Please provide your comments and feedback about Principle # 1 and Options listed by January 20th. Name and e-mail address is optional.
Principle #1
Preserve County Director academic appointments with a portion of their assignment dedicated to maintaining an academic program in UCCE.
Options:
Establish Associate County Director assignments to distribute and share administrative responsibilities in large counties and as appropriate in other settings.
Rotate County Director assignments among other competent county-based academics within a county or sub-regional unit.
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Date: Sep 5, 2006 Name: Dale |
Cool design |
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Date: Sep 4, 2006 Name: Brian |
Great web site |
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Date: Feb 9, 2006 Name: Terry Salmon |
This is important, at least for me, in making the CD position desirable. It adds to the work load, no questions about it, but it keeps life interesting and keeps the administrative tasks in perspective. I find it keeps me focused on what we are here for. |
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Date: Jan 20, 2006 Name: |
Im ambivalent about this one. On the one hand, it may be an important goal or principle to maintain, but on the other hand, it may have developed to a point where it is not easily workable or realistic. I believe that some are leaving CE because the expectations are simply too great across too diverse a range of responsibilities. The principle would be a greater challenge to someone beginning a career in CE, for its difficult initially to manage time in both areas. If the need is greater or unusually more demanding for CD activity, that is where the advisor will spend their time, out of necessity and for continued existence of the county office. Also, if the administrative duties are accurately at or near 100%, is leadership here not considered "academic activity"? According to APM 245-11 noted on Page 2, "Academic leadership is, in itself, a significant academic activity". Is administrative excellence something any academic can do? I believe the administrative challenges are becoming significant enough and diverse enough that perhaps skill alone is administrative activity is the academic progtam. |
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Date: Jan 20, 2006 Name: Jeanette Sutherlin |
This is unrealistic in large counties. In Fresno, administrative responsibilities require a full time administrator. Program responsibilities also require full time academics. I did not feel successful in trying to balance serving as an administrator and a program academic. |
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Date: Jan 17, 2006 Name: Carole A. Paterson |
I am concerned that we are revisiting former discussions. I remember responding to a survey of CD in 2002, which was quite comprehensive. Of course, many CDs are new as are ANR administrators. Option 1 depends highly on the county size and the complexity of the county administration and if CE is considered an independent department. In the (almost) year that I have been in the CD position, I find a huge portion of my time going into administrative tasks. I really enjoy my progammatic opportunities, but I am constantly feeling pulled between the two. Option 2, in observing how difficult it is for many in county departments to understand and identify the who and what of UCCE--let alone ANR, is really not a good option. |
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Date: Jan 17, 2006 Name: Rachel Surls |
Regarding Principal #1, in large counties I dont think it will necessarily be practical to have required programmatic assignments along with the CD role. It may be too much. I think it is time to explore making some CD positions a different type of position--perhaps an academic administrator. On the other hand I fully support that CDs should have the option of maintaining their program assignment. I just dont think its practical to require it in larger counties. |
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Date: Jan 10, 2006 Name: Peggy Mauk |
Why is there concern over preserving CD academic appointments? Is the CD/program assignment split at risk? I think it is important to have a balance between administration and program. Program often keeps administrators energized as long as there is ample support to make it happen. Option 1, Assoc. CD, already exists in many counties but is not formalized as a separate title. Would Assoc. CDs receive a stipend? Option 2 has worked in a few counties but having a formalized rotation schedule would be confusing to the county government and may result in impaired relations with the board of supervisors. |
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Date: Jan 9, 2006 Name: Karen Robb |
I think that maintaining a portion of an academic position will increase the pool of applicants for CD positions. However, there MUST be adequate support for the CD to do this, as opposed to simply layering responsibility on top of an active program. I fully support option one, but think that option two is a recipe for disaster. It takes personal communication and relationships to be an effective administrator within county governments, and rotations would lose that consistent connection. |
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Date: Jan 9, 2006 Name: Darlene Liesch |
In a large county, the County Director has a small, if any, percent of academic program responsibilities. Option I would certainly work, but option 2 would not be viable if the CD no longer has a specific program area that was his or her expertise. Maybe more explanation is needed regarding the meaning of academic program. |
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Date: Jan 6, 2006 Name: |
I agree with the comment made 1/06. The Associate Directors should also receive a stipend. Rotating CDs may not be successful if the CD is a County Dept. Head |
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Date: Jan 6, 2006 Name: |
Both of these options have merit, but may not be suitable for all counties. Flexibility to exercise these as well as other options should be maintained. |
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Date: Dec 24, 2005 Name: Lucrecia Farfan-Ramirez |
P1: I think is fine, but it must be only in the area of specialty. Rather than damping other areas when academic advisors positions are vacant. This type of irresponsable assigments, creates distress. Often CDs stay without academic and/or programatic support long-term. Questions: 1. How can this be prevented? 2. For Long-term academic vacancy, what kind of short-term and long term solution will be available? 3. Hiring a PR to replace an academician is not acceptable if the academic position is not going to be filled within a year. |
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Date: Dec 24, 2005 Name: Lucrecia Farfan-Ramirez |
P1: I think is fine, but it must be only in the area of specialty. Rather than damping other areas when academic advisors positions are vacant. This type of irresponsable assigments, creates distress. Often CDs stay without academic and/or programatic support long-term. Questions: 1. How can this be prevented? 2. For Long-term academic vacancy, what kind of short-term and long term solution will be available? 3. Hiring a PR to replace an academician is not acceptable if the academic position is not going to be filled within a year. |
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Date: Dec 22, 2005 Name: Gloria Barrett |
An Associate County Director assignment may enhance the capacity of County Directors to effectively represent UCCE in county organizational structures where there is more demand for participation with budget process, task force and committee assignments. It may not serve UCCE well to rotate the County Director assignment in counties where the County Director is a department head in the organizational structure of the county.
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Date: Dec 20, 2005 Name: Ed Perry |
I interpret the "Associate CD" title as another name for "Acting CD." As attractive as such a position might be for a county director, it may not be feasible in many counties with reduced advisor staffs. Many advisors are now doing double duty in surrounding counties, so that an additional responsibility, especially in administration, would likely be unattractive. In the case of Stanislaus County, with three fewer advisors than existed only four years ago, I prefer to see the advisors in my county spending full time on the research and extension jobs they were hired to do, and leave the CD burden to one person for the most part. I do not believe that rotating CD responsibilities among advisor staff is a good idea. In many cases it takes years to establish trust and rapport with county government (CEOs, Boards of Supervisors, other department heads), as well as other agencies and stakeholders. Rotating CDs seems disruptive to that process. Additionally, in counties with heavy administrative responsibilities (80-90 percent or more), reestablishing an active subject matter program after 4 or 5 years (whatever the term of rotation might be), would be difficult. |
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Date: Dec 20, 2005 Name: Greg Giusti |
This seems to be simply a re-statement of what is already happening in some counties. I dont see how these ideas advance any new or progressive thoughts. |