June 20, 2008

Topics in today's issue of Extension Update:

• REENTRY EXPERT TO ADDRESS 4-H TEEN CONFERENCE
• CTOPS TECHNOLOGY GRANTS DUE JULY 14
• SHAREPOINT SITE FOR TRAVEL QUESTIONS: TOOL FOR EXTENSION EMPLOYEES
• PURCHASING CARDS AUDITS LIKELY IN NEAR FUTURE
• EXTENSION WECN STAFF MIGRATE TO CENTRAL IT SERVICES EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST
• HIRING PROCEDURES
• VETERINARY MEDICINE EXTENSION UPDATE
• HMONG YOUTH FILM
• SCHEDULE

REENTRY EXPERT TO ADDRESS 4-H TEEN CONFERENCE
Lateefah Simon from San Francisco's District Attorney's Office is the keynote speaker for the WSU Extension 4-H Summer Teen Conference, June 29-July 1. Simon's speech is scheduled for Monday, June 30, 8:30-9:30 a.m., in Beasley Coliseum's theater, WSU Pullman.

Simon will speak about her transformative work with high-risk youth in high-need communities. She will illustrate strategies that are promoting healthier communities and better lives for low-income kids. As the director of Reentry Services for District Attorney Kamala D. Harris, Simon is responsible for the development and implementation of programs that help people who have violated the law learn skills necessary to get a job and leave the criminal justice system.

CTOPS TECHNOLOGY GRANTS DUE JULY 14
WSU Extension outlined details of a $350,000 grant program and invited grant proposals for Community Technology Opportunities Projects (CTOPS) at the statewide community technology meeting. The meeting was hosted by the Communities Connect Network. “This is the only dedicated technology grant program in the state right now,” said Matthew Mitchell, of Extension. WSU is administering the $350,000 grant and capacity building programs which are part of the Community Technology Opportunity Program (CTOP) authorized this past March by the Washington State Legislature. CTOP was created to support and advance community technology programs that provide digital inclusion activities for Washington’s under-served and low-income residents. Proposals are due by e-mail on July 14, and awards will be announced Aug. 1.

SHAREPOINT SITE FOR TRAVEL QUESTIONS: TOOL FOR EXTENSION EMPLOYEES
A new Sharepoint site has been created to help answer common WSU Extension travel questions. https://sharepoint.cahnrs.wsu.edu/kasey

Features include:

1. Commonly used travel forms available for download in multiple file versions
2. Helpful web sites for travel information, including per diem rates and travel policies
3. A discussion board for asking travel-related questions
4. A “Recent Travel Payments” page that lists TEVs paid in the past 30 days (payments are listed by the traveler’s WSU ID number)

This is a secure site that will require a WSU network ID for login.  Most WSU employees should be able to log in using their complete WSU e-mail address and password.

PURCHASING CARDS AUDITS LIKELY IN NEAR FUTURE
The Internal Auditor’s Office has announced that they are conducting audits on all Purchasing Cards at WSU over the next 2 ½ year period.  Let’s work towards zero audit findings and make Extension and CAHNRS the models of Purchasing Card compliance. 

EXTENSION WECN STAFF MIGRATE TO CENTRAL IT SERVICES EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST
On July 1, 2008, the WECN videoconferencing services unit is moving into the university’s central information technology “Integrated Media Services” (formally known as Educational and Public Media) from WSU Extension. WECN has been a service of Extension Communications and Educational Support (ECES). With this announcement, I would stress for WECN members, very little will change. The goal of IMS is to provide the same high level of service quality as in the past. Randy Cross and Shane Barrett will continue to form the core WECN team. Sheree’ Collins will join the WECN team and provide scheduling support. Jeff Snell will be providing IP video network testing services. 

Non-CAHNRS and non-Extension users of WECN will be invoiced for system use. The rates will be in effect for the 2008-09 fiscal year. They will be reexamined near the end of the next fiscal year to determine if the rates need further adjustment. Rates are based on system use, the number of endpoints registered, on-going software maintenance fees, and any needed equipment replacement costs or upgrades. We, CAHNRS and Extension are exempt to charges due to the fact we are transferring the staff positions from Extension to central Information Services (IS). The responsibility for end-points (units at the receiving end) as they are not being transferred centrally.

HIRING PROCEDURES
There seems to be some confusion about recent WSU policy changes related to hiring Administrative Professional (AP) personnel. First, there is no moratorium on hiring APs. There is simply additional review, and positions must be determined as being ‘critical’ before approvals are granted.  If the proposed AP position is appropriate (meets the definition for an AP – see attached), if it is recommended to the Provost by me, Dean of Extension for WSU Extension employees, as a critical position, and if it is funded by non-state resources (e.g. a grant, contract or by county funds), then it should be approved.  We do not want anyone to think that they cannot propose an AP position. In fact, we are not seeing any significant delays nor are we having grant, contract or county-funded positions denied. I’m choosing this venue to reiterate that you not jump to conclusion and rather work with your District Director, Department Chair, or Center Director for specific hiring needs.

Recently a fact sheet was recently sent to allext@ including county and district directors, with the lead question: “Is This a Faculty, AP or Classified Position?” Project leaders (PIs or administrators) often ask about why positions are placed into certain categories. The fact sheet prepared for this purpose examines attributes of fixed term (non-tenure track) positions including faculty and AP ranks and outlines the requirements for each category. Positions that fail to meet these criteria will likely be placed in the classified staff (civil service) ranks.

Faculty Rank:

Faculty rank within WSU Extension is reserved for positions that meet specific criteria.  These include educational attainment as well as other specific expectations of the position.   The following outlines each of the components necessary for consideration of faculty rank. Four components were described in that fact sheet: educational level, creativity and decision making; scholary approaches, and balance of attributes.

Administrative Professional Rank:

VETERINARY MEDICINE EXTENSION UPDATE
The WSU Extension web page supporting Veterinary Medicine Extension has recently been updated. This is a free and valuable resource for animal agriculture, 4-H youth, small farms and others interested in herd and flock health, and general animal and related human health. Please forward this email to interested individuals. Anyone is welcome to sign up for free Vet Med Extension newsletters at: http://vetextension.wsu.edu/index.htm

HMONG YOUTH FILM
Congratulations to Bee Cha and Todd Murray, King County Extension and Small Farms Program, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (CSANR), for the upcoming screening of short films developed by Hmong youth. Their short films feature Hmong culture and the family farm. The films will be viewed on Monday, July 7, 6:00 pm, 011 Media Art Center, 402 9th Ave. N, Seattle, WA.

SCHEDULE
Next week, Linda and John will both be in Pullman all week.

Linda Kirk Fox, PhD
Associate Vice President and Dean
Washington State University Extension
411 Hulbert Hall, PO Box 646248
Pullman, WA  99164-6248
509-335-2933 Office
509-335-9223 Desk/Voicemail
509-335-2926 FAX
lkfox@wsu.edu
ext.wsu.edu

WSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.