April 29, 2020 Liaison Committee Meeting Minutes

Content

Attendees: VC Boehm, AVC Bischoff, Joel Cramer, Maria de Guzman, Jenny Keshwani, Ron Lewis, Aaron Nygren, Carlos Urrea, Stephen Wegulo, and Anna Lowe (recorder)

Agenda:

  1. COVID-19 response update
  2. Outcomes of the vote for the new IANR Liaison Committee
  3. Promotion Committees for Extension Educators
  4. Endpoint Security Standard: Protecting data on UNL computers
  5. N2025 Engagement
  6. Impact of broader university engagement on IANR and Extension, and how to strategically contribute to this effort
  7. Facilities Update
  8. Responsibility-based budgeting update
  9. Merit review/market adjustments in IANR faculty members

VC Boehm and AVC Bischoff expressed appreciation for the Liaison Committee. VC Boehm thanked the members for all of their contributions. A special thank you to Joel, Jenny, and Aaron as they will be ending their time with the committee in June.

COVID-19 response update:

VC Boehm expressed his appreciation for all IANR faculty, staff, and students and their response and ability to transition to working/learning remotely.

Like many institutions across the country, the University of Nebraska will be engaging in budget contingency planning. The University of Nebraska is anticipating a loss in revenue from March 1st – End of June, and possibly into the next quarter. At this time, President Carter and Chancellor Green have asked that units receiving state funds to conserve 3% of the fourth quarter funds. This includes academic units and centers. Reductions in travel and utility costs will ease this burden. While there has not been an announcement about a permanent reduction in the budget, Chancellor Green has asked the vice chancellors to develop budget contingency plans in case the governor and the unicameral have to make decisions to reduce state appropriations. VC Boehm will engage unit leaders and center directors in budget conservation and the budget contingency planning efforts. VC Boehm expressed confidence that IANR will figure out a way to navigate the budget.

VC Boehm said discussions are ongoing about how UNL will resume in person operations. These conversations include discussions of personal protective equipment, spatial distancing, and the expanded use of technology in teaching and learning.

Outcomes of the vote for the new IANR Liaison Committee

New Liaison Committee members:

  • Tracy Behnken, Extension Educator, 4-H and Zone 8
  • Mary-Grace Danao, Research Associate Professor, Research/Extension/Teaching, Food Science & Technology
  • Azzeddine Azzam, Roy Fredrick Professor, Research/Teaching, Agricultural Economics

They will begin their term in July 2020 and serve three year terms. An email will be sent to all IANR faculty with the vote results.

Promotion Committees for Extension Educators

Due to the reconfiguration of Extension to include Engagement Zones and programs, Extension is designing new structure for extension educator promotion committees. Liaison Committee was invited to review the proposal and provide feedback to Dave Varner, Associate Director of Extension.

Endpoint Security Standard: Protecting data on UNL computers

It has become apparent that gaps in cyber security exists. VC Boehm has been working with -----Heath Tuttle and the university’s IT team to tighten down IANR’s security of our technology. The IANR Senior Leadership team will test new approaches. He will then ask VC Tuttle to visit with the Liaison Committee regarding what the roll out to faculty, staff, and students would look like to enhance cyber security. An example of some of the things that may be done include the opportunity to remote kill a stolen laptop and wipe the hard drive.

N2025 Engagement

Chancellor Green asked each vice chancellor to take responsibility for one of the aim’s of the N2025 Strategic Plan. VC Boehm was asked to take the lead for the Engagement aim. This gave VC Boehm the opportunity to help shape about extension, outreach, and engagement not only from the perspective of IANR but the University as a whole.

Facilities Update

VC Boehm noted that construction continues to progress.

  • CY Thompson continues to progress
  • $5 million expansion of the life science annex for a germ free mouse facilities
  • The Dairy Store has been moved and the construction of the green space is on schedule
  • Miller Hall demolished
  • Adjustments to Barkley Center are in planning stages.
  • Moving of the Child Development Lab and the Couple and Family Clinic is on hold until fundraising can be completed.

All of the above construction is anticipated to be completed just as IANR moves into its 50th year/CASNR into its 150th/NCTA into its 100th year.

Another big project is the widening of Deadman’s run from 46th St to Salt Creek. This is a $25 million project funded by NRD and the City of Lincoln. This increases the holding capacity of Deadman’s run and takes East Campus and the University Place neighborhood out of the flood plain. There will be a place of human made tertiary wetlands installed at 48th St and Holdrege St. that will be used by SNR teaching and learning to monitor water quality. This will have the potential to change the physical nature of campus, which will programmatically open up east campus as a living, learning, engagement zone.

VC Boehm indicated that he is aware that the green houses on East Campus are old and need to be replaced.
Meeting adjourned at 11:00 AM
Distributed electronically to the IANR Liaison Committee for review.