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OSU Extension

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

Communiqué April 1, 2015

Contents

Director’s Internal Advisory Committee Meeting

-Keith L. Smith, associate vice president, Agricultural Administration, and director, OSU Extension

The Director’s Internal Advisory Committee met on March 25. New advisory committee members were welcomed, and Keith explained why the Director’s Internal Advisory Committee meets – because the director seeks input from the field on a regular basis. The topics discussed are wide-ranging. The topics could come from the director or the Administrative Cabinet. The director, on occasion, wants to bounce these ideas or topics off of the Internal Advisory Committee members or ask for concerns, topics or ideas coming from the field.

Some of the concerns and topics the committee brought forward at this meeting included:

  • Meeting needs of new employees. We need more mentors for new employees; we need increased help in supervision for new employees. Training is needed; however, educators are so busy in the field that many boot camps or workshops are cancelled. We need to seek new solutions to correct these concerns.
  • The encouragement of the EERAs working in a consistent fashion in bringing educators together – not only within program areas, but across program areas. The connectedness that the EERAs bring needs to continue.
  • Questions were raised about the Family and Consumer Sciences assistant director search and the search for the Southwest and Southeast regional director positions.

Some great discussion was held on these topics, which were then shared with the Administrative Cabinet at their retreat later that same week.

The Director’s Internal Advisory Committee also discussed many of the programs going on across the state, including: Live Healthy Live Well, successful co-parenting, childrens’ services partnerships, CES (Chi Epsilon Sigma) activities, Women in Agriculture conference, backyard food production, local foods, 4-H enrollment, Policy 1.50, quality assurance, video volunteer training, pesticide training, fertilizer training, Master Gardener Volunteer program, farm bill meetings, super berry workshops, specialty crops, four-wheel drive rescue squad, sheep webinars, beef webinars, oil and gas meetings, three-part grazing schools, and shiitake mushroom school. These and many other wonderful events and programs are going on in the counties. We look forward to the next meeting on June 24.

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OSUE Administrative Cabinet Recognition

Administrative Cabinet is pleased to recognize a few individuals for their particularly outstanding work on some key projects, and we are publishing the recipients’ names regularly in the Communiqué. Cabinet acknowledged the following individuals during the first quarter of 2015.

  • January 2015 – Amy Fovargue, program manager, OBIC • for her work on the OSUE Annual Conference.
  • February 2015 – members of the Hops and OSU South Centers teams • for their work to plan the Ohio Hops Conference and Ohio Craft Brewers Conference in early February
    • Marsha Amlin, Brad Bapst, Joy Bauman, Brad Bergefurd, Jennifer Dunn, Mary Gardiner, Thom Harker, Wayne Lewis, Ryan Mapes, Charissa McGlothin, Beth Rigsby, Duane Rigsby, Kimberly Roush, Hannah Scott, Ryan Slaughter, Chelsea Smith, Sarah Strausbaugh, Emily Weaks, Christie Welch
  • March 2015 – Tracy Grody, program coordinator, state 4-H office • for her work to migrate and update the state 4-H website, and handle 4-H Online set-up and training.

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Program Director, Educational Technology Appointment – Jamie Seger

Jamie Seger was appointed as program director, Educational Technology, effective March 1. Jamie will be responsible for leadership and serve as the primary contact for educational technology integration for OSU Extension. She will identify and develop training programs to enhance faculty and staff knowledge; serve as a liaison and work with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences online and/or distance education leaders; collaborate with the Office of Distance Education and eLearning to leverage resources and expertise for the benefit of community-based programming; and develop and implement an overall strategic plan that includes marketing and communication strategy for the implementation of educational technology resources and integration with program development and delivery.

Jamie’s contact information is seger.23@osu.edu; OSU Extension – Miami County, 201 W. Main St, Troy, OH 45373. Phone: 937-440-3945. Fax: 937-440-3551.

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Educational Technology Update

-Jamie Seger, program director, Educational Technology

In spring 2013, OSU Extension Administrative Cabinet approved an innovative pilot project that devoted resources to testing four half-time program positions that focused on educational technology within Extension. During the pilot period over the past 18 months, the half-time “ed techs” were among the first groups to utilize the new U.OSU.EDU blogsite platform to create a real-time communication tool. They’ve served as coaches, mentors, and trainers to colleagues. Significant time was spent during the pilot period with one-on-one instruction with peers. The ed techs also participated in various projects alongside colleagues (see sample list below):

Projects Completed:

  • Conducted 2013 social media use survey.
  • Planned and implemented 2014 social media workshops.
  • Conducted breakout sessions at 2013 OSUE Annual Conference.
  • Collaborated on hosting the Technology Petting Zoo at 2013 OSUE Annual Conference.
  • Conducted educational sessions with Extension administrative leadership.
  • Developed and maintained an active blog presence recognized by Ohio State for its utility.
  • Collaborated with FCS professionals to develop a blogsite hub and streamlined social media channels.
  • Collaborated with CFAES Communications to develop and teach a video creation workshop.
  • Assisted with the FCS talking points web application.
  • Facilitated workshops and engaged at the 2014 Annual Conference Tech Zoo.

Projects in Progress:

  • Coordinated a team and are actively engaged in developing a 4-H project book.
  • Development of materials and training in support of using webinars in educational settings.
  • Created a model and developed an outline for an OSUE professionals’ hackathon.
  • Pilot testing of Google Glass in educational settings and in program development.
  • Collaborating with Extension professionals on the development of social media presence for campaigns, projects or initiatives.
  • Coordinated with eXtension on the testing of Google Glass with Extension professionals.
  • Assisting Extension professionals in identifying potential needs for apps, or not.
  • Assisting with the OSU Extension/eXtension farm bill pilot program.

In December 2014, Administrative Cabinet approved the creation of a new Educational Technology unit, as well as permanent positions devoted full-time to educational technology. Since March 1, Jamie Seger and Ken Martin have met with the ed tech transition team to begin moving forward on filling additional positions. The transition team will serve as an advisory committee for the next one to two years as we transition from a pilot project to a permanent unit. A more expansive update on the ed tech program is posted on the EdgeU Tech blog. Responses to a previous organizational survey on technology use, knowledge and skills will be used to prioritize educational technology information, trainings and workshops in 2015-2016.

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2015 Common Start Dates – Human Resources Reminder

More than a year ago, Extension hosted its newest employees at the first Day 1 Orientation in Columbus. This informative event continues to be a great way to welcome new employees to Extension and The Ohio State University. Day 1 Orientation takes place every other Monday, and the 2015 dates can be found here. When determining a start date for a new employee, refer to the common start dates table. All of the Monday start dates are listed, as well as the corresponding deadline dates to have background checks approved and signed offer letters attached to hire HRAs. If you have any questions about common start dates or Day 1 Orientation, contact Amy Burns, Extension HR generalist, at 614-292-2776 or burns.897@osu.edu.

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Background Checks – Clarification about Employee Requirements

-Amy Burns, Extension HR generalist, CFAES Human Resources

Per the new University policy 1.50 (Activities and Programs with Minor Participants), employees in positions that may have care custody and control of minors are required to submit a BCI background check every four years.

Some employees have received the request to complete a background check, and some of them are informing us that they have recently (in 2012 or 2013) had their background check completed. If that is the case, we are asking that confirmation of the completed background check be sent to Kaylee Buzard (buzard.19@osu.edu). Upon receipt, Kaylee will add the employee(s) name to the list for the appropriate year (2016 or 2017) to have the next background check completed.

If the employee is unable to locate confirmation of the previous background check, we will ask that he or she have a new background check as requested. Remember, the employee will be reimbursed for the cost of the background check (the original receipt will be needed for the reimbursement request to be processed). Thank you for your patience with this new process, as the kinks are worked out.

Background Check Reimbursement
Note – there are three ways to pay for employee background checks. All county directors should refer to the reimbursement notice they received from the CFAES Finance Office on March 17 for more information. Remember that the original copy of the receipt will be needed by the fiscal office.

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Campus Campaign Reminder

In 2014, the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences had its highest number of donors ever, increased support across all campuses, and received university-wide recognition amongst our peers. This year, we have set an ambitious yet attainable goal of 45% participation, and we’re already more than halfway there.

Campus Campaign 2015 runs through April 30, and every gift counts, no matter the size. Participation is key. Visit our new Campus Campaign 2015 webpage for event updates, donor stories, videos, campaign highlights, department recognition and more!

During the campaign, you’ll see requests to support additional funds representing various departments; or you can pick a fund that is meaningful to you. If you want help finding a specific designation you would like to support, please contact Tori Farmer, assistant development director at farmer.116@osu.edu or 614-292-6768; or email campaign ambassador Ken Martin at martin.1540@osu.edu.

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County Website Drupal Training

As you may know, the OSU Extension county websites are now based in the Drupal 7 content management system. The county website structure and content types are unique to the county sites. Following a round of training for county website builders in fall 2014, Extension and CFAES Communications held 10 additional training sessions around the state in January and February 2015. When scheduling, we chose a variety of dates that worked for the training host sites and the training team, and that did not conflict with too many other scheduled activities. We tried to maximize the use of everyone’s time by offering several off-campus locations as well as several sessions on main campus.

Communications has added monthly Drupal training sessions in 2015 for the Extension county websites. Carmen Connect is not conducive to this type of hands-on training, so all county website trainings will continue to be held in person with small groups. In addition, the computer lab in Kottman Hall is our most efficient set-up for hosting this training.

At this time, our web team has determined that the monthly county website training sessions on campus (fourth Friday of each month, 9am-1pm) are the most effective way to handle the number of Extension employees who need to be trained in Drupal before they are given access to update their county website. Space is limited, and the sessions are filled on a first come, first-served basis. Email Bonnie Scranton (scranton.9@osu.edu) about which session you would like to attend and which county site you will be editing after training. Visit www.go.osu.edu/training for more information.

Bonnie Scranton and Cheryl Buck will compare notes in mid- to late summer and see if there is a need to once again hold a few off-campus training sessions around the state in the fall. However, if you want access to update your county site in the near future, sign up to attend one of the monthly training sessions, because you must be trained before you are given access to log into your website.

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eXtension Innovative Proposals – due by April 17

eXtension is soliciting proposals for projects and programs from faculty at premium member institutions of eXtension that express innovation and creativity. These proposals should demonstrate futuristic thinking, ideation, and offer sparks of opportunity to multiply innovation. Innovation is applied creativity: using creativity and applying it to finding new ways to work and engage with clientele. This can include new uses of technology, new ways of organizing work, different ways of delivering program content, and experimenting with new tools and resources. An RFA for innovation projects is attached. This RFA closes at 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on April 17. If you have any questions, contact Michelle Giddens, assistant to the director, eXtension Foundation – michellegiddens@extension.org.

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Nominations for Joseph Sullivant Medal – due by May 1

The Graduate School is calling for nominations for the Sullivant Medal, one of the highest honors The Ohio State University grants to any of its former students or its faculty. This medal, awarded every five years, will be presented in 2015 during a university ceremony. The recipient will also receive a $10,000 cash award.

In 1920, Thomas C. Mendenhall, the first member of the original university faculty, endowed a fund to award a medal for “a really notable piece of work in either the Liberal, the Fine, or the Mechanic Arts, the Pure or Applied Sciences, including the various branches of engineering.” The Sullivant Medal was named for Joseph Sullivant, a member of the university’s first Board of Trustees. The conditions of the gift and the procedures to be followed in selecting the recipient of the medal are detailed on the attached nominating form.

A nomination may be initiated by any faculty member. The nominating packet must include a completed nomination form, a detailed letter of nomination, three letters of support from qualified persons on or off campus, and a current curriculum vitae of the nominee. The deadline for nomination is May 1. The final award will be made by the president of Ohio State.

The previous recipients of the medal constitute a distinguished company, as the list of their names (on page 2 of the nominating form) indicates. Assistant Dean Ann Salimbene is coordinating the nomination process. She can be reached at 247-7268 or salimbene.1@osu.edu.

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Save the Date -- James F. Patterson Land-Grant University Lecture on May 6

Dr. Michael V. Drake, president of The Ohio State University, is the speaker for the 12th annual James F. Patterson Lecture.

Drake became the 15th president of The Ohio State University on June 30, 2014, following nine years as chancellor of the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Drake is a member of the Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and he serves on the boards of the Association of American Universities and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. In 2014, he was appointed to a three-year term as secretary of the Council of Presidents of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).

The lecture honors former Ohio State Board of Trustees member James Patterson and the cause to which he is most committed – a vibrant university fulfilling its land-grant mission in an ever-changing world. This annual event brings to campus a prominent figure to speak to the range of challenges facing colleges and universities in the 21st century. Invitations and registration will be available soon.

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Outreach and Engagement Recognition Awards Ceremony – May 6

The Ohio State University recognizes faculty, staff, students and community partners for outstanding achievement with the Outreach and Engagement Recognition Awards program.

The overall top partnership, which receives the University Outreach and Engagement Award, serves as the university's nominee for the national C. Peter Magrath Community Engagement Scholarship Award. Awards are given annually to the top partnerships in community engagement, international engagement, service-learning, staff, student, student group, and community partner categories. A total of 14 awards will be given out on May 6. The ceremony is free to attend and open to the public. It will take place just before the Patterson Lecture. To RSVP, email outreach@osu.edu.

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Outreach and Engagement Forum – May 6

Immediately following the Patterson Lecture, visit the Ohio State University Outreach and Engagement Forum from 1-3 p.m. in the Ohio Union, Archie Griffin East Ballroom. The Forum is a poster exhibition featuring more than 125 initiatives that Ohio State faculty, staff and students are partnering in with members of our local, national and international communities. The Forum is free to attend and open to the public.

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Albert Schweitzer Fellows Celebration of Service – May 6

The fourth annual Celebration of Service will honor 18 Schweitzer Fellows - The Ohio State University, Ohio University and Capital University students completed community projects meeting needs of the underserved in Franklin and Athens counties during the last 12 months. Once finished with the fellowship year, they commit to integrating community service throughout their professional careers. They join more than 2,500 Schweitzer Fellows for Life in cities throughout the United States. The 2015-2016 Schweitzer Fellows also will be introduced. Registration information will be available soon.

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Strengths-Based Communication Workshop – April 14

Sometimes we misunderstand what someone is saying based on his or her strength. Using positive intent allows us to realize that each of us uses the lens of our strengths when we communicate. Knowing and understanding our personal strengths and the strengths of our teammates helps us choose the words so they hear and understand what we are saying based on their individual strengths.

  • Gain a better understanding of how others communicate using their strengths.
  • Learn more about how to communicate with others who do not have the same strengths.
  • Help build a greater sense of team by communicating to others using your personal strengths.

To participate in this workshop, you must have attended a StrengthsFinder awareness workshop. Beth Flynn is facilitating this workshop from 9am to noon – at 2120 Fyffe Road, room 105. Cost is $75 per participant. To register, go to https://regonline.com/seriesleadership.

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Ruby-Slipper Leadership Workshop – April 16

“You’ve always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.” –The Wizard of Oz
We are all familiar with the movie “The Wizard of Oz.” Though written for a young audience, there are many examples within the movie that teach us about success in the workplace.

Dorothy's sole purpose is to find her way back home, and this purpose became her guide as a clear purpose/goal. Each character in the movie wanted to reach the Emerald City to see the wizard; yet only by working together as a team, each person was able to achieve her or his personal goals. Adversity is a part of our daily lives; and by creating strategies to overcome these challenges, success can be achieved.

Participants can expect to:

  • Determine how having clarity of purpose can help your team achieve its goals.
  • Learn that like the characters in the Wizard of Oz, each member of your team has positive contributions to make toward team success.
  • Create strategies to overcome adversity.

Beth Flynn is facilitating this workshop from 9am to noon – at 2120 Fyffe Road, room 105. Cost is $75 participant. To register, go to: https://regonline.com/seriesleadership.

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Strengths-Based Management and Supervision Workshop – April 21

There is no certain strength or set of strengths that create an effective manager. The best managers and supervisors figure out how to bring out the best of each employee’s strengths.

Previous participation at a StrengthsFinder awareness workshop is required. This information can expand the manager’s ability to build his or her work team by selecting the right person for the right position, set high expectations for team achievement, engage employees so they are motivated to be successful, and finally through coaching and workshops, develop each member to be an active participant on the team.

This workshop will enable supervisors and managers to:

  • Appreciate their personal strengths in their role as a leader of a team.
  • Gain a better understanding and appreciation of the strengths of their team members.
  • Build upon the team members’ strengths to create a stronger team.

To participate in this workshop, you must have attended a StrengthsFinder awareness workshop. Beth Flynn is facilitating this workshop from 9am to noon. Cost is $75 per participant. To register, go to https://regonline.com/seriesleadership.

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Mission Possible: Positive Leadership Workshop – April 30

Are you a positive leader? Do you wonder how others think about your attitude as a leader? A quick test is to observe the way people react to you when you walk into a room. Are people happy to see you? Do they want to talk to you? Or do they quickly make themselves scarce? If they run when they see you, it's time for an attitude check.

Negativity in organizations is costing U.S. businesses $300 billion per year. Organizations that have a positive culture are more productive, have happier employees and most importantly, happy and satisfied customers. It is imperative that leaders establish a culture of positive leadership. As a leader, others look to you to set the tone for your team or organization. Being engaged and committed to a positive culture is a priority for the leader, and also every employee in the organization.

Leaders have a choice about their attitude – and no matter what the situation, you have a choice to make about how you are going to react. It is vital that you create positive strategies that keep your team or organization strong.

Participants will:

  • Learn new ideas for boosting their own attitude;
  • Develop strategies for creating a positive culture at work;
  • Discuss ways to increase productivity at work; and
  • Improve working relationships.

Beth Flynn is facilitating this workshop from 9am to noon. Cost is $75 per participant. To register, go to https://regonline.com/seriesleadership.

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Save the Date - New OSUE Employee Welcome Festival on October 22

Calling all new employees and stakeholders who help make the Welcome Festival a success! If you have joined OSU Extension since our fall 2014 welcome fest, please hold October 22 to join in the fun and have the opportunity to connect with your new OSU Extension colleagues.

The Welcome Festival is a tradeshow-type event that provides a fun and engaging way for new employees to learn about OSU Extension, build relationships with colleagues, develop skills helpful to the job, and explore connections to the Ohio State network. More details and information on how to register will be available in September.

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Save the Date – Research in View Training on October 23

Especially for those who will already be in Columbus on October 22 for the New Employee Welcome Festival, the Program Development and Evaluation (PDE) unit is inviting program personnel to attend training on the basics of using Research in View. Come get acquainted with how to effectively and efficiently report the important work you do. More details and information on how to register will be available in September.

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OSU Extension Personnel Update

See the attached summary of Extension appointments, changes, separations, and retirements for the first quarter of 2015.

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