constantly do more with less, making it seem so much easier to just do less with less. I was appalled when I first learned that USDA was allowing a 30% total funds awarded IDC rate. I couldn't imagine how they thought I could get work done with what would remain. On the other hand, I also realize that contract research organizations and private companies charge 65% to sometimes 100% IDC and some programs (SBIR, for example) allow a 100% IDC rate. Perhaps university rates aren't that high after all, which explains why many land grant institutions are discussing assessing IDC on programs that have historically been at 0%; a few have already applied IDC to grower funding.
Another challenge in the pursuit of funding is securing matching funds for programs that have a matching fund requirement. Campuses often have pools of funding available to use as match. Last week UC ANR announced that it, too, will have a pool of funds available for match when grants are prepared for programs that specifically require matching funds. While this doesn't solve the challenge of securing funding to maintain a research program or answer high priority questions, it hopefully helps alleviate the challenge of rounding up matching funds when time can be better spent writing a strong funding application.
Demystifying IDC
- Author: Wendy Powers
I had a conversation with someone this morning about how we tend to get so busy that we don't even get a chance to ‘look up'. The conversation reminded me of one I had last week with a colleague who sent me a photo of an orchard in bloom with a comment that even though they knew I would be driving by that same view on my way to Fresno, I would be so focused on the road or my train of thought that I would completely miss the opportunity presented by a beautiful drive through the valley. This afternoon the same opportunity presented itself – so this time I took advantage of it and preserved the view.
The fact that this topic has come up twice in the span of a week has me wondering how often I (and, likely, we) miss opportunities that might actually result in something more efficient, more impactful than whatever is compelling us to keep our head down. Are we so busy we completely pass by opportunities that might find us time or capacity? I recall a discussion with a group of educators in Michigan that were hesitant to submit a grant proposal that would propel their program to a new level. Their hesitancy was that they didn't have time to do the work yet the grant offered a funding mechanism to hire a program coordinator thus increasing their capacity to focus on content and their other programs. The intent of the proposal wasn't to increase their workload but to reduce their stress and focus their contributions on their content expertise. As soon as they had a chance to really look up at the opportunity, submitting the proposal became obvious.
When I recall the situation, I realize how important it is to take that step back and look at how I use my time and make sure I leave space for new ideas, approaches, and partnerships that ultimately allow me to be more effective and efficient. Finding that space isn't easy, especially when it seems that the calendar runs me. As a result, today I took a minute to stop along the way without deviating from the planned route.
Tonight I am staying in ‘The Raisin Capitol of the World' – not exactly a long-awaited dream, but I have nothing to complain about. Tomorrow it is off to visit Kearney and West Side RECs – also part of my planned route for reaching my goal of better understanding all of UC ANR so that I can best identify mechanisms to give us all a chance to look up.
- Author: Wendy Powers
Three of the 4 candidates for the Vice Provost – Statewide Programs/Strategic Initiatives interviewed today. I missed the fourth candidate's presentation and interview yesterday. But like many of you, I plan to watch it before comments are due. Fortunately the links to all 4 presentations are already out (thanks Kim Ingram!) so I plan to catch that last presentation in between flights late tonight. One thing that came through in the presentations is a desire to better understand the position. Given that the position was first posted before I had arrived at UC ANR, I've had to do some catching up myself. Over the last 8 months I have gained considerable clarity for the intent of the position.
UC ANR is fortunate to have high performing, motivated, and creative statewide program and institute directors. This Vice Provost is needed to support these leaders as they build their programs and take the programs in new directions to the benefit of stakeholders and clientele across UC. The Vice Provost is a resource and creative partner as well as someone to challenge the directors as part of the continuous improvement continuum for all of UC ANR. The Vice Provost is a champion for the programs but also one who looks to the future and helps steer the programs in directions necessary to reach the division's vision. While it is also true that the Vice Provost will be the supervisor for some of the statewide program leaders, given the talent of the directors the greater emphasis will be on helping the directors find time and resources for all of their ideas, including facilitating connections between and among statewide programs, the strategic initiatives and external partners.
The 2025 Vision is what guides our programs; it's the ‘what we do' in very broad terms. And while the new strategic plan is the ‘how we do it' or operational side of things, the two are very much connected. This is most evident to me in that the strategic plan includes evaluation of ‘what we do' (goal 5) as part of ‘how we do things' (i.e. the strategic plan itself).
I've also been thinking for the last several months about the connectivity between strategic initiatives, statewide programs and institutes, program teams and work groups. I will share my thoughts in the near future. For now, it's time to get ready to board (assuming the rain doesn't delay my flight like it seems to have done for everything heading to SoCal).
Enjoy the long weekend!
- Author: Wendy Powers
This year I spent Valentine's Day with the UCCE County Directors. Not that there is any day I wouldn't want to spend with the County Directors, but it definitely surpassed the year I was dragged around for 4 hours looking for the perfect rototiller that turned out to be my Valentine gift. The day-long meeting meant a tremendous amount of information sharing and I am still wrapping my brain around most of it. One thing that has gelled though is a deep respect for those that champion UCCE in so many ways across the state and work with county partners to bring UCCE programs and services to their local communities. We spent quite a bit of time talking about balancing programmatic and academic scholarship with administrative responsibilities, a juggling act that is familiar to others beyond county leadership. As a division that values continuous improvement, there's opportunity to take a look at how we evaluate administrative contributions in concert with academic achievement. I also think there are opportunities to better convey administrative accomplishments. A few County Directors spoke about their role in helping others achieve more; precisely the reason some accept leadership responsibilities but often overlooked when one thinks about what they have accomplished as a leader or overlooked by others when considering the benefits of being a leader or even of having a leader. And the support, encouragement and development of others that our county leaders provide is in addition to the accomplishment of securing a county budget! I suspect a few more thoughts will crystallize after my head cold clears.
Speaking of leaders, tomorrow and Friday are interviews for the Vice Provost- Statewide Programs/Strategic Initiatives position. Sometime next week the links will be out so be sure to look for that email if you are unable to attend in person. Your feedback on the candidates is highly valued so please, take the time to weigh in.
If you happen to see Amanda Crump, be sure to congratulate her for her invitation to serve on the Western Governors' Association Invasive Species Advisory Committee. An outstanding recognition of her work!
- Author: Wendy Powers
This week Program Council met. On the agenda was 1) plans to engage the Strategic Initiative leaders (with Statewide Program and Institute Directors) in the early stages of Goal 5, to set the stage, so to speak and 2) preparation and finalizing plans for reviewing submissions to the ANR Competitive Grants Program. The goal of this conversation was to identify ways to simultaneously improve the outcome for the PI and streamline the time commitment required by the review panel. We also finalized plans to release a matching grants program so look for an announcement about that soon!
Have you met Mack? He arrived on February 7th, weighing in at 8 lb, 8 oz. Congratulations to Katie Panarella and family! Michael Anthony is a cutie! I hope that everyone is getting some sleep.
This week plans were released for recruiting a Program Integration Coordinator for the youth, families and communities program followed by hiring of additional support for the Master Food Preserver (MFP) and 4-H programs. Missy, Shannon and Katie did a great job looking forward and thinking how best to position the programs while at the same time developing a strategy to relieve some of the administrative work. The plan they presented to leadership was impressive and shaped by the survey of needs they conducted back in the fall. They are currently working on a position description for the Program Integration Coordinator position that will outline the major duties. The overarching intent of this position is to provide greater capacity to coordinate integrated programming and be responsible for identifying and pursuing grant opportunities that support projects at the county and state level. The 4-H Data Systems Analyst position was envisioned as a way to streamline and centralize administrative functions related to the 4hOnline enrollment system thus providing some relief at the county level. The MFP & Food Entrepreneurship Coordinator position is intended to align the MFP more with Nutrition, Families and Consumer Sciences program (NFCS) while bringing the connection with cottage foods, ag innovation and food security into focus. Responsibilities for the remaining two positions (each less than full-time at this point) have been outlined as part of their proposal to leadership and will be finalized this spring while we recruit for the Program Integration Coordinator position. Keep your eyes out for more information on those positions.
Well, all of the Annual Evaluation and Merit Review documents are completed and uploaded. I hope this makes for a more relaxing weekend for everyone!
