UC ANR COVID-19 Update: In-person meetings directive, cybersecurity

UC ANR directive on planning for in-person meetings/events/gatherings

Note: This directive does not affect work sites where ANR “essential employees” are continuing to work, or any future dates of return to work for ANR employees. Return to work information will be communicated separately, based on updated information from UCOP and/or the state.

• Cancel, postpone or conduct online all meetings/events/gatherings statewide through April 30, 2020.
• During this time, ANR personnel, volunteers, and program participants also may not represent ANR or its programs at in-person meetings/events/gatherings.
• Leaders and event planners should assess meetings/events/gatherings that are scheduled for May 1-31, 2020, and plan for the possibility that there may be extension of this directive, requiring additional cancellations.
• ANR's Emergency Response Team will re-assess the situation in two weeks (April 6), and every two weeks thereafter.
• If the Governor's order is lifted, modified, or other public health guidance concerning in-person gatherings is issued, this date will be reassessed and new standards for public gatherings will be provided.

Many people are finding innovative ways to reach their communities online - virtual livestock visits, graduation ceremonies, 4-H contests and more. Resources are available on the Learning and Development site.

Cybersecurity vigilance  

Cyberattacks against many organizations are increasing, and more than 90% of all breaches start with a malicious email. Although we have the necessary network safeguards in place, we rely on you as an essential first line of defense against attackers. Please follow these tips for avoiding cyberattacks and telephone phishing scams. Now is also a good time to make sure you are up to date on the cybersecurity training that UC provides.

Celebration corner

In response to a systemwide call for assistance to help UC Health operations meet their critical needs for personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, UC ANR has provided its inventory of 820 N95 respirators to UC Davis. These masks will be used at the student health center on campus and/or the UC Davis Medical Center. If any other UC ANR locations have large quantities of PPE (gloves or respirator masks) that are not currently needed, please contact David Alamillo (daalamillo@ucanr.edu) and we can share that information with our UC colleagues.

After two challenges to their annual fundraiser, first a postponement due to Public Safety Power Shutoff in November 2019, and then cancellation of the rescheduled March 15 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hopland Research and Extension Center moved the event online. Registrants were asked by survey if they would like to divert their registration to the Hopland Scholars fund for research and education at HREC, and were offered the chance to take part in the planned auction online. Short videos capturing HREC's work over the past year were coupled with the auction to ensure that HREC supporters stayed in touch with their research projects and educational programs. This allowed over $7,000 to be raised from an event that it seemed was never meant to be!

Glenda Humiston 
Vice President

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