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July 15, 2009
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As we said in a message earlier this week, we are pleased to announce that both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly have passed the 2010-2011 biennial budget proposed by the conference committee. This legislation maintains funding levels for OSU Extension and OARDC as they were originally approved by the House and Senate earlier this spring. The amounts that OSU Extension will receive are $23,518,608 for FY10 and $22,467,678 for FY11. OARDC will receive $34 million for each of the two years of the biennium.
This is a huge success in the current fiscal climate of our state. We are extremely grateful to the conference committee members for their support of OSU Extension; and we appreciate the House and Senate support of our efforts as well. This will allow us to maintain our existing employees supported by state and federal funds and prevent any further reduction in force at this time.
I urge each employee to send a thank you note to your respective Representative and Senator. Please urge your volunteers and clientele to do the same. This is an excellent time to send a note of appreciation and reinforce the impact of OSU Extension on the lives of all Ohioans. A reminder - as always, please do not send these notes while at work or using Ohio State office equipment.
Thank you for the excellent work you do throughout the state, and for helping us tell the OSU Extension story so well to the Ohio Legislature. Our work is vital to the state of Ohio's economic success, and our lawmakers have reconfirmed that with their budget decision this week.
As we move forward with the restructuring implementation, let's continue to provide quality programs. Our new structure and changing mode of operation will require us to prioritize and focus even more on the major needs of our clientele. Although we cannot "do all things for all people," it is important that what we continue to do is targeted and first-rate. This is also a good time to expand on our work with other local and statewide partners; I encourage you to continue looking for these opportunities as well. Thank you for weathering the storm with us so far. We are a tough bunch, and I know we'll continue to improve lives, communities, families, and Ohio business and industry through our efforts.
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In the new OSU Extension structure, several county director roles and responsibilities have been clarified, as listed below. Please also keep in mind that during this transition time, there is an increased need for basic courtesies as part of your weekly routine, such as keeping your local office (where you are based) informed of your schedule. It bears repeating - more communication is always better than less.
- Vacation, sick leave and travel forms of educators need to be initialed by the CED first, before sending them to the regional director for approval.
- The county office is responsible for entering all vacation/sick leave for the entire office. Official records of leave are kept in the county office.
- The CED coordinates the work of the entire office. If there are issues about staff work hours, etc., the CED will address them. The next step would involve the regional director.
- Electronic approval or a signature is needed to charge costs for travel, supplies, etc., to a different county. Electronic approval should be attached to travel reimbursement forms. Multiple-county travel can be combined on one travel form or on separate travel forms. If on the same form, the form must be approved by each county director. T-number travel will require the signature of the county director/regional director to where the costs are charged.
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Thanks to Cindy Maher and Laura Butts, we now have almost all educators' specialization(s) in the personnel database, which can be found at: http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~directory/SearchPers.php.
Anyone can use the dropdown box to choose which EERA you would like to see specializations for; there is also one link that shows the entire state. This should be very useful for support staff as you begin to field questions to educators with a particular specialization within their EERA.
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Recently, 56 of your colleagues shared their opinions and insights in response to the open-ended question in the monthly pulse survey. Note - this is a repeat of the previous month's question (as printed in the June 3 issue), to gather responses from a larger cross-section of the OSU Extension community. Here are some samples of the responses to the question "To effective implement the restructuring plan, we will need to..."
- continue to communicate as much as possible with the organization. The web site dedicated to sharing information is good. Our employees need to take responsibility for staying informed and not relying on the Extension grapevine aka rumor mill.
- all buy into the plan as an organization. We can't have a handful of educators and/or counties doing their own thing.
- a) effectively fill the current gaps from vacant and RIF positions; b) effectively address 4-H programming in every county; c) find a way to respond to the daily reactive calls in counties that don't have an educator present; and d) define what the purchase of each FTE amounts to for an individual county.
- keep a positive attitude, keep communication open between all staff, and be open-minded to trying new methods of delivering effective programs.
- be patient. There are many unanswered questions because of the uncertainty of funding at the state and county levels. I believe time and patience is needed to accurately answer most of the questions. As answers are known, accurate communication will continue to be critical.
- more teamwork, more specialization, better communication, better marketing, more collaboration among educators and specialists, better teaching skills, and much better understanding of what is needed in our county and area.
- figure out how to keep the local connections that allow us to do more programming, and explain the process to county commissioners to keep our support.
- avoid the inclination to think myopically - in order to be successful, we must work together with a total state perspective.
- be up front about a decrease in available services from OSU Extension that are one county-focused - service on county planning teams, boards of directors, etc. We will need to plan what services we will no longer commit to and transition toward that reality.
- be patient and cooperative, giving this a chance to work. Make sure things like local clientele needs and what will realistically work at the local level are considered in decisions. What may seem like a good idea to decision makers at the state level may not be at all practical at the local level.
- change our old thought patterns and think in the new paradigm. Consistency of message from supervisors will help. We will need support from Admin Cabinet as we work with BOCC and clientele.
To see a complete list of the responses shared, you can access the Web site at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Shared/SharedResultsPasswordPage.aspx?ID=L23T53LLV6DE.
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 enourage you to participate in the pulse survey twice a year when you receive the e-mail invitation from Ken Martin.
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In the June edition of the OSU Extension Video Communiqué (http://clickvideo.ag.ohio-state.edu/communique_609/communique_609.html), Graham Cochran introduced his dissertation research that involved developing a competency model for OSU Extension. A research seminar is being planned for Extension employees, faculty members, students, and others interested in learning more about the topic.
Title: Ohio State University Extension Competency Study: Developing a Competency Model for a 21st Century Extension Organization
Date: Monday, July 27 from 11 a.m. - Noon
Participation: Those interested will be able to attend in person (on campus) or via streaming video on your computer. Details on room location and a URL for attending via the Internet will be posted later this month. The seminar will be interactive with ample time for questions and discussion.
An abstract of Graham’s research is available at: http://extensionhr.osu.edu/resources/OSUECompetencyStudyAbstract.pdf. For more information, please contact: Graham Cochran, OSU Extension Human Resources, 614-688-4246, cochran.99@osu.edu.
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Congratulations to Marge Hall, administrative associate, OSU Extension Human Resources, for receiving the 2009 University Distinguished Staff Award! This award recognizes 12 staff members each year, who have had five years of continuous service, for their exceptional accomplishments, leadership, and service to the university community by significantly improving or enhancing the quality of work life in ways that make a substantial difference for their colleagues; contributing to outstanding and sustained improvements in customer services; and developing creative solutions to problems that result in significantly more effective and efficient university operations.
The onCampus story about Marge is reprinted here:
When personnel anywhere in OSU Extension have a question about employment or human resources issues, have trouble navigating the statewide system that is Extension or simply need a source of institutional or organizational memory, chances are they’ll hear: “Call Marge.”
For nearly 40 years, Marjorie Hall has been an institutional icon in Extension - a colleague, mentor and friend to students, coworkers and administrators all over Ohio.
“Marge’s work ethic and commitment to getting the job done are unparalleled,” wrote a colleague. “Her dedication and her desire to deliver excellence in all that she does are well known and respected by many in our department and throughout the university.”
Besides her work ethic, Hall is recognized for her supportive link to retirees, many of whom stay in touch long after their retirement.
“She recognizes the value in maintaining those relationships long after so many have forgotten their names or titles,” a colleague wrote. “Marge realizes they made an impact, and she helps the rest of us respect their historical imprint on our organization.”
And of course with a career that spans almost four decades, talk occasionally turns to her own future retirement. When the subject comes up, “a sense of fear encompasses the more than 1,000 employees in Extension - they anguish over the thought of not being able to ‘run something by’ Marge,” a colleague wrote. “But it is more than just her assistance they seek; it is her compassion, wisdom and sense of humor that bring many to her door every day. The position can be refilled, but the person could never be replaced.”
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Dear Colleagues, Students, Parents, and Friends:
I write to share the good news that Ohio State will maintain its planned tuition freeze for in-state undergraduates for the 2009-10 academic year, despite the recent state budget revisions.
Thanks to the strategic vision and leadership demonstrated by Governor Strickland, Chancellor Fingerhut, and leaders of both parties in the Ohio House and Senate, young Ohioans are able to pursue their dreams, earn a degree, and use their talents to catalyze long-term economic vitality for our state and our nation. For the first time in more than five decades, Ohio State is holding resident undergraduate tuition steady for a third consecutive year. This action is made possible through the combination of increased state support, increased fall enrollment, and substantial internal University cost-savings, particularly in health care benefits.
As the University is bolstered by unparalleled support, it is incumbent upon us to intensify efforts to revitalize our state through enlarged research programs, deepened public and private collaborations, increased job creation, and expanded educational access and opportunity. And we must do so with a sense of urgency and purpose that is unerring. That is the core of our founding mission as a land-grant institution.
Please know of my deep gratitude for the many things you do for Ohio State and for your partnership in its success.
Sincerely,
E. Gordon Gee
President, The Ohio State University
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Please hold on your calendar - Friday, September 11 for the CFAES fall faculty meeting. Location: Agricultural Administration auditorium. Time: to be determined.
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For probationary faculty, faculty seeking promotion, and transfer candidates -- as mentioned in the June Video Communique and in a follow-up email from Keith Smith -- as of June 1, the Office of Academic Affairs made several changes in the dossier outline. This means you will need to reorganize your dossier to the new outline before submitting this fall (August 28 for fourth and sixth year and promotion; September 14 for first, second, third, and fifth year). You can view OAA’s new dossier outline at http://oaa.osu.edu/OAAP_PHandbook.php.
Ken Martin, Department of Extension chair and associate director, programs, is revising Extension’s 2009-2010 P&T Dossier Outline document. An e-mail will be sent with the link to the OSUE dossier guidelines in the near future; some guideline requirements are being verified with the CFAES committee. Contact Ken at martin.1540@osu.edu if you have questions.
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The changes to the CCS Rules on Recruitment, Selection, and Appointments, as approved by the Board of Trustees during their June 4-5 meeting, became effective on July 10. Ohio State has begun to update the rules related to Reduction in Force (Reduction in Force and Definitions) and will soon start on the rules related to Performance, Discipline, and Disciplinary Processes (Performance Management; Removals, Suspensions or Demotions and Probationary Period). An update can be found on the Web site at http://hr.osu.edu/ccsmod.aspx.
The recruitment and selection process change descriptions are available here. It will be helpful if you review all Classified Civil Service rules and Human Resources Policies related to Classified Civil Service. If you have questions or concerns about the CCS modernization process, please contact Eunice Hornsby at ehornsby@hr.osu.edu.
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Workshops will be held again this fall to highlight the competitive programs in USDA-CSREES and to help grant writers improve their overall success. These workshops will be offered together in Kansas City, MO on November 10-11 and in Washington, DC on November 16-17.
These workshops are very worthwhile for specialists and educators who are looking seriously at some of the annual USDA funding opportunities. If you attended the June 6 grants workshop at Ohio State and wanted more information about USDA grants than was provided, this is your chance. Day one will have breakout sessions on the specific USDA funding areas such as animal programs, AREA, SBIR, nutrition, food safety, and biotech risk assessment. You will be able to talk individually with national program leaders and ask questions. A mock peer review panel will demonstrate how proposals are evaluated. Day two will be a reinforcement of the June grants workshop with a focus on USDA types of topics and projects, ethics, and working with your research foundation.
You'll hear questions and ideas from Extension professionals from other states. There is always the possibility of linking with someone who is thinking about a project that fits with your plans...you might develop a multi-state project. If you are thinking about applying for USDA funding and want some insight about the whole process, either of these workshops will serve you well. *These workshops often fill to capacity early, so don't wait until the last minute to register.
The November 10-11 workshop in Kansas City is co-sponsored by the University of Missouri, the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors, and USDA-CSREES. Visit http://muconf.missouri.edu/usda-csrees/index.html for information on registration, hotels and the program agenda.
The November 16-17 workshop in Washington, DC is co-sponsored by the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors, the Northeast Regional Research Association, and USDA-CSREES. Visit http://www.cpe.vt.edu/usdagrant/index.html for information on registration, hotels and program agenda.
*Note - From a small pool of cost-recovery funds, OSU Extension will provide up to $500 support for up to four educators and/or specialists who wish to attend one of these CSFEES workshops. Contact Jackie LaMuth (lamuth.1@osu.edu; 614-292-6470) no later than September 1 if you would like to attend and are interested in receiving financial support. Note the workshop you want to attend, and explain in a couple of sentences why it will be useful to you and OSU Extension.
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The Center for Public Health Practice will hold its annual Leadership and Management Institute on August 5-6 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. The theme is "Empowering Conversations in a Changing World," and the seminar provides participants with the tools they need to facilitate and engage in productive conversations that empower others and lead to results.
Participants will be introduced to the four types of productive conversations that support vision, create trust and relationships, increase commitment and accountability, and improve leadership credibility. This program is based on the forthcoming book The Four Conversations: Daily Communication That Gets Results (Berrett-Koehler, 2009) by Jeffrey and Laurie Ford. World Café facilitators will also engage participants in a Café Conversation about a real and relevant issue related to public health. Cafe conversations are an easy-to-use method for creating a living network of collaborative dialogue around questions that matter in corporate, government, and community settings around the world. See the attached summary for more workshop and registration information.
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Registration is now open for the eXtension National Conference on October 20-23 in St. Louis, MO. A keynote speaker will be Bob Johansen, author of Leaders Make the Future: Ten New Leadership Skills for an Uncertain World. A second featured speaker will be Russ Roberts, CEO and founder of Russ Roberts, Limited, a management consultant and executive coach for both Fortune 500 companies and start ups.
The early registration ($225) deadline is September 20. Registration after September 20 is $300. Daily registration is also available. Click here to register. The National eXtension Conference will be held at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet in St. Louis. Call 800-822-3535 for room reservations ($129 single or double) by September 21.
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