
UC Blog
Clarification on UC ANR Unauthorized Purchasing Reimbursement Process
Many of you may know that UC Davis Procurement is changing the process for documenting and requesting payment for unauthorized purchases, effective January 17, 2025. Please refrain from completing the UC Davis Unauthorized Purchase Statement in DocuSign. This change is specific to UC Davis.
At UC ANR, we will continue to adhere to our established internal procedures to ensure consistency and compliance within our operations. All Unauthorized Purchases should be submitted through Workflow Automation for exceptional approvals when requesting reimbursement or payment.
Unauthorized purchases are commitments made on behalf of the University of California without following the correct processes and obtaining the appropriate approvals. Unauthorized purchases are against policy and will be monitored to ensure compliance and for reporting purposes. More information on unauthorized purchases and confirming orders are available on the UC ANR website. Additional guidance will be provided on how to avoid unauthorized purchases.
Please work with your business partners at the Business Operations Center (BOC) and Statewide Programs & REC Operations (SWPR) to ensure that purchasing procedures are consistently followed.
If you have any questions about the authorization and need assistance with any purchases, please do not hesitate to reach out to your business partners at BOC, SWPR and Procurement.
Thank you,
Lana Schweikert
Controller's Office
A note to our community regarding federal policies
Dear Colleagues,
UC ANR and UC leaders are working to understand how changing federal policies will affect university programs and operations. Some of the executive orders have been unsettling and concerning for many members of our community, and I fully recognize and empathize with all who are feeling the stress of these uncertainties.
Please know that, to the extent possible, we are prepared to help programs re-assign, re-align and re-deploy if necessary. I assure you that our commitment to our Principles of Community and our dedication to serving every Californian will not waver.
Given how fluid the situation is, we will continue to provide updates – as well as informational and support resources – as we gather more information from system leaders and agency partners. In the meantime, UC Office of the President has launched a website with information on how the system is addressing recent executive orders.
We reaffirm President Michael V. Drake's Jan. 28 commitment to one another, as well as to our clientele and their communities, in these unprecedented times.
If you are experiencing challenges because of these circumstances, please use the resources available to UC employees. The Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP) offers confidential, cost-free assessment, intervention, consultation and referral services to all UC ANR faculty, staff and their immediate families.
Thank you, as always, for everything you do to serve and support communities across California, and for continuing to advance the research and extension programs that improve the lives of so many people.
Glenda Humiston
Vice President
NSF Scam Alert
The U.S. National Science Foundation is aware of its name and likeness being used in a fraudulent manner. Scammers claiming to represent NSF inform individuals that they have won NSF grant money and can claim it for a fee. NSF has a long-standing merit review process that governs the issuance of research and research-related awards made by the agency. NSF does not award funds for personal use.
NSF will never:
- Make initial contact by phone to an individual to say they have won a grant from NSF.
- Request an individual pay a fee to claim a grant award.
- Request information upfront by phone or email, including personal bank account, Social Security number, or other personally identifiable information.
If you have been contacted in this manner, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
Thank you!
Jaki Hsieh Wojan
Deputy Chief Information Officer & Chief Information Security Officer
Cybersecurity training required by March 1 to avoid lockout
Dear ANR Community,
As part of a directive from President Drake, UC ANR must achieve 100% compliance with the Cybersecurity Awareness Training. This is a critical initiative to protect our organization from potential security threats.
Enforcement measures will begin on March 1, 2025. I strongly encourage everyone to complete the training as soon as possible. Once enforcement is implemented, any employee who has not completed the training will be unable to log in to their accounts until the training is finalized. New employees will be granted a 14-day grace period from their date of hire to complete their Cybersecurity Awareness Training.
If you are a campus-based CE Specialist and have taken the Cybersecurity Awareness Training through campus, there is no need to retake until it expires. This training is the same across all UC locations.
Please take advantage of this time to get ahead of the requirement and complete the training now by logging into the LMS system (https://lms.ucdavis.edu). If you are having any issues with LMS, please send an email to help@ucanr.edu.
In the coming weeks if your training is still outstanding, you may also receive targeted communication from me asking you to complete it as soon as possible.
Thank you for your cooperation and attention to this matter.
Jaki Hsieh Wojan
UC ANR Deputy Chief Information Officer & Chief Information Security Officer
Trump administration rescinds memo on freezing federal funds
Colleagues:
As you may have seen in this morning's news, the Trump administration has rescinded the memo freezing federal funds. However, the White House has stated that it has not rescinded its pause on foreign aid; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs; and some clean energy funding. We are assessing what this means for our existing programs, contracts and grants. We are working with grantees and our funding partners to determine the scope and scale of these latest developments.
Please see a report by the Associated Press for more details on the rescission of the memo.
As I noted yesterday, this situation is extremely fluid and subject to change. UC ANR leadership and UCOP will continue to monitor the situation and provide relevant updates as they become available. We understand your frustration and appreciate your patience as we navigate these developments. Please contact me directly if you hear from granting agencies regarding specific grants or contracts impacted by these developments.
Thank you,
Brent D. Hales
Associate Vice President, Research and Cooperative Extension