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Posts Tagged: September 2019
In memoriam: John Labavitch
After earning a Ph.D. from Stanford University, Labavitch began his faculty position in the Department of Pomology (now part of the Department of Plant Sciences) at UC Davis in 1976, working on cell walls and postharvest biology. He retired in 2014 as a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences. His main subject areas were cell wall metabolism in relationship to aspects of fruit development and ripening, plant-pathogen interactions and biofuel production.
His lab group introduced the use of specific polysaccharide structural information to describe and understand changes in plant cell walls that occur as fruits ripen and/or are infected by pathogens. These studies led to the description of plant proteins that inhibit pathogen and insect cell wall-digesting enzymes and, thus, contribute to plant resistance to these crop "enemies."
In 2015, Labavitch received the Academic Senate's “Distinguished Teaching Award for Graduate and Professional Teaching.” Over the course of his career, he developed and taught, with colleagues, several undergraduate and graduate courses, and the core courses of the Plant Biology, and the Horticulture and Agronomy graduate groups.
John Labavitch is survived by his wife, Frances Tennant, who earned a Ph.D. in genetics at UC Davis. Information is pending about a memorial service. In his retirement, Labavitch continued to work, traveled with his wife, and regularly challenged his dog to see who could walk farther. He will be missed by his many friends, colleagues and former students.
Read more about Labavitch at https://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/news/john-labavitch-plant-sciences-professor-emeritus-uc-davis-passes-away.
Oct. 8 is 4-H Spirit Day
During National 4-H Week 2019, Oct. 8 is 4-H Spirit Day. Nationwide, everyone is encouraged to wear their 4-H shirt, a clover or green to show support for 4-H youth.
If you are a California Tractor Supply customer, you can also participate in the 2019 Fall Paper Clover campaign by purchasing paper clovers for $1 or more at checkout Oct. 9–20.
"We are excited to partner with Tractor Supply on this annual fundraising campaign," said Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty
Statewide 4-H Youth Development Program director. "The paper clover campaign raises approximately $140,000 annually to support California 4-H leadership and camp activities. The funds raised will benefit California 4-H members who wish to attend 4-H camps and leadership conferences across the country."
Since it began in 2010, the partnership between Tractor Supply and 4-H has generated more than $11 million in essential funding nationwide.
UCCE advisor Patti Wooten Swanson, who championed 'San Diego Saves,' retires
Patti Wooten Swanson, UC Cooperative Extension nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisor in San Diego County, retired July 1, 2019. Wooten Swanson, who joined UC ANR in 2001, focused on family financial management to help Californians establish and maintain economic security and on nutrition education for healthy, active living.
Melinda Opperman has worked with Wooten Swanson on several campaigns promoting financial wellness that received proclamations from the San Diego City Council, mayor and board of supervisors.
“She was instrumental in improving people's financial lives and promoting the common purpose of financial wellness. Her work was critical,” said Opperman, executive vice president of Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management in National City.
In 2005, Wooten Swanson launched the annual San Diego Saves, part of the America Saves campaign, to encourage San Diegans to improve their financial security.
“The basic message is to encourage people to build wealth through systematic savings over an extended time, with an emphasis on saving and paying down debt,” Wooten Swanson said at the time. She persuaded consumer advocates, credit unions, banks and other local businesses to offer savers' clubs and money-management workshops. As part of San Diego Saves, several financial institutions offered savings accounts that could be opened with as little as $5 and no fees for 12 months.
In her research, the UCCE nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisor found that people were more successful at building their savings if they wrote down a goal, such as buying a car. She also encouraged saving through payroll or checking account deductions, saying, “You won't miss what you can't see.”
In her blog Small Steps To Health And Wealth, Wooten Swanson provided practical tips for consumers to eat healthfully, avoid foodborne illness and save money.
She also authored UC ANR's Financial Caregiving Series for adult children of aging parents. Recently Wooten Swanson co-chaired the Money Talks workgroup that developed “Living on Your Own” guidebooks, currently in production. The guidebooks outline living expenses low-income youth and young adults should consider before moving to their own apartments. As UC Cooperative Extension advisor emeritus, she plans to promote the Living on My Own program at professional society meetings.
An active community member, Wooten Swanson served on the San Diego County Food System Initiative leadership team and as a research partner with a volunteer gleaning program that provides fresh produce to food insecure families. She also trained social workers to give their clients just-in-time money management information.
Her contributions to the field of family and consumer sciences were recognized with the 2018 Leader Award from the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences' California affiliate. The National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences honored Wooten Swanson with its 2018 Excellence in MultiState Collaboration Award (Eastern Region) for her contributions to a NIFA Extension Project, and its 2017 Continued Excellence Award for her leadership and promotion of the professional development of others.
Within UC ANR, she served on the Communications Advisory Board, the 2018 ANR Statewide Conference Steering Committee and other committees.
Wooten Swanson earned her Ph.D. in consumer science at Texas Woman's University, an M.Ed. in vocational education at North Texas State University and B.S. in home economics at Texas Christian University.
After a busy 44-year career in education, Wooten Swanson is enjoying spending more time with her husband, Jerry, at their lake view home in San Diego and traveling. Once Quicken, her English springer spaniel, gets certified as a pet therapy dog, she plans to volunteer to cheer patients at Scripps Mercy Hospital. She also continues to represent UC ANR as a member of the Consumer Federation of America.
UCPath Is here!
All ANR employees may now access UCPath at ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu.
UCPath is the University of California's modernized payroll and HR system. The UCPath self-service employee portal is mobile-friendly and available 24x7. Please take some time to get familiar with what you can do on UCPath and understand what has changed.
If you are unable to log into ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu, please call 1-888-585-7084 or email ucpath@ucanr.edu.
View your earnings statements
Monthly paid employees can view their first UCPath earnings statement on September 29.
Biweekly paid employees can view theirs on September 30.
Earnings statements generally are available at UCPath one day before payday.
In UCPath, you can choose the Employee Actions link to:
- View/update your personal information
- Check your vacation and sick leave balances
- View your health and welfare enrollments
- Sign up for (or update) your direct deposit.
The Help/FAQ section includes step-by-step instructions for most UCPath features.
Employee pay and UCPath
With UCPath, you will see a number of changes:
- Paper paychecks are no longer available to pick up at your local office. The UCPath Center will mail paychecks on payday to the home address listed in UCPath. It can take up to 10 days to receive your check via the U.S. Post Office. If you prefer, you can sign up for direct deposit at UCPath or submit a request for a Personal Paycard (currently only available to non-represented and Clerical unit (CX) employees)
- Earnings statements look different. Your earnings statement includes a new employee ID number. See Understanding Your UC Paycheck.
- Vacation and sick leave balances are no longer on your paycheck. You can view them in UCPath under Employee Actions.
- Some deductions may be shown in a new order or be listed under different names. There may be minor differences in calculations for taxes and voluntary deductions.
Important reminders
- AYSO is now view-only for functions that have moved to UCPath.
- You will receive two W-2s for 2019 earnings: Because we transitioned to UCPath mid-year, in January you'll get one W-2 in AYSO for earnings prior to UCPath go-live and another W-2 in UCPath for the rest of the year. Sign up to receive your electronic W-2 on UCPath online.
How to get help
The Beehive is a support team made up of UC ANR team members who have UCPath expertise and UC ANR knowledge. The Beehive is available if you have questions about incorrect pay, missing deductions, incorrect personal data, login issues, or if you're generally unsure where to get help.
- Phone: 1-888-585-7084
- Email: ucpath@ucanr.edu
Learn more at ucpath.ucanr.edu.
New ANR employees should register for Nov. 13 Administrative Orientation
Registration is open for the Nov. 13 Administrative Orientation for newer ANR employees. It will be held at the UC ANR Building at 2801 Second Street in Davis.
All UC ANR Employees – academics, staff and affiliated staff on campuses, in counties and at research and extension centers – who have not participated in an administrative orientation should participate. Register at https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=28133.
The ANR Programmatic Orientation for academics is being planned for April 2020 at the Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Parlier. It's beneficial for academics to attend both orientation sessions.
The Programmatic Orientation is designed to help academics jump start their programs by focusing on program design and showcasing successful projects of other ANR academics.
Although the Administrative Orientation introduces statewide programs, it focuses on administrative units and services and provides an overview of ANR structure, vision and mission.
For more orientation information, visit https://ucanr.edu/sites/orientations.
New employees can also find helpful information in the New ANR Employee Guide.
