Posts Tagged: February 2016

South Coast REC calls for proposals

The South Coast Research & Extension Center is soliciting proposals for new and continuing research and extension projects for the period July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017.

Located on 200 acres in Orange County, South Coast REC research and extension projects and programs focus on a variety of agriculture and natural resource topics, including variety development, crop and landscape pest management, repository for germplasm collections (citrus, avocado, persimmon and cherimoya), irrigation management, plant nutrition and long-term impacts of changing rainfall patterns on native ecosystems. As reclaimed water is the main irrigation source provided to the center by the local water district, researchers have the opportunity to assist in the development of management strategies for a water source that will become increasingly more important to the long-term sustainability of agriculture and urban environments.

The center provides labor, equipment, research facilities and technical and management support at a reduced recharge rate to UC academics. For example, the current recharge rate is charged on an hourly basis of $9.99. Our goal is to minimize a significant increase in this rate from year to year. Proposals from non-UC organizations will be considered if resources are available but the full cost rate will be charged. Researchers are also directly charged for irrigation costs, which are currently $1.37 per 748 gallons of water (1 CCF).

Proposals may be submitted into the REC Manage System via the South Coast REC website http://screc.ucanr.edu/Research/Submitting_a_Proposal beginning March 22, 2016, and are due April 15, 2016.

The center's Research Advisory Committee will evaluate the proposed research and extension projects for scientific merit and regional appropriateness. Researchers will be notified by email.

For help with submitting a proposal, contact Kat Hicklin, khicklin@ucanr.edu

For questions about the research proposal process/research opportunities at South Coast REC, contact Darren Haver, center director, at dlhaver@ucanr.edu or Chris Martinez, superintendent, at cpmartinez@ucanr.edu.

ANR makes plans to upgrade off-campus broadband service

ANR's Network Project has officially kicked off, according to Gabe Youtsey, chief information officer. The multimillion-dollar investment will bring to county offices and research and extension centers Internet speeds that are hundreds of times faster than what they currently have, as well as better wireless coverage and modern cabling to many locations.

This will provide a host of new possibilities for ANR including ag tech and big data research, modern cloud-based technology tools and new phone/web/video conferencing capabilities.

“We have a lot of work to do to prepare for and complete this project including equipment upgrades, construction and electrical work and finding new service providers to partner with,” said Youtsey.

In order to complete this complex, important project, ANR IT has partnered with ANR Facilities Planning and Management, the Corporation for Education Initiatives in California (CENIC) and Dimension Data.

“We are currently developing our comprehensive project plan, and my hope is that we can have every UC ANR location upgraded by the end of FY 2017, if not sooner,” Youtsey said.

The REC and UCCE locations planned for upgraded in the first phase are:

?          Desert REC
?          Intermountain REC
?          Kearney Ag REC
?          Sierra Foothill REC
?          West Side REC
?          UCCE Colusa
?          UCCE Central Sierra MCP (El Dorado office)
?          UCCE Humboldt
?          UCCE Imperial
?          UCCE Inyo-Mono
?          UCCE Los Angeles
?          UCCE Madera
?          UCCE Monterey
?          UCCE Nevada
?          UCCE Riverside (Moreno Valley Office)
?          UCCE San Bernardino
?          UCCE San Joaquin
?          UCCE Stanislaus
?          UCCE Sutter-Yuba
?          UCCE Yolo

“While these locations are planned for our first phase, we will be creating upgrade plans very soon for the remaining UC ANR locations planned for phase 2, which we hope to begin work in late summer or early fall 2016,” Youtsey said. “Our project team will reach out to offices directly to begin the process, and we will send out regular communications on the progress of the project. You can reach our project team anytime with questions at networkproject@ucanr.edu.” 

 

Chin to retire from Financial Services

Ben Chin, director of Financial Services, will retire from UC on March 31.  At his retirement, Chin will have served UC for a total 22 years, including 6 years with ANR.

In 1990, he joined the UC Davis Internal Audit Office, where he specialized in IT audits and investigating white collar crimes until 2001. He worked for the California Department of Finance, auditing Water Bonds and Prisons, for 4 years. In 2005, he returned to UC Davis in Accounting and Financial Services until he moved to UC ANR in 2009.

“We will miss Ben's service-oriented work ethic and hands-on solutions oriented approach in his director's role with ANR,” said Jake McGuire, controller.  “While Ben's retirement comes during a time of major strategic financial and business initiatives and implementations, we are fortunate that Ben has agreed to come back on a part-time basis to assist on major projects underway.”

Effective March 1, Jing Yu, manager of Financial Services, will succeed Chin as ANR's interim director of Financial Services.  Yu is a California Certified Public Accountant with a master's degree in accounting and over 14 years of business, finance and accounting experience in the institutional, corporate and public accounting firm sectors.  

“Jing has been with ANR Financial Services since 2013 and has a track record and proven ability in taking on greater responsibility and in achieving strategic business objectives,” said McGuire.

 

Recall of Microsoft Surface power cords

Microsoft has initiated a voluntary recall for AC power cords (the cord that plugs into an electrical outlet) sold with the Microsoft Surface Pro and Microsoft Surface Pro 2, and with any Microsoft Surface Pro 3 purchased prior to March 15, 2015 (“pre-March 15, 2015 Surface Pro 3”). Microsoft will provide one AC power cord replacement free of charge for each eligible Surface Pro device that you own. No proof of damage is required to receive a replacement AC power cord. If you have a cord that looks like the "bad cable" image to the right, we advise you to discontinue using it.

Please note, this recall is only for the Microsoft Surface Pro and Microsoft Surface Pro 2, and with any Microsoft Surface Pro 3 purchased prior to March 15, 2015 (“pre-March 15, 2015 Surface Pro 3”). If you have a power cable that uses a strain relief (see image of replacement cable), it is the new power cable and you may disregard this recall. 

Replacement: To get a replacement cord, send an email to surfacecord@stericycle.com. Please include your name, shipping address, phone number and surface serial number (Open the stand to locate the serial number). You can also call Microsoft at 1-844-417-2187.

More information is available at www.surface.com/powercord.

If you need assistance or have questions please contact ANR IT Service Desk at help@ucanr.edu or (530) 750-1212. 

 

Crucial Conversations training registration opens

The UC ANR Training Coordination Committee is sponsoring two “Crucial Conversations” trainings this spring:

1. Tuesday and Wednesday, April 12-13, at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier. On April 12, the training is from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on April 13, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

2. Tuesday and Wednesday, May 17-18, at 2801 Second Street in Davis. On May 17, the training is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on May 18, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

3. You may also select “I can participate in either session” when you pre-register.

Training is open to all UC ANR academics, ANR staff employees, and Cooperative Extension county-paid employees who have not taken the Crucial Conversations training in the past.  All expenses related to the training (registration fee, travel, lodging, meals and training materials) will be reimbursed by ANR funds according to UC travel policy.

Twenty participants will be accepted for each training course.  Individuals selected to participate in the training will need to participate the full period of the training. Therefore, if you cannot commit to the full 14 hours of training, we ask that you not pre-register for the training.  We also encourage you to inform your supervisor of your interest to participate in this training.

If you are interested in the training, please pre-register by March 10 at http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=17197. 

Individuals who have pre-registered will be notified on March 21 as to whether they have been selected to participate in the two-day training.  A waiting list of those interested but not selected to participate in the training will be established in order for the trainers to contact them if space becomes available.

Crucial Conversations provides tools for talking when stakes are high, emotions are strong and opinions differ.  The objectives of the 14-hour training are to provide the participants tools that will assist the participant in:

• Building greater personal influence and power
• Moving “stuck” work-related relationships and projects forward
• Improving personal, team and unit results
• Reducing stress from team frustrations and blocked communication

Your program certified trainers, Jan Corlett and Linda Marie Manton, thank you for considering participation in “Crucial Conversations” training. If you have questions contact Jan Corlett at Jan.Corlett@ucop.edu.

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