Extension Leadership Team Meeting Minutes May 15, 2023

June 9, 2023 ELT Minutes, News

Extension Leadership Team Meeting Minutes
May 15, 2023
Virtual Meeting 8:30-11:00 AM

Facilitator: Michael Bailey
Note taker: Jason Bolton

Please note: Due to the confidentiality and sensitivity of some agenda items, these ELT minutes do not represent the full content of each meeting.

Meeting Focus

Agenda items relate to one of these three goals with corresponding action items and/or priorities.

Make Extension a sustainable, equitable and enjoyable place to work
Work on structural, (county offices, staffing patterns), cultural and leadership issues that will lead to this
Focus on employee experience
Restructure Extension
Right size based on budget
Mission delivery that is current, and responsive to changing demographics/community needs
Overall efficiency and effectiveness
Define focus areas
Make PFAS a priority for Extension (define what this means; not necessarily a piece of everyone’s job, but an organizational priority nevertheless).

Check Ins

FY24 budget is still in flux and Hannah will keep ELT posted on when to push the positions forward.
Cornerstone Lobbying firm on campus Tuesday, tour at DRL.
On May 22, the Ag Appropriations staff will tour the DRL.
Hannah has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Maine Connectivity Authority.
4-H Maine Youth Teen Conference last weekend was a success.
Somerset County Open House was very well planned with great displays and presentations/workshops by various Extension staff from across the state.
GL training is being offered to staff one-on-one as part of new employee training.
Brightspace tutorials are making progress, including various modules for financial training. They are now in the hands of Mari Glatter and Gloria Menchaca (non-grants) and Michael Bailey (grants).
We are exploring Concur support for Amanda Miles.
4-H Summer camp enrollment is excellent.
Ryder is involved with an “outdoor education for all” bill making its way through the Maine legislature.
Jason Bolton and Ryder are working with Brian Olsen to support Bridgeweek (now termed Immersion Week).
Extension was represented at a Liberation Farms Blessing for the 2023 Planting Season community event held by the Somali Bantu Community Association.
Nov 8 & 9 are the tentative dates for the 2023 organizational conference.

Discussion Items

Extension statewide needs assessment

The ELT has made progress in moving forward with the development and implementation of a statewide needs assessment to help the organization understand and prioritize our research and educational activities.

Love and Work

In January, The ELT agreed to read and discuss the book “Love and Work”, by Marcus Buckingham, and we finally were able to carve out time to have the discussion which was rich and held insights for our own work lives and for how we lead within Extension.

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/59682855

Other resources on similar topics were noted by ELT members. These included:

Early College Using County Offices

Hannah participated in a retreat with the Early College team last week. She mentioned the idea we had to have Admissions staff use our county offices to meet with prospective students/parents and they were enthusiastic about the idea and would like to possibly try it with Early College. They would also are excited to be able to share information with the counties/4-H regarding Early College opportunities.

TOP 10 list of reminders to all staff

Consulting and overload form
One time requests for funds
System for documenting incidents
Salary offset funds (partial) expiry (9/30)
Start-up funds expirations (Professional/Faculty; rolling, based on hire)
Indirect Cost Return Notifications + Fund Balances (these can accumulate year over year)
(other employee orientation topics – HR topics and PA/supervisor roles*)

* Supervisor responsibilities

Updates

Position negotiation process

System for negotiation – after the hiring committee has made a recommendation and HR has approved the committee report.

Extension Position negotiation process (Faculty)

Overload and Outside Consulting Approval Work Form

Those teaching a course as an overload and have no teaching appointment (faculty or staff) must inform their supervisor about these situations. Staff must notify their supervisor when they are performing consulting.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13YrUEO06Hh7vF_P-3QejiTFw_p2KetDhAu9oZv7zftI/edit?usp=sharing

System for documenting incidents with clients or volunteers

New form for reporting incidents with volunteers

New form for reporting safety and behavior with staff

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16Rbcva1wPsJcxHkJaB1p2176UjyshuHmDiZyiDYdxGY/edit?usp=sharing

One-time funding proposal requests process

The funding request process should be communicated with staff. This includes the application, evaluation, and timeline processes.

https://extension.umaine.edu/plugged-in/policies-guidelines/policies-procedures-manual/section-four-programs-and-reports/4-6/

Search Updates

WAITING FOR APPROVALS IN HIRETOUCH

Scientific Research Specialist, CL2 – DRL (1/6 approvals as of 5/4/23)
Parent Education Professional, Maine Families Visitor – Knox/Lincoln (1/6 approvals as of 5/4/23)

ADVERTISING / ANTICIPATING APPLICANTS

Communications Professional – hybrid remote
Asst Professor, Maine Sustainable Agriculture and Farm Business Management Educator – Knox/Lincoln/Waldo
Asst Extension Professor, Maine Sustainable Agriculture and Livestock Educator – Hancock/Washington
Asst Professor Sustainable Agriculture and Ornamental Horticulture Educator, Faculty – York County / Southern ME
Oh YEA! 4-H Professional – And/Sag
Oh YEA! 4-H Professional – Washington
Oh YEA! 4-H Professional – Cumberland
AgrAbility Coordinator – statewide
Urban Agriculture Professional – TBD, NRCS office
Admin Specialist CL2 4-H – Cumberland
Parent Education Professional, Maine Families – Waldo
Parent Education Professional, Maine Families Visitor – Knox/Lincoln

INTERVIEWING / OFFERING

Admin Specialist CL3, Online Learning Assist. – Orono / statewide
4-H Community Education Assistant – Waldo
Climate Smart Agriculture Professional – TBD, NRCS office
Assistant/Associate Professor, Seafood Technology, Food Safety Specialist – Penobscot

HIRED

Sustainable Agriculture & Horticulture Professional – Aroostook – David Lowe, June 1

2023 ELT In-Person Meeting Dates

Dates	Facilitator	Notes	Location
June 30	Bolton	Carter	218 Randall Student Center – UMA
July 17	Carter	Dill	201 Libby Hall – Orono Campus
August 7	Dill	Harrington	Virtual
September 20	Harrington	Jackson	Hancock
October 18	Jackson	Prichard	Knox/Lincoln
November 15	Prichard	Phelps	York
December 20	Phelps	Scott	Virtual