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LinkedInPosts Tagged: Glenda Humiston
Events at the Capitol; budget update
Dear Colleagues,
It's been an emotional week for all of us witnessing the insurrection in our nation's capital. Such violence and vitriol adds to the ongoing stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic distress that so many are feeling. I want to remind you the Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP) services are available to you and urge you to utilize them as needed.
Watching this recent attack on our democracy, combined with the decreasing support for science and public institutions that we have experienced for several years now, I am reminded just how critically important ANR's work is to support our democratic society. In addition to development of new knowledge through our research and getting it into local hands through Cooperative Extension and our programs, we often bring together people who disagree to discuss the facts respectfully and to find ways everyone can benefit. The work that each and every one of you does contributes to making California more prosperous, keeping our ecosystems healthy and our communities more equitable.
Although we continue to struggle with tight budgets, we received some very positive news today in Governor Newsom's proposed budget for FY 2021-22. The Governor proposed a 3% increase in UC's base General Fund budget, which is a partial restoration of last year's reduction. Additionally, the proposal includes $2 million in one-time General Fund support to fund UC ANR fire advisors as well as opportunities for UC Cooperative Extension to contract with CDFA to help small-scale and underserved farmers with business planning, navigating regulatory compliance, and accessing and leveraging state and federal funds. Other funding identified as best utilized by UCCE is work on Integrated Pest Management. It is very encouraging that the governor recognizes ANR can help address issues such as wildfire, climate change and economic sustainability; more details on the budget and other funding opportunities within it will be forthcoming soon.
As we head into the weekend, I'm proud of the work we do and hope you remember that together we can make things better. Please take care of yourselves and those around you. We have a new year and many opportunities to make a positive difference for California!
Glenda Humiston
Vice President
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.
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!
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
