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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

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Communiqué March 1, 2012

10 Inclusionist Behaviors in Leadership

During 2012, we will publish short statements by OSU Extension Administrative Cabinet members describing how they strive to incorporate inclusionist behaviors into their work. Refer to the introductory article in the January 9 issue of Communiqué for more information.

Behavior #3 --  Inclusionist leaders take responsibility for educating people whose negative/positive behaviors impact the organization.

Volunteers are a critical component of OSU Extension. As unpaid “employees,” they sign our Volunteer Standards of Behavior form which includes the adherence to our organization’s non-discriminatory clause. When I was a county educator and managed Master Gardener Volunteer training, Extension’s non-discrimination clause was shared and the implications discussed. Yet, one volunteer who had a critically needed expertise balked at doing a program that involved recovering drug addicts who had AIDS. The program couldn’t afford to lose the expertise, but the volunteer’s behavior could not be ignored.

The volunteer and I had a “crucial conversation” to discover the concerns and find a positive way forward. During the conversation, the issues of drug addiction and gay people were identified as concerns. Lacking any experience with recovering drug users and gays, the volunteer simply felt uncomfortable and ill-prepared to work with these populations. Another volunteer who had experience with these populations volunteered to assist. The more experienced volunteer provided training on working with these populations and acted as a mentor to the balking volunteer, increasing that volunteer’s comfort level and effectiveness.

During the crucial conversation, we also discussed the consequences of not following the non-discriminatory policy. Non-compliance would result in termination of the volunteer. Happily, the outcomes were:

  1. the program was a success;
  2. the volunteer gained experience and capacity; and
  3. OSU Extension maintained its integrity.

-Jack Kerrigan, North East Regional Director

New AA/EEO Statement for OSU Extension

The USDA and the University have updated the AA/EEO statement, and it should be added to all communications that represent Extension. The statement for all Extension materials is:

Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA. 

Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration; Associate Dean, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; Director, Ohio State University Extension; and Gist Chair in Extension Education and Leadership. 

For Deaf and Hard of Hearing, please contact Ohio State University Extension using your preferred communication (e-mail, relay services, or video relay services). Phone 1-800-750-0750 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. Inform the operator to dial 614-292-6181.

Counties should use the following statement and insert their county name and phone number where indicated:

XXXX County Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.

Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration; Associate Dean, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; Director, Ohio State University Extension; and Gist Chair in Extension Education and Leadership.

For Deaf and Hard of Hearing, please contact XXX County Extension using your preferred communication (e-mail, relay services, or video relay services). Phone 1-800-750-0750 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. Inform the operator to dial xxx-xxx-xxxx.

Research in View (RIV) Update

Research in View (RIV) launched on Friday, February 24. The developers are having to add profiles/users to the system in “groups.” If you log in to the system and cannot see a PROFILE menu option at the top left side of your screen (see image attached – red oval), you have not been added to the system yet. We have been told everyone will be in the system by Friday, March 2.

Also, if you DO currently have access to the system, you may notice some “bugs” if you try to enter/view data. For example, several users have reported their curriculum development narrative has disappeared and their Extension Events table is not appearing on their core dossier report. Please do NOT re-enter your data. It is there, but the developers are having to do some system updates to push the data from OSU:pro into the new RIV core dossier reports (viewable on the “DOCUMENTS” menu option).

If you encounter a problem, use the “Send Feedback” link (see image attached – blue oval) to send a message to the RIV team. To help keep us in the loop, please copy Ken Martin (martin.1540@osu.edu) and Debby Lewis (lewis.205@osu.edu) on problems/issues you send through the RIV feedback system.

Realated Documents

march12012_rivhomepagephoto.jpg

Faculty and Educator Promotion - April 1 Deadline

The guidelines are posted on the Extension administration website (http://extadmin.osu.edu/policy-handbook/promotion-and-tenure). The candidate shall submit the required documentation electronically. The files shall be submitted as Adobe PDFs (unless otherwise noted) and sent to a specific administrative e-mail. The e-mail address is different for A&P and Faculty. As we implement the electronic submission process, it will be helpful to get feedback on how this process is working. Please submit your comments and any questions to Ken Martin (martin.1540@osu.edu) or Bev Kelbaugh (Kelbaugh.1@cfaes.osu.edu).

Related Documents

CED/Unit Leader Workshop - March 29

The 2012 County Extension Director/Unit Leader Workshop will be held Thursday, March 29 at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. The agenda is still being finalized but will include: handling sensitive conversations strategically, legally and with finesse; internal audit report and update; IT update; etc. More details and registration will be forthcoming.

North Central Leadership Conference April 30 - May 2

The North Central Leadership Conference will be held April 30-May 2 in Oakbrook, Illinois. The registration deadline is April 6.

The theme of the conference is “Leadership – Moving at the Speed of Change.” Attendees will have the opportunity to refine their leadership skills, share best practices and build networks with colleagues. OSU Extension professionals are encouraged to attend the conference.

OSU Extension is providing 30 $250 registration scholarships for the conference. The Gist Chair in Extension Education and Leadership will sponsor 20 of the scholarships, and ESP will sponsor 10 of the scholarships. The scholarships are available on a first come, first-served basis. As soon as the 30 scholarships have been awarded to attendees, the OSUE system will be notified that the scholarships are no longer available. *As of March 1, 10 scholarships are still available.

Application Process – register for the conference online using your own chart field, and the scholarship funding will be transferred by the Business Office after you have attended the conference and submitted your expense report. When you register for the conference, also send an e-mail to Cheryl Buck (buck.19@osu.edu) with your chart field information and T number (if available) so we can track how many scholarships are being used. Please mention “North Central Leadership Conference” in the subject of your e-mail.

The conference will be hosted by University of Illinois Extension, and sponsorship is being provided by Ohio State University Extension, Michigan State University Extension, and Purdue Extension. Schedule, registration and hotel information are posted online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/nclc/.

Diversity Leadership Symposium - April 20

Transforming Campuses to become Authentically Inclusive Communities is the theme for the event to be held on April 20 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. The symposium will include interactive presentations and panel discussions addressing a wide array of topics related to enhancing the experience of all faculty, staff and students on Ohio college campuses. 

Topics will focus on moving beyond simply appreciating diversity or differences to understanding power dynamics and history. The registration fee is $25, which includes a continental breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack. To learn more about the symposium, speakers and agenda, visit the website at http://extensionhr.osu.edu/diversity/Symposium/symposiuminformation2.html.

To register, visit http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=870732

Bus Ride to NCLC - Provided By Gist Chair Funds

Good News!! For those who have registered to attend the North Central Leadership Conference April 30 - May 2, Dr. Smith has offered to pay the bus expense for up to 56 passengers through the Gist Chair in Extension Education and Leadership endowment funds. The bus will leave Columbus the morning of April 30 and return the afternoon of May 2. If you haven’t already contacted Amy Fovargue (fovargue.1@osu.edu) that you would like to ride the bus, please let her know by March 9.

2012 National Epsilon Sigma Phi Conference - Proposals Due March 15

The ESP national conference will be held October 6-10 in Mobile, Alabama. RFPs for presentations are due by March 15. This is a great opportunity to add a national presentation to your vita beyond your specific program area. Programs should be able to be utilized by multidisciplinary teams. If you are conducting a program and it does not currently include other program areas, determine if it is a program that could include a multidisciplinary team. Posters and presentations are both accepted, and ESP will provide a $200 stipend to concurrent session presenters and stipends to the top 10 posters. Visit the national website for more information: http://espnational.org/.