Posts Tagged: budget
Extension's relevancy in changing times
The Birmingham, Ala.,-based magazine The Progressive Farmer ran a cover story in its March issue that explored the relevancy of the United State's Extension program nearly 100 years since its inception. The article is available on the magazine's website to subscribers only; a two-week trial subscription is free.
The article noted that Extension was formed in 1914 to channel the scientific knowledge of U.S. land-grant universities to American farmers. But since then, American agriculture has undergone dramatic change.
"In 1914, about 31% of Americans were farmers. Today, 2% of the population provides food for the rest of us," the article said. "That 2% is savvy. Many have college educations; they are smart businessmen and have a keen sense of how to produce a good crop or raise healthy livestock. If they have questions, they can afford to pay for advice and not depend on Extension."
Private certified crop advisors now soak up information from Extension and pass it on to their clients. As a result, farmers benefit from Extension information and research, but Extension doesn't get the credit, which hurts funding prospects.
Because of dwindling public funding, commodity groups and private industry have become major sources Extension research funding.
"That keeps programs afloat, but it also raises questions about objectivity," the story said.
The Progressive Farmer article suggested Extension must do a better job of branding its services and communicating with the community. Since most funding for regular programs comes from federal, state and local governments, it is "incumbent on Extension to cultivate relationships with as many legislators as possible."
The article outlined the 2009 reorganization of Iowa State University Extension led by Jack Payne. Iowa State consolidated operations, paring 97 county director positions down to 20 regional directors, some with responsibility for as many as nine counties. Extension specialists also took on larger geographical areas.
Payne told Progressive Farmer the restructuring was the toughest thing he has ever done in his life. He said he believes in the relevance of Extension, but budget pressure and evolution of the agricultural industry forced the change.
"I hope that as we go through this time of austerity people will understand the value of higher education and figure how to pay for it," said Payne, who is now a senior vice president of the University of Florida. "I believe that the country will come to its senses."
Progressive Farmer magazine, March 2011 issue.
Budget message from VP Dooley
Colleagues,
In his State of the State address on Monday, Governor Brown reinforced the fact that our budget difficulties are unprecedented and that virtually everything that depends on state funding must adapt to new realities.
While many things must happen before we have a final state budget, here are some things we do know:
- The governor’s budget proposes a $500 million cut for UC in 2011-12, a 16.4 percent reduction. State budget cuts could be deeper if proposed tax extensions fail because the cuts cover only half of the shortfall in state revenues.
- UC’s budget gap is really closer to $1 billion, when factoring in state General Fund reductions and unfunded cost increases for expenses such as health benefits, utilities, and UC contributions to the retirement system.
- The governor is attempting to create an honest budget with no borrowing. The resulting budget isn’t favorable to UC, ANR, or any other program that depends on state funds. We expect to share in the pain with hope for sharing the gain when the economy improves.
- County governments have suffered severe budget cuts. We are working closely with our county partners to minimize the long-term damage to the services Cooperative Extension provides to their communities and devotes the largest portion of our scarce resources to program delivery as possible.
- As you know, ANR has consolidated a considerable amount of administrative work over the past year for cost savings and we will continue to look for administrative efficiencies where possible.
- President Yudof has launched an immediate review, due in early March, of what the proposed cuts will mean at each campus, for ANR and at the Office of the President. I will keep you apprised as the budget picture becomes clearer.
I appreciate your dedication, especially during these tough times, to keeping California healthy, prosperous and sustainable. Let’s continue to remind Californians of the unique ways ANR contributes to the improvement of agriculture, natural resources and the lives of the youth and families of our state.
Dan Dooley
Senior Vice President
View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
Statewide YFC program org chart unveiled; No VSP for ANR
Statewide YFC program org chart unveiled
The organizational chart for the new Statewide Youth, Families and Communities Program has been released. The new program encompasses the administration and leadership for the 4-H Youth Development Program (4-H YDP) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), as well as other ANR youth, nutrition, family and community programs.
Last June, AVP Barbara Allen-Diaz announced the restructuring of nutrition education, youth and community programs with the goals of improving the communication between county and state offices, identifying new opportunities for collaborative efforts, streamlining administrative functions, maximizing funds and other resources, and realigning the goals of these statewide programs with ANR's Strategic Vision 2025.
“By integrating ANR’s youth, families and communities programs into a single program, which incorporates the full research - extension continuum, we will assure more interdisciplinary collaboration to address urgent issues facing California youth, families and communities,” said Allen-Diaz.
The director of the Statewide Youth, Families and Communities Program provides statewide programmatic leadership as well as administrative and operational support to youth development and nutrition education programming. This position is under recruitment, with interviews scheduled for Feb. 15 and 16.
Reporting to the associate vice president of Academic Programs and Strategic Initiatives, the director convenes and chairs the YFC Senior Leadership Team, which is composed of the associate director of 4-H program policy; chair of EFNEP Leadership Council; associate director of 4-H youth development- research; associate director of nutrition - research; associate director of family & communities-research; associate director for development and director of the 4-H Foundation; and YFC management services officer.
The Statewide YFC Program works collaboratively with and complements the Healthy Families and Communities Strategic Initiative priorities and other critical issues affecting California youth, families and communities and develops strategies for effective organizational responses. The development of policy, program guidance, outreach, educational curriculum and professional development for ANR’s youth, families and communities programs will be consolidated under the newly formed YFC statewide program.
The Statewide YFC Program organizational chart can be viewed at http://www.ca4h.org/files/70906.pdf.
No VSP for ANR
The UC Davis campus has announced it is offering its Voluntary Separation Program (VSP) again as an opportunity for employees to self-identify their willingness to voluntarily resign their UC Davis employment.
ANR has made the decision to NOT offer the VSP to ANR employees located either on or off campus.
If you have questions, contact Robert Martinez, human resources coordinator, at (530) 752-3467, ramartinez@ucdavis.edu, or Linda Manton, staff personnel executive director, at (530) 752-0495,lmmanton@ucdavis.edu.
View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
President Yudof's message about the state budget
The following is a message from President Yudof in response to Gov. Brown's proposed budget, released yesterday.
January 10, 2011
Colleagues:
I wanted to reach out to each of you personally today to share the news that the Governor's proposed budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year includes deep cuts to the University of California. While this news is not a surprise given the state's financial crisis, I recognize that it means additional sacrifice for all members of the UC community, who have already sacrificed much.
You are the heart and soul of this University, and it will take all of us, working together, to find a way to meet these cuts while still maintaining the core academic and research mission. I will share with you more specific budget information as we get it and to seek your participation as we work through this difficult situation centrally and on the campuses. Clearly, it's time for us to engage Californians in a discussion of exactly what UC means to the future of this state, and thus I am forwarding you the below response to the Governor's budget I have issued.
Sincerely yours,
Mark G. Yudof
President Yudof's open letter to California is posted at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/24763. UC also issued a news release about the proposed budget cuts for higher education, which is posted at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/24764.
View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
Jones appointed interim director of UCOP budget
UC Executive Vice President Nathan Brostrom has appointed Donna Jones interim director of UCOP budget, providing overall leadership for the Office of the President budget, effective Jan. 1, 2011.
Jones, who is currently ANR budget director, is taking on the responsibilities of Michael Rancer, who is retiring from the UCOP director position. She will continue to perform budget-related duties for ANR during her one-year appointment and will remain ANR budget director. Jennifer Bunge, ANR associate budget director, will assume many of Jones’ day-to-day duties in ANR during the year.
“Donna’s joint appointment presents a wonderful opportunity for ANR to work more closely with the UCOP and systemwide budget offices,” says Kay Harrison Taber, AVP-Business Operations.
Jones brings to the job 30 years of UC budget and financial experience from her start at UC Santa Barbara in 1981 and past 15 years with ANR.
View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.