BUDGET CUT UPDATE:
The president has requested plans from all University administrative units for a 1-3% budget cut based on the total allocation of funds to the unit (excluding county contributions). I anticipate a cut closer to 3% rather than 1%. The formula for last year's county funding from state and federal dollars and a formula for a 3% cut for 2007-08 (the state salary increases for staff July 1, 2006 are included) were handed out to CEDs today. Talk to your CED about your county situation. County support increases and program cost recovery are not considered but should mitigate the impact of these cuts. Nothing is final until we get the numbers from Central Administration. We have provided the best information we have at this time. All 12 new state-funded positions for rural counties and agricultural centers will be filled.
CHANGE AGENT STATES FOR DIVERSITY:
For the past five years, the CALS Diversity Committee and Cooperative Extension have been a part of the Change Agent States for Diversity (CASD) nationwide grant, a project originally begun by Shirley OBrien in October 2001. Although the grant ended on September 14, 2006, participation continues and new states are joining the consortium (now known as the Change Agent States or CAS). A final report, called the Change Agent States for Diversity and Engagement Final Grant Report, is now available on line. I carried and presented from this report two weeks ago at the National Directors Conference. For more information about this nationwide diversity effort, check out the National Diversity Centers website.
PROGRAM REPORT:
Spirit of the Sun (S.O.S.) is a collaborative community program that includes University of Arizona faculty and research personnel, Cooperative Extension Agents and 4-H Agents, and established community organizations working together to support the youth in our state in successfully transitioning to adulthood. The program, funded by a grant through the Children Youth and Families at-risk Sustainable Community Project, provides a forum and context where youth in collaboration with adults identify community issues relevant to teens and then develop an action plan to resolve those issues. The SOS Tucson youth recently mapped a 1-mile section of downtown Tucson. Trained by Barron Orr (Office of Arid Lands Studies) and his students using GPS technology, nine of our youth members served as team leaders for the effort. They interviewed downtown merchants, researched the buildings, businesses and streets, and mapped the area. The youth will present their findings to City Council members later this spring to underscore the importance of including youth in planning the future for downtown. United Way of Southern Arizona provided a grant to help fund the effort.
UPCOMING EVENTS & DEADLINES:
- The Healthy Lifestyles work group is sponsoring six Healthy Active Kids workshops all over Arizona during February and March. They are designed for teachers, youth volunteers and staff and community leaders interested in integrating nutrition, physical activity into classes and activities to reduce obesity and improve the health of Arizona's youth. Remaining workshop dates and locations are: February 21 (Phoenix), February 24 (Kingman), March 8 (St. Johns), March 24 (Sierra Vista). Registration and details are available at http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/fcs/HealthyActiveKids.php.
- The 2007 Southwest Nutrition and Management Conference will be held February 22-23 at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel & Conference Center. A conference brochure, printable or online registration forms, and more information are available at http://animal.cals.arizona.edu/swnmc/2007/.
- Linda Ffolliotts second training session for newer users of Dreamweaver is February 28 (9:00-10:30) and will focus on working with tables in Dreamweaver. You can attend in person in Forbes 124 or through a Breeze Internet connection. To register, go to http://cals.arizona.edu/ecat/classes/register.html. If you have any questions about the coverage of these classes, email Linda.
- The Professional Development Working Group will be hosting a communications workshop, March 21-22 , at the Days Inn Phoenix Airport. One of the major findings of this years peer review committee was that APR's needed to show greater impact, so the workshop will include a day and a half to enhance APR skills and dealing with the public and beyond. The workshop is open to both faculty and staff with topics including communicating with decision makers to demonstrate the impact of your program, writing for your peers, journal articles, communicating impact by using qualitative and quantitative information appropriately, and impact statements. Day 2 will include workshops on Survey Monkey, PowerPoint, online course delivery, and effective writing. Guest speakers will be: Kris Boone, Professor and Head Department of Communications from Kansas State University, who will present on Communicating with Impact Using Qualitative and Quantitative Research Findings Appropriately and Communicating with Peers and Journal Articles; and Julie Murphree, Arizona Farm Bureau Public Relations Director from Higley, AZ, who will present on Communicating with Decision Makers to Demonstrate the Impact of your Program and Developing Effective PowerPoint. There is a $25 registration fee and the deadline for registration is March 2 . The Professional Development Working Group will pay for travel for one vehicle from each county and one nights lodging for faculty. You can register at: http://cals.arizona.edu/exact/careerdev/.
- The "Climate and Riparian Areas Workshop: Connecting the Dots Climate Change/Variability and Ecosystem Impacts in Southwestern Riparian Areas" will occur on April 11-13 at the Hotel Casa Grande (777 N. Pinal Avenue, Casa Grande - $60/night before cutoff date). Early registration deadline is March 23 ! A full agenda and registration information are available at http://cals.arizona.edu/gila/naturalresources/Riparianpage.html.