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4-H & Families
ANR prepares for budget cuts
The Legislature is still working out the details of the state budget, which is due June 15, but UC is poised to get a major funding boost that will help enroll thousands of additional state students and eliminate the need for tuition increases in the coming school year. Despite the additional funding for the university, ANR will still take a budget cut. At this point, we still do not know how much our actual cuts will be, but anticipate we will have to cover approximately $5 million in unfunded obligations.
We are managing these cuts in three ways:
- We are slowing down hiring of UC Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists throughout the state.
- Statewide programs are developing additional cuts to already reduced budgets.
- UC ANR Research and Extension Centers are reducing the subsidy that has been provided for research projects at the RECs.
ANR leadership will share additional updates when they find out more.
UC IPM offers online course on personal protective equipment
Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner. If you work in agricultural, turf, landscape or structural settings, you are probably at your busiest. If you handle pesticides as part of your work, you most likely wear personal protective equipment (PPE). However, do you know if you are wearing the right type of gear for the job that you do? Wearing the appropriate PPE, taking it off the right way, and correctly cleaning it prevents unnecessary pesticide exposure to yourself and others.
To prevent exposing family members or those around you to pesticide residues, learn the appropriate steps to take by viewing a new online course on Proper Selection, Use, and Removal of Personal Protective Equipment from the UC Statewide IPM Program.
The course is approved by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) for 1.5 hours in the Laws and Regulations category. This course is designed for all pesticide handlers with the goal to provide them with information on pesticide labels and the California Code of Regulations (CCR) to help them select, wear, remove, and dispose of or store PPE.
In California, all pesticide handlers (applicators, mixers, loaders, those who transport pesticides, or those who fix application equipment) are legally required to wear PPE. However, to get the most protection from PPE, it must be used correctly. Violations involving the incorrect use of PPE were the second most commonly reported type of agricultural-use violation in 2017 as reported by DPR (PDF).
The new PPE online course opens with a scenario describing a real example of an accident reported toDPR that led to an incident of pesticide exposure because the correct eye protection was not worn. The content that follows is divided into six instructional modules, highlighting types ofPPE, how to select it, and when certain items should be worn. Participants answer short questions about the different types ofPPE, open pesticide labels to learn how to select the rightPPE and learn when certain items should be worn. Short how-to videos and animated sequences demonstrate the proper way to put on or remove items such as gloves, coveralls, respirators andeyewear. To receive a certificate of completion and continuing education hours, you must pass a final test with 70 percent or higher.
If this is the year to renew your license with DPR, get a jumpstart on it. Take this new course and all the other UC IPM online courses to refresh your knowledge and get the CEUs you need. There is a $30 fee for taking Proper Selection, Use, and Removal of Personal Protective Equipment. You are welcome to view the content for free on YouTube, but without the activities, final exam and continuing education credit. For more information about license renewal, visit DPR.
Become a staff advisor to the Regents, deadline extended to June 29
The deadline for applications to serve as a staff advisor to the Regents has been extended to June 29, 2018, giving you more time to apply for this critical role.
The position is open to both non-represented and represented staff, or non-Senate academic employees, who have at least five years of UC service. You can learn more about the program and how to apply by June 29 on the staff advisor website.
George Blumenthal, chancellor at UC Santa Cruz, has seen the impact of the staff advisors to the Regents. "The staff advisor role has proven to be indispensable. The Regents want to know how policies impact employees. That's a huge challenge, requiring advisors to develop a deep understanding of the needs of a full spectrum of staff — from lecturers to dining staff. Having staff voices at the Regents' table is vital as a way of providing a staff perspective and as a reminder of the staff's importance. There's also great satisfaction in being that voice and knowing you are making a difference."
Sherry Main, assistant vice chancellor of Communications & Marketing at UC Santa Cruz, began her two-year term in 2017 and describes the role as life-changing. “There aren't many roles that allow you to learn from staff members from across the system and to engage directly with President Napolitano, members of the Board of Regents and senior campus leaders. I knew going in that this position would be a huge commitment, and I was right. But I am grateful every day for this unique opportunity to help shape decisions and policies that affect all of us.”
Staff advisors participate in open sessions and designated committees of the board of Regents, sharing the perspective of their fellow employees in UC Board of Regents deliberations and to decision-makers at the Office of the President. Staff advisors serve as non-voting members of designated Regents' committees; they attend and participate directly in committee and board meetings throughout their term of service, and visit many of the campuses to solicit input from staff.
The UC Board of Regents established the staff advisor position in 2007 in recognition of the critical importance of the staff perspective. Since 2007, staff from nine of ten campuses – and UC Davis Health, UCSD Extension and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab – have served in the role. Jason Valdry, director of technology at UC Irvine, is the outgoing staff advisor, serving alongside Main.
If you have questions about the staff advisor position or the application process, you can contact Juliann Martinez, UC Office of the President Employee Relations, at 510-287-3331 or via email: Juliann.Martinez@ucop.edu.
Discount available for June 26 FOOD IT at UCSF
FOOD IT: The Full Stack will be held June 26, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center and UC ANR is a sponsor.
If you missed early registration, you can get a 40 percent discount by using the code SPECIALSAUCE at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/food-it-the-full-stack-tickets-39785715145. Click on the blue text Enter promotional code above the “Order Now” button.
FOOD IT: “The Full Stack” will use the tech developers' full stack model to assess the current digitization of food and agriculture, to identify areas of progress as well as near-term developments needed to overcome impasse.
Action-oriented entrepreneurs, investors and representatives from leading global food and agriculture innovation hubs will gather to explore the challenges and innovations in each layer of the stack
The event will use four distinct elements to explore the progress of this development effort:
1. Moderated group discussions on the four layers of the stack
- Physical layer: digitizing food/ag physical world data
- Data layer: getting food/ag data flowing
- App layer: doing food/ag jobs with tech
- UI/UX layer: digitizing our interface with food
2. Food and ag tech start-ups will pitch to seasoned venture capitalists, vying to win the “Golden Blender Award.”
3. Interactive breakout sessions will give participants the opportunity to take a deep dive together for collaborative discussion of timely topics related to food, agriculture and technology.
4. At the Innovation Marketplace, innovators will demonstrate products, services and programs. UCANR will have a booth to introduce The VINE – The Verde Innovation Network for Entrepreneurship – to cultivate regional innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in rural communities. Led by GabrielYoutsey, UCANR chief innovation officer, The VINE connects entrepreneurs with resources such as small business development centers, community colleges, UC Cooperative Extension county offices, makers labs, incubators and accelerators.
“For the fifth year, thought leaders from the food, ag and tech sectors will once again gather for this thought-provoking event,” said Rob Trice, The Mixing Bowl's founder. “Through a day of interactive engagement, we will seek to better understand the whole picture and the full stack of food and ag digitization, the challenges and some of the solutions and technologies in each part of the stack.”
UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center is located at 1675 Owens St #251, San Francisco, CA 94158. General admission is $250 before applying the SPECIALSAUCE discount code. Register at bit.ly/FITFullStack.
UC has mental health resources for faculty and staff
As UC Irvine's coordinator of Faculty & Staff Mental Health Care and Respondent Services, Negar Shekarabi often meets with people who know they need help, but aren't sure where to start.
“Figuring out what kind of help you need and how to get it can feel overwhelming, especially when you're in the middle of a difficult time,” Shekarabi said. “I listen, I answer questions and I help people navigate the many resources that are available to UC faculty and staff.”
To help others this Mental Health Awareness Month, Shekarabi shared answers to a few common questions.
Should I start with my location's Employee Assistance Program or my behavioral health plan?
You'll find support from either resource. Here's how they work.
Your Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (also known as an Employee or Academic and Staff Assistance Program) offers free, confidential assessment, intervention, consultation and referral services to all faculty and staff (and their immediate families) at your location. Many programs even offer convenient onsite consultations.
Regardless of your insurance coverage, you can go to your assistance program for no-cost individual counseling for a wide range of personal and work-related problems, with referrals to behavioral health plan and community resources when needed.
If you prefer, you may choose to go directly to your behavioral health plan for support. All of UC's behavioral health plans other than Core and UC Health Savings Plan cover initial outpatient visits without a copay or deductible.
Behavioral health and substance abuse coverage are provided by Anthem Blue Cross for employees and retirees enrolled in:
Behavioral health and substance abuse coverage are provided by Optum for employees and retirees enrolled in:
Kaiser members may also choose to receive behavioral health care through Kaiser.
How should I choose a provider?
Your assistance program counselor is a great resource if you need a referral to a provider in your health plan's network. He or she is familiar with providers in the area, and can talk with you about your preferences and needs.
Your behavioral health plan offers a choice between an online provider search (with options to narrow your search by gender, specialty and languages spoken) or assistance by phone from specially trained representatives.
Either way, once you've narrowed down your search, online research can help you make a decision. Many providers have websites where they explain their background and philosophy. Psychology Today offers an extensive online database with similar information.
If the first few providers you call aren't available or don't respond within a few days, call your plan for assistance. Optum, Anthem and Kaiser are committed to ensuring you receive timely support.
If I get help from UC, will my privacy be protected?
Your privacy is protected by law – whether you visit your location's assistance program or a provider through your health plan. Unless there's a clear legal need (for example, if someone's life or safety is at risk), information about your participation is never released to anyone without your written consent, and it will never appear in any departmental, central or personnel file.
“I want people to know that help is available – and it can make a big difference,” said Shekarabi. “Visit your assistance program, call your behavioral health plan, talk to your doctor – however you start, the most important thing is that you reach out for the help you need.”
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