Director's Internal Advisory Committee Report

The Director’s Internal Advisory Committee meeting was held on Friday, September 25. There was excellent attendance and good interaction from the committee. Dr. L.H. Newcomb, interim chair of Human and Community Resource Development, visited to update the Internal Advisory Committee on where the “new” Department of HCRD is headed. He was very appreciative of the support from Extension and excited about the contributions of Extension faculty in the new department. This will include some exciting curriculum developments in leadership, youth development, technology, community development, and outreach. In other business, we talked about exciting programs/activities in the counties related to fruit orchards in Cleveland, Meals on Wheels, the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, the Forever Dads program, preschool vision screening, obesity, helping low-income folks apply for jobs, the chick embryo project, etc. We also had a very positive discussion about programs going on in the state. We discussed the proposed name change for Extension (as suggested by Ohio State President Gee) and possible taglines that would go with the new Extension name. The meeting included an update on how the EERAs are progressing; again, fruitful discussion and input from the Director’s Internal Advisory Committee. The next meeting is December 11, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

FY2010 One-Time Program Funding Opportunities

As announced in the August 17 Communiqué and an August 11 note from Dr. Smith, several one-time funding opportunities have been announced for Fiscal Year 2010. Updated funding guidelines and a proposal outline are listed in the attached file. Please refer to these guidelines before submitting any proposals for the use of this funding. Proposals are due by October 31. Contact Ken Martin (martin.1540@osu.edu) if you have additional questions.

Specialization Funding Available - CY2010

A total of $20,000 will be available for educators to support plans for individual education and training related to specialization. Educators may apply for up to $1,000 in a proposal to support their specialization efforts during calendar year 2010. A minimum of five proposals will be funded in each program area. Assistant directors will review proposals from individual educators in their program area and make final funding decisions. Use the online application at the following link to apply for funding: http://surveys.cfaes.ohio-state.edu/cfaes/index.php?sid=14486&lang=en.

See the OSU Extension Guidelines for Educator Specialization available on the OSUE Web site: http://extadmin-cms.ag.ohio-state.edu/policy-handbook/v-human-resources-personnel/o-s-u-extension-guidelines-for-educator-specialization/?searchterm=Specialization%20Plan.

In addition to the guidelines, priority will be given to proposals which address specialization needs in the educator’s EERA. Applications are due December 1, and funding decisions will be made by Annual Conference in December.

Pulse Survey - More Thoughts on Implementing the Strategic Plan

Recently, 22 of your colleagues shared their opinions and insights in response to the open-ended question in the monthly pulse survey - “The most effective strategies and action steps currently being implemented from the Extension Strategic Plan launched in May 2008 are…” This question was also asked earlier this spring, and some comments were listed in previous issues of Communiqué. Here are samples of the most recent responses to the question:

• Extension educators working together to deliver quality programs; although this has always been one of the strengths of Extension.
• Movement into the EERAs; selecting area leaders; FCS e-mail developed and sent to support staff on how to handle/who and where to forward clientele calls.
• Educators are providing support for each other and working on programs together - much like the old districts. However, we still need program leadership within each EERA.
• Developing a clear brand and conforming all programs to that look and message are important to long-term success of OSU Extension. Continued support for program marketing is vital.
• Signature programs in all counties.
• Meeting with other educators in the EERA to build networks and assess needs.

To see a complete list of the responses shared, you can access the Web site at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Shared/SharedResultsPasswordPage.aspx?ID=L23WU3WRXTDZ. Each month, the responses gathered from the pulse survey are shared with the members of the Extension administrative cabinet, and with the organization through the Communiqué posting. We encourage you to participate in the pulse survey twice a year when you receive the e-mail invitation.

OSU:Pro Extension Module and Reporting Plans

A new Extension program module is being created in OSU:Pro. The rollout of this new module is scheduled for July 1, 2010. Faculty in the academic departments now should be using OSU:Pro and should continue to do so. Any faculty member in an academic department who has a large Extension appointment and is now using the Extension program module in the URS can, and should, continue reporting those Extension program activities in the URS until July 1, 2010. At that time, these same activities will be reported in the new OSU:Pro module.

All faculty and staff in the Department of Extension must continue to use the URS for reporting all 2009 activities, and all activities for the first half of 2010 (January-June). Beginning July 1, 2010, all activities must be reported in OSU:Pro. Extension faculty and staff should also start familiarizing themselves with OSU:Pro by attending training and exploring the existing OSU:Pro modules. The training calendar is listed on the front page of https://pro.osu.edu.

Please note: all peer-reviewed journal articles must be added either manually or from online sources within OSU:Pro; these articles will not be imported from the URS.

Reporting in OSU:Pro will offer the same capabilities as currently exist in the URS, and new reporting features will be added to supplement and extend existing reporting functions. For example, Extension educators and staff will be able to search program descriptions from other educators to help them develop effective programs while leveraging the work of other educators. The college will also have the ability to generate custom reports “on demand” for those questions and information requests that require an immediate summary of work.

Updates for Researchers Working with Human Subjects

The Office of Research has implemented a number of important updates to Ohio State’s human research protections program, including new IRB forms and consent templates. Specifically, a new "Initial Review of Human Subjects Research" application will be effective on November 1. For details, please visit http://rf.osu.edu/e-mailer-attachments/Office_of_Research_update.pdf.

Update your e-Conflict of Interest Screening Form for 2009-2010

If you are a faculty member and/or have a current project at the Research Foundation (now the Office of Sponsored Projects), you may have seen an e-mail from Joseph A. Alutto, executive vice president and provost and Caroline C. Whitacre, vice president for research, notifying you that it is time to update your eCOI. Please update your form immediately. Note that the eCOI is not the same as the financial disclosure COI that you may have completed recently if you are or were an employee with fiscal authority during FY09.

University policies and procedures on Conflicts of Interest and Commitment require that an annual financial Conflict of Interest disclosure be completed by the following persons:

1. All regular full and part-time faculty engaged in teaching (including Extension) and/or research activities.
2. All full- and part-time, auxiliary, or emeritus faculty who have a role in the design, conduct, or reporting of research or a sponsored training grant.
3. Clinical and research staff members and students who have a role in the design, conduct, or reporting of research - including research with animals, human subjects, recombinant DNA molecules, stem cells, or pathogenic microorganisms. Examples of such roles include: staff and students who are formally listed on, or their salary or effort is associated with, a specific project or award; staff and students who are listed as a co-investigator or key personnel on an institutional review board (IRB), institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC), or institutional biosafety committee (IBC) protocol; clinical or research staff and students who collect or analyze data, or consent research subjects; and staff and students who plan to participate as authors on publications or presentations resulting from the research.
4. Principal administrative officials designated by the Vice President for Research as having a significant role in supervision of research.

The 2009/2010 eCOI Screening/Disclosure Application is currently available at https://rf.osu.edu/secure/e-coi. Follow the steps below to complete your annual Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure:

• Log in using your university internet user name (name.xx) and password.
• Click the Disclosure button.
• The Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure form will appear. If you have submitted a COI disclosure in 2008/2009, the new form will be pre-populated with information provided in the 2008/2009 COI disclosure. Please revise and update this information.
• Complete the form and click the Submit for Approval button at the bottom of the form.

Note: For "where are you assigned," choose Columbus Campus. They want the location of the department chair. If you need assistance in filling out the form, click the Instructions button. If you need technical assistance with the eCOI application, call 614-688-8288 or e-mail orhelpdesk@osu.edu. Help with regulatory or procedural issues is available by e-mail at ConflictInfo@osu.edu. If you have questions about this, contact Jackie LaMuth (lamuth.1@osu.edu; 614-292-6470).

2010 Staff Career Development Grants - Applications Due October 26

Staff Career Development Grants of up to $500 each are awarded annually to offset education and training costs needed to further staff career and professional development goals. The grant funds can be used toward expenses such as conference and registration fees, tuition textbooks, research supplies and transportation costs that occur during calendar year 2010. To be eligible, you must be a regular full-time or part-time staff member and have at least two years of continuous employment with Ohio State (by January 1, 2010). Applications are available online at: http://hr.osu.edu/special/careerdevgrt.pdf. These grants are funded through contributions to the Campus Campaign’s Staff Career Development Fund and are administered by the Office of Human Resources. For more information, contact Michele Bondurant (614-292-4341; bondurant.11@osu.edu). The application deadline is Monday, October 26.

Ohio 4-H Foundation Grants Available

The Ohio 4-H Foundation Board is announcing the 2010 4-H Foundation grant opportunities, guidelines, selection timeline, and application. This is an opportunity for you to apply for funding to expand on or initiate new and innovative programming efforts to positively impact Ohio youth. The funds available for grants are the result of the Ohio 4-H Foundation Master Endowment and other named endowments where the donor has designated the income to support 4-H Youth Development programming. From the Master 4-H Endowment, a total of $77,000 will be awarded in 2010.

Funds from the following named endowments will also be distributed: 

• Cashman Family Endowment
• Bea Cleveland Ohio 4-H Support Fund
• Ebling Urban Extension 4-H Endowment
• Nationwide Volunteer Development Fund
• Ulrich Fund
• Lewis/Barnhart/Jenkins 4-H Endowment
• Wadlington Memorial Endowment
• Erie and Orlyss Sauder 4-H Career Development Endowment Fund

A detailed list of the 2010 grant opportunities can be found at http://www.ohio4h.org/foundation/grants/forms.html. All OSU Extension and University faculty and staff are eligible to submit an application for any of these funds if the proposal is appropriate to the grant focus. Timeline for the 2010 4-H Foundation grant process:

• November 16 -- Grant applications are due to the state 4-H office by 12 p.m. E-mail proposals are preferred, but fax and postal service mail are acceptable. You will be sent an e-mail confirming receipt of your application. Please e-mail applications directly to Christy George (george.274@osu.edu). No late applications will be accepted.
• December 18 -- Announce grant recipients.
• January 1 -- December 31, 2010 -- Grant funds will be available for use.
• January 30, 2011 -- All final impact reports due to Ohio 4-H Foundation.

If you have any questions, contact Erin Wingfield (614-247-7606; holmes-wingfield.1@osu.edu).

CommTech Serves Up Camtasia

Camtasia Relay is a new service from CommTech that makes it easy to record and distribute presentations on the Web. Now you can join the New Media revolution and make your knowledge available to new audiences.

The Camtasia Relay Recorder is a simple application that runs on your computer. As you present, the recorder captures your voice and what is happening on your screen. When you hit stop, the recording is sent to the Camtasia Relay Server where it is processed and posted to the Internet. When it is ready to view, the server sends you an e-mail with a link to your presentation. You can post that link to Carmen, Moodle, or your department or county Web site. You can concentrate on teaching instead of learning complicated multimedia software.

• Give your students the ultimate review tool. Record all of your lectures and put them on Carmen.
• Need to miss a lecture? Record it in advance and post it for viewing on the regularly scheduled day.
• Have you been asked to present out of town? Record the presentation in advance and e-mail the link for showing at the conference. You can even arrange to take questions from the audience over the phone.

See Camtasia Relay in action by watching this two-minute video. For more information on how to get your account, check out the CFAES Presentation Capture Web site. It's never been easier to share your knowledge. Sign up for an account, pay the one-time account set-up/equipment fee of $200, and make sure to register for this "Bonus Session" at the Extension Annual Conference.

Animal Welfare Symposium - October 16

The Ohio State University Animal Welfare Symposium:
"Building Partnerships to Address Animal Welfare"

October 16 -- Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus

The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Animal Sciences in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences are hosting an Animal Welfare Symposium to celebrate their new partnership with the Animal Welfare Science Centre of Australia.

The goal of the symposium is to build partnerships to pro-actively address animal welfare issues in Ohio and beyond. Speakers will discuss current research on animal welfare and the implications for livestock and poultry production. For more information, visit the symposium Web site at http://www.vet.osu.edu/AnimalWelfareSymposium.htm. Contact the Office of Veterinary Continuing Education with any questions (614-292-8727).

CFAES and OSUE Support of Animal Welfare - Issue 2 Awareness Efforts
The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences has prepared a statement about animal care and Issue 2 (establishment of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board) that you can share with others. OSU Extension fully supports this statement by the college. This issue relates to quality animal care, safety of animals and workers, and maintaining an affordable food supply. Remember, an unbiased approach from CFAES and OSU Extension does not mean we are ambivalent; we simply must take an educational approach in regard to political issues. Although you may not endorse the issue on work time, you may have copies of the college statement, as well as the Issue 2 ballot language, available in your Extension office for those who request more information.

The CFAES animal care statement, animal care background information, and media relations tips are attached for your use. If you need additional information or assistance with responding to requests, you can search online at http://www.ohiolivestockcare.com/; or contact Suzanne Steel in Communications and Technology (614-292-9637; steel.7@osu.edu).

Diversity Speaker Series Starts October 28

You are invited to attend the first Diversity Speaker Series presentation on October 28. Raquel Brown from Cross Cultural Communications will address "Making the Right Turn for Diversity." The event will be held from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. Refreshments will be provided. If you have questions or need any special accommodations, contact Kathy Lechman, Leader, Diversity Development (247-7176; lechman.1@osu.edu). The event flier is also attached.

Leadership for Tomorrow Conference - Proposals Due November 30

OSU Extension's Leadership for Tomorrow: Strategies for Resurgence Conference is scheduled for April 21-22, 2010 in Columbus. The conference will encourage discussion about skills and strategies needed for resurgence - leadership needed when the economy rebounds and recovers. Proposals are due November 30. Topics can include, but are not limited to: entrepreneurship, innovation, communication/engagement, prioritizing, diversity, globalization, and creating prominence. To submit a proposal, visit http://leadershipfortomorrow.osu.edu - Call for Proposals section. The RFP is attached.

Seasonal Flu Vaccine Available on Campus and at Kroger

All Ohio State faculty and staff can receive a free flu vaccination through December 17. Adults are encouraged to get vaccinated, and it is strongly recommended for those who are considered high risk - 50 years of age and older; those with heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, asthma, cancer, or HIV/AIDS; and wome who are pregnant. To register for an on-campus location, visit http://osumhcs.com/wellness (use the flu shot sign-up link). Bring your BuckID and your employee identification number.

You can also get a flu shot at Kroger. Click here for a list of participating Kroger pharmacies throughout the state. You must present your BuckID or both your health insurance card and a valid driver's license. This benefit is free and is sponsored by the OSU Office of Human Resources and Employee Health in partnership with the Faculty and Staff Wellness Program.

Cindy Buxton Featured in onCampus

Cindy Buxton, assistant manager for OSU Extension Business Operations, was featured in the October 8 issue of onCampus. Check out her interview on page 2 in the TopSpot section.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Congress has designated each October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The Office of Disability Employment Policy has the lead in planning NDEAM activities and materials to increase the public's awareness of the contributions and skills of American workers with disabilities. Various programs carried out throughout the month also highlight the specific employment barriers that still need to be addressed and removed.

This effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment began in 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to "National Disability Employment Awareness Month."

This year, Ohio’s First Lady Francis Strickland led Ohio’s celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month on October 8. The theme for this year’s celebration was Ohio Workers with Disabilities: Diverse, Reliable, Good for Business. Our American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Stimulus Projects and local Pathways Partners were recognized for strengthening Ohio’s statewide network of disability employment services.

The event was sponsored by the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC) and the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities. RSC is the state agency charged with helping Ohioans with disabilities get jobs and helping businesses recruit and retain these talented workers. The Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities is the 21-member council that advises Ohio’s governor and General Assembly on statewide disability issues. One in five Ohioans (2.1 million total) has a disability.  

Also in recognition of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, WrightChoice, Inc. and Wright State University are hosting the third annual EmployAbility Conference 2009: Demonstrating the Keys to Disability as Diversity on October 15 at Wright State University. Learn best practices from industry leaders for hiring and retaining people with disabilities. Register online at www.wright.edu/go/employability.

October eXtension Professional Development Opportunities

Give eXtension 30 minutes, and they'll teach you something useful. eXtension's professional development opportunities are open to all Extension faculty, staff and employees. No pre-registration is necessary. Instructions are attached.

The October "30-Minute Sessions" include:

*October 13 at 2pm ET - "Nine Different Ways to Use Google" by Jerry Thomas, eXtension Fellow, Ohio State University Extension Leadership Center.

*October 15 at 2pm ET - Discussion of the book The Public Domain: Enclosing the Commons of the Mind by James Boyle, led by Kevin Gamble, eXtension. This book describes the range wars of the Information Age. Boyle makes the case that every citizen needs to understand intellectual property law. He talks about how the current policies are unbalanced and often detrimental to our culture, free speech, creativity, and scientific innovation.

*October 27 at 2pm ET - "Ask eXtension Widget" by Aaron Hundley, eXtension software e-Engineer. How to use the Ask eXtension widget to receive and answer questions directly from your county Extension Web site or Extension-related blog.

*October 29 at 2pm ET - "Leading - Not Driving - the Moodle Learner" by Jennifer Jahedkar, Texas AgriLife Extension, Extension eLearning. Learn how Moodle tools like quizzes, passwords, certificates, and locking options can be used to encourage students to complete a course in a structured fashion.

Recordings of many past professional development sessions can be found at the main eXtension Wiki at http://about.eXtension.org/wiki. Scroll down under the Professional Development heading and find "Recordings of eXtension Professional Development Sessions" or search on the word Recordings.