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News and Notes: September 25, 2020

OUR VISION: Ohioans have the knowledge and resources they need to actively engage in creating conditions in which they thrive.

OUR MISSION: We create opportunities for people to explore how science-based knowledge can improve social, economic and environmental conditions.

  1. Thoughts from the Director

    Hi friends...
    I participated in a national conversation yesterday with Extension directors and administrators to discuss leadership in a time of social, economic, and political disruption. There were more than 120 participants and the conversations were at once inspiring and perplexing. A key focus of the discussions was around the paradox of creating and sustaining an infrastructure for the future (whatever “post-COVID” looks like), while effectively addressing local needs and community issues. This balance has never been easy and COVID has not done anything to make it easier. There were two breakout sessions focused on innovation and systems thinking as it relates to post-COVID-19 Extension and to racial equity. The discussions were enlightening and highly engaging as leaders across the nation discussed the concerns, resources, best practice/lessons learned, and ideas for leadership in these times. I left the meeting with many excellent ideas, some new connections, a wealth of new resources, and an even deeper belief that Extension and the land-grant system is poised to make a legacy difference in addressing the critical issues of our time. We are the bridge between the most up-to-date research and science and the application of this knowledge in real-life situations. We are and have always been in a position to engage the community in conversations and reciprocal discussions about life informing research and research informing life. Now is the time for us to really listen and to hear what is important and needed locally and across our state. It is time to prioritize our time and efforts toward what matters most. I look forward over the next few months to beginning our strategic alignment process and making progress on addressing recommendations from our program area reviews, our urban plan, as well as our LifeWorks and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion task forces. Our goal is to ensure everyone has a voice in determining our path in OSU Extension and that we are creating a vibrant future for our employees and our communities that makes a discernable difference in the quality of life for all Ohioans. 

    I can’t close my message today without mentioning the importance of our ongoing need to address social and racial inequities as we continue to experience additional injustice in our communities of color. We are an organization that exists to meet the needs of all Ohioans. We need to reflect and ask ourselves what we are doing to improve the quality of lives for everyone. 

    As our university non-discrimination notice states, “The Ohio State University is committed to building and maintaining a community to reflect human diversity and to improve opportunities for all. The university is committed to equal opportunity, affirmative action, and eliminating discrimination and harassment. This commitment is both a moral imperative consistent with an intellectual community that celebrates individual differences and diversity, as well as a matter of law. Ohio State does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status, or any other bases under the law, in its education program or activity, which includes employment.” 

    We are particularly positioned to make a difference around the social indicators of health, food security, workforce preparation, community vitality, personal and economic well-being, and impacting the culture of inclusion and respect. I would encourage each of us to consider what we can personally and organizationally bring to the table to make this a better world for everyone. 

  2. Interim Director’s Video Update

    Thanks again to those who listened live last week for the video update. We know you’re busy, so the conversation was recorded. You can review my update and the question/answer session at the end here. The audio transcript posted with the recording was edited for basic name and general corrections. We’re looking to schedule the next video update in early November; we will share a date as soon as that is confirmed. 

  3. Programming and Activities Update

    I mentioned these numbers during the video update, but it bears repeating – we have a lot going on around the state! Thank you for your continued work with our clientele, and especially for your commitment to being safe while we connect with our clients and colleagues. 

    Research and Extension Activities (exemptions) 

    More than 120 separate requests were received between March and August. These primarily focused on applied research and the governor’s defined essential categories of agriculture and food systems. 

    In-Person programming (exemptions) 

    At least 169 separate requests have been received since the last week of July; this does include some blanket requests for statewide programs such as PAT and CARTEENS. Nearly all were approved and have begun. This total doesn’t include most of the fair-related activities under a previous exemption. Remember, in-person activities should be those time-critical/essential programs that can’t be accomplished virtually. 

    Please note: If you have permission to hold an event, you and all of your team members listed in the proposal must complete a required training short course before the event. The course is posted in Scarlet Canvas, and a link to enroll in the course is included in the letter that grants you permission to hold the event. This is different than the required BuckeyeLearn course that had to be completed by every university employee about being and keeping safe while you work. The BuckeyeLearn course does not count as training for your in-person programming preparation. 

  4. Farm Science Review

    This year’s virtual Farm Science Review provided many excellent opportunities for our Extension professionals to reach out and connect with ag industry leaders, partners, producers, and colleagues this week. Kudos to all of you who helped prepare, present and moderate more than 190 scheduled educational events, with more than 450 educational features and components. Recordings will be available through next summer, and I’m sure this particular event will make a lasting impact on the ag industry. As of yesterday, activity through Map Your Show indicates that 7,200 people have visited 27,000 times. In addition, we have about 8,000 Facebook live views. The exhibitor view average is 70 per page, with a range of zero to 1,500. The 2020 Land-Grant Cornerstone Conversation featuring Governor Mike DeWine, our new Ohio State President Kristine Johnson, and our own Dean Cathann Kress has been viewed nearly 700 times already. An extraordinary effort by all to make this first-ever virtual FSR a huge success. 

  5. Scarlet Canvas: Public-facing, online, Learning Management System (LMS)

    OSU Extension has completed the migration from Carmen Canvas to Scarlet Canvas during the pandemic. This image below illustrates what the menu and course listing looks like in Scarlet Canvas. We have made available a learning management system platform that allows us to create courses that our clientele can log into; and we also will have a course catalog as we build Extension courses. The system also accepts online credit card payments through Cybersource (thanks to the work of Jesse Buxton). We also are in the process of adding a remote proctoring feature for courses where exam integrity must be ensured (including youth where parent/guardian permission has been granted). 

    Our initial virtual learning activities included: state-level animal science skillathons (seven separate courses enrolling approximately 1,077 youth); fertilizer applicator recertification (127 adults); private pesticide applicator recertification (17 adults); and commercial pesticide applicator certification (430 adults). There’s more to come! For more information, send an email to FAES-OnlineOutreach@osu.edu

  6. Workday Preparation

    To help prepare the campus and health system communities for Workday to go live on Jan. 3, the Enterprise Project has posted some facilitated trainings here. Now is a good time to work through some of these trainings, because Workday will here soon and will impact how each of us do our work. 

    BuckeyeLearn – All training that core users are expected to take will be listed on an individual's BuckeyeLearn transcript. Training is assigned on a rolling basis, so check your ‘My Transcript’ often. Remember, OSU Compass can be a quick shortcut to view assigned BuckeyeLearn trainings. These trainings are assigned based on your roles in PeopleSoft. 

  7. BuckeyePass Changes Coming in October

    You may need to adjust your BuckeyePass authentication options. On Oct. 15, the “Call Me” option will be retired. If you use this option, you will need to go to buckeyepass.osu.edu before Oct. 15 and add a new contact method. On Oct. 29, BuckeyePass will begin protecting all Office 365 applications, including Outlook. Please note that this change has already been completed for staff and faculty. You will be prompted to reconnect to these applications using BuckeyePass. New authentication options have been added such as MacBook Touch ID, security keys and hard tokens. Learn more here.

  8. Ohio JCEP Professional Development Scholarship Winners

    Congratulations to the Round 2 Ohio JCEP Professional Development Scholarship Winners! 

    • Justin Bower, Logan County 4-H Educator, NAE4-HYPD Conference 
    • Kyle White, Medina, Lorain, Summit CD Educator, NACDEP & Disney Approach to Business Excellence 
    • Katie Cole, Seneca County 4-H Educator, NAE4-HYPD Conference 
    • Frances Foos, Madison County, 4-H Educator, 4-H Professionals Cultural Immersion Trip 
    • Anna Gerten, Putnam County Program Assistant, NAE4-HYPD Conference 

    We encourage all Ohio JCEP members to apply by Oct. 1 for the third (final) round of scholarships for 2020 via the application link at go.osu.edu/ojcepscholarship

  9. NEAFCS Award Winners 

    Congratulations to the national and regional NEAFCS Award Winners winners.

    National and Regional: 

    • Extension Housing Outreach Award: Beth Stefura and team, first place national and first place Central Region 
    • Communication Award, Written Media: National and Central region – first place Amanda Bohlen, second place Lorrissa Dunfee 


    National:

    • Mary W. Wells Diversity Award: first place Whitney Gherman 
    • Continued Excellence: Margaret Jenkins, Dan Remley 
    • Distinguished Service: Beth Stefura 


    Regional Awards: 

    • Communication Award, Podcast: first place Emily Marrison 
    • Early Child Care Training Award: third place Emilee Drerup and team 
    • Innovative Youth Development: third place Jami Dellifield 


    National office holders:

    Pat Brinkman installed as vice president of professional development and Kate Shumaker installed as secretary. 

  10. In the News: Spotted Lanternfly: Smithsonian Magazine

    Amy Stone was interviewed and featured in a recent edition of Smithsonian magazine! Clearly her expertise and leadership with Spotted Lanternfly efforts are recognized far and wide. Please join me in celebrating her success and value as an OSU Extension asset! 

  11. ACEL to Extension – Next Series

    This 10-session series is offered directly to Extension personnel by ACEL (Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership) faculty. For more information, visit go.osu.edu/ACELtoExtension. Note: you must register for each session individually. 

  12. Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience: A Guide for Extension Educational Programming

  13. Risk Management in Agribusiness

    Use this site from University of Delaware Cooperative Extension as a resource for risk management in agribusiness.

  14. ArcGIS Online Challenge

    Have you come across an interactive map on the web and wondered “how did they make that?” Have you heard about GIS (geographic information systems) and wished you could learn more? If you answered “yes” to either question, the Autumn ArcGIS Online Challenge is for you! This self-paced, 100% online challenge is designed to be completed over five weeks, with two to three hours of work per week. This workshop is Sept. 28 to Oct. 30 via weekly email prompts. Learn more here.

      

  15. Digital Dialogues on Human Rights

    The Global Arts + Humanities Digital Dialogues series brings together artists, scholars and activists working in a range of disciplines aligning with our current Society of Fellows theme of Human Rights: Pasts and Futures. Autumn event topics include Human Rights Pasts and Futures: Pandemics, Racism and Colonialism; Disability, Sexuality and Human Rights; and Migrant Rights Within Empire, Art Activism and Democracy. RSVP to receive a Zoom link and participation instructions. Learn more here.

  16. Cold and Flu Season

    This orgainal message was from Tracy Kitchel, but it has been adapted for Extension.

    As we head into cold and flu season, I know we’re going to get (and have gotten) questions about how to handle that in relation to COVID-19 and our on-campus presence. Here are a few points to consider as we move forward: 

    • If employees are showing symptoms of a cold or flu in ways that may overlap with COVID-19 symptoms, they should not report to the office or program sites. 
    • As employees complete the check-in app, they should receive a “red condition” telling them and their supervisor that the employee should not report to on to the office or program site as one of the questions asks about new symptoms. We should look at this similarly to how we’ve looked at our cleaning protocols in that, out of an abundance of caution, the employee will not be reporting to work. 
    • Please do not try to “power through” a cold or other illnesses. We would do better to leave our germs at home. 
    • Remember that as cold and flu season begins to ramp up, more requests for testing will surface, and testing on campus and other sites may get overwhelmed. If you hear consistent issues around testing, please let us know. 
    • Finally, support your colleagues as best you can as they make these decisions to not report to the office and program sites if they are ill. 
  17. Fall Flu Immunizations

    Visit linktohealth.osu.edu (L2H) to schedule your personal flu appointment at multiple locations around campus. In addition to L2H, several flu options will be available this fall through primary care doctors and pharmacies. Be sure to check your health insurance to see what pharmacy works for your coverage. OSU Health Plan enrolled faculty and staff can click here

  18. Biometric Health Screenings

    While biometric health screenings aren’t required this year, Buckeye Wellness is hosting small events to support faculty and staff interested in knowing their numbers or learning more about health and wellness programs and resources available. Contact: lori.reiter@osumc.edu

    • Only a PHA is needed to earn premium credit for the remainder of 2020. 
    • If you complete a verified screening, you will earn 3,000 bonus points. 
    • For full details and FAQs, visit yp4h.osu.edu/update