Posts Tagged: Glenda Humiston

Wishing you a safe and restful Thanksgiving

As we take some time to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to wish you all the best and urge you to follow these recommendations from UC Davis Health to keep yourselves and your friends and families safe in the coming weeks. We've done a great job taking precautions and protecting each other since March; let's keep it up for the next several months until we can get past this.

While we look to Thanksgiving as a time to express gratitude and enjoy family, we need to also take stock of those around us that may need some extra empathy or support. People have lost loved ones, some have lost jobs, and many are fearful of what the future may hold. We also should recognize that those among us with Native heritage may take a different view of Thanksgiving. This is a great time to be kind to each other.

Despite the obstacles 2020 has thrown in our paths, I find myself thankful for many things. In my personal life, I'm very thankful for the many family and friends who love me and enrich my life. Intellectually, I'm thankful that a recent Pew Research study found that 82% of U.S. adults still say government investments in scientific research are worthwhile. Professionally, I love being part of all the amazing work that ANR has accomplished these past several months; I am so proud and thankful to work with colleagues of your caliber.

This week UC President Michael Drake announced plans that will help the UC system confront COVID-19–related financial challenges while protecting jobs. We are grateful that the President gave the leadership at UC ANR and at each UC campus the discretion to determine the appropriate strategy to address our specific budget needs. I'm pleased to report that, due to the proactive cost savings programs we already put in place, including our three-day winter curtailment, UC ANR is on track to achieve $4 million in savings which, for the remainder of this fiscal year, will allow us to avoid additional actions. I'm very thankful for the vision and work of our financial team that enabled this, as well as your support to implement it.

It's been a very difficult year in many ways, and this holiday season will be unlike any other due to the increased risk of COVID-19, as well as the ongoing civil unrest throughout much of the country. I know many of you are caregivers for your families, which can be a heavy burden, or shoulder other responsibilities. It's important to remember to take care of yourselves. You should feel free to use your UC ANR Zoom account to connect with family and friends during this holiday. Mostly though, try to rest and allow yourself time to rejuvenate.

Best wishes and happy Thanksgiving, 

Glenda Humiston
Vice President

 

Budget update and strategies

Colleagues,

As you know, the University is experiencing severe fiscal challenges across all locations because of COVID-19 and its economic fallout. UC ANR is facing a possible 12.7% budget reduction for the 20-21 fiscal year. The University is hoping for a supplemental federal appropriation from Congress which may help to reduce the budget cut, but until we know more about our fiscal position for the coming year, we are implementing measures to ensure that we are able to continue to deliver the UC ANR mission. As these fiscal challenges become more apparent, many of you have expressed concerns about continued job security and what's next. 

Our Commitment 
UC ANR's strength lies squarely with its people. We have a strong commitment to our employees and seek to implement this by being proactive, transparent and innovative wherever possible. In addition to this ongoing commitment, we will prioritize protecting programmatic goals and current positions. Layoffs will be considered only as a tool of last resort to address the fiscal challenges. 

We will approach this situation as we have faced many other challenges - thoughtfully, strategically and with our employees and mission in mind. To do this effectively and equitably across UC ANR, we are implementing a series of strategies.

Our Strategies 
In order to achieve the above we initiated a hiring freeze effective July 1 and deferred funding requests for new staff positions and expenditures. Staffing requests will only be approved by exception based on compelling priorities. This hiring freeze will remain in effect for 12 months, unless the budgetary condition improves. Additionally, we are:

• Ensuring a high level of flexibility to reassign current staff to critical positions using the current Redeployment program, wherever possible.
• Approving reasonable use of the voluntary Employee Initiated Reduction in Time (ERIT).
• Proactively considering other UC systemwide strategies for actions to reduce costs such as voluntary reduction in time and voluntary early retirement.
• Working to grow and diversify the Division's revenue streams, prioritizing the development of contracts and grants, gifts, and other independent revenue sources.
• Maintaining programmatic delivery and continuing to invest in key areas, including those identified in the strategic plan, to strengthen delivery of extension and operational efficiency to further our mission.

Our hope is that the hiring freeze and other cost-cutting measures will be short-lived and that Congress will provide the necessary funds to minimize cuts to the University. UC has initiated an advocacy campaign to encourage Congress to support state funding as well as supplemental research and cooperative extension funding.

Glenda Humiston 
Vice President

Thank you and happy 4th of July

Dear Colleagues,

As we prepare to celebrate a “physically distanced” Independence Day (I do hope you enjoy some safe social connections), I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a safe and relaxing holiday. I also want to thank you for your dedication, flexibility and commitment to excellence over these past few months of COVID-19 uncertainty and social unrest. We are a strong and vibrant organization and your work collectively contributes to a stronger, better and more resilient California. Many thanks for all you have done, and will do in the future; it is greatly appreciated by many!

Wishing you a happy Fourth of July!  

Best wishes, 
Glenda

Black Lives Matter, Pride Month, budget and Big Dig Day

It's hard to believe it is already Friday; this week has certainly been chaotic. While dealing with the challenges of a pandemic that may be entering a second wave soon, we've all had to process a great deal of emotion over the death of George Floyd and anger over the ongoing injustice against the Black community. As I said earlier this week, our mission to serve California can never fully come to fruition if Black Americans and other historically victimized groups continue to suffer hatred and bias. Easy enough to say, but what does that mean going forward?  

This week, the most important action was to quickly make it clear where we stood on the situation and offer emotional support to our colleagues and communities of color. Let me be clear: Black Lives Matter. It's hard to know if our messages were the best they could be, but they were offered with sincerity and the hope of stimulating productive discussions. Those discussions are critical to next steps; we have to think and learn and then identify where and how we can enhance our programs and policies to build that healthy, peaceful and prosperous California for all.  

I'm not sure what those next steps will encompass, but I am sure that, working together, we can design actions that will help us achieve that goal. As we work toward that, I ask all of you to be open to new ideas and have patience with each other. We are all flawed human beings that are doing the best we can while dealing with a pandemic, an uncertain economy, sheltering-in-place and all the other upheaval that has been thrown at everyone this past few months.

One action that I would like to offer right now is to read this very thoughtful article and one of the best explanations of "white privilege" I've seen. These easy-to-understand, everyday examples are shared with compassion despite the hurt they caused; every white person needs to read this. If your reaction to that is to say, "I don't need to read this because I'm not a racist," then you are probably one of the people that need to read it the most.

Another action is to recognize that June is Pride Month, when we celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people and raise awareness of issues facing them. As we offer support to our communities of color, it's important to recognize that this is another group that has long fought to be safe and respected. For people of color who are also LGBTQ+, the challenges they face are often magnified as are the threats. 

In June, every Wednesday at 6 p.m., you are invited to join UC ANR colleagues to view films about LGBTQ+ communities and participate in discussions after the shows from the comfort of wherever you are sheltering in place. The length of each session will vary with the length of the film. Register for the ANR Pride Film Fest at http://ucanr.edu/pride2020 to get the Zoom link.

Before I close, I'm sure many of you have been following our budget situation and actions taken by the state legislature. At this time, we don't know for sure how large of a cut we may be facing, but are preparing for various scenarios. We'll share more detail on that next week. I can commit to you that any actions taken on the budget will prioritize our people. You – our academics, programmatic staff and the support staff that enable them all to be successful – are our most important infrastructure. Without you, the mission cannot be delivered!

To help support that mission, we must raise funds. It was a very hard decision to continue with our Big Dig Day today, given the ongoing angst infusing our communities. I'll be the first to admit, it may not have been the right decision on some levels; on the other hand, many of these funds are used to serve communities in need. The good news is that as of 2:30 p.m. today, we have raised $51,000, which already exceeds individual donations last year. We still hope to hit our goal of $70K before 7 p.m. tonight. If you are able, please visit ucanr.edu/bigdig to give and/or share it with others that may be interested.

In closing, the last action I'll suggest for this week is for you to please take care of yourself. Sleep in this weekend, get out into the sun, spend some quality time (Zoom or in person) with family and friends. Take part (safely) in a protest of some sort or find another way to support our Black community. 

Best wishes and warm regards to all,

Glenda

Glenda Humiston
Vice President

 

UC ANR stands firmly by values of diversity and inclusivity

Dear Colleagues,

I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the wave of emotions we are all feeling. Our nation has been shaken by the tragic death of yet another unarmed Black man, George Floyd. This brutal event, followed by protests by those who are grieving, has now led to a level of violence that has been shocking to all of us. A great many of us are experiencing pain, fear, anger and hopelessness. Let me assure you, that the leaders of UC ANR, including myself, stand firmly by our values of diversity and inclusivity and denounce all forms of bigotry. To those within our community who have suffered from such bigotry, we stand with you and with everyone who stands against racism, racial profiling, police brutality, and injustice. 

I strongly support the statement released by President Napolitano and Regents' Chair John Perez on behalf on the UC system. Among other points, it recognizes that silence is complicity: “No matter how difficult, we must individually and collectively reflect on the lives lost unnecessarily, and address head on the systemic problems and challenges we all face as a society.” President Napolitano further stated that one of UC's bedrock principles is “…that all people are equal and deserve to be treated fairly and respectfully. We all deserve to live, work and go about our lives without fear."

Although we may feel hopeless and despair, we can be part of the solution. As stated in our UC ANR Principles of Community: “Members of the far-reaching UC ANR community have the right to work in an environment that promotes fairness, trust, respect, and physical and emotional safety and security.” Such principles are not just for the workplace, they need to extend to all interactions we have with others.  Let's continue to take action and confront bigotry while striving to create the open and equitable society that we are all entitled to.

California's strength is its diversity; our UC ANR mission has always been to serve all segments of the state's population. I ask that everyone think proactively about how we can help our communities move forward. Whether you are helping small farmers reach new markets, preparing our youth to participate in civic engagement, helping limited-resource families access resources, or working on any of our many other wide-ranging programs, you truly make a difference in the lives of all Californians. You, the multi-talented ANR staff and academics, are responsible for that, and I deeply thank you for your work and dedication. 

There is much work yet to do. The UC ANR Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Alliance is building institutional support for all ANR personnel to learn and contribute to these efforts. I hope you will join as well.

We care about every one of you. Please stay safe and be sure to care for yourself and your loved ones in this difficult time. 

Best wishes and warmest regards,

Glenda Humiston 
Vice President

 

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