A year ago, Vice President Dooley made a series of announcements outlining action steps needed to address both unprecedented budget cuts totaling over $9 million in permanent reductions and unfunded liabilities while also realigning ANR administrative units and procedures to efficiently support the UC ANR Strategic Vision and to implement its initiatives.
As a significant part of our response to these challenges, a major effort was launched to maximize administrative efficiency, eliminate duplication, and redirect resources to program support. While minor adjustments are still possible, the major elements of this restructuring are in place and fully operational. Moreover, the actions taken have resulted in substantial savings across ANR.
Maximizing Efficiencies:
Steps taken included:
- Closing two executive offices in Oakland ANR
- Closing the North Coast and Mountain, Central Valley, and Central Coast and South regional offices
The closing of the three regional offices accounted for over 34 administrative FTE and over $2.8 million salary and related expenses. Oakland ANR office closings and other actions generated an additional $400,000.
Redistribution and Streamlining:
To streamline administrative support to our roughly 400 academics and program representatives and to consolidate operations across ANR, we redirected these resources along with those from support units and statewide programs to create three centralized support units:
- The Business Operations Center at Kearney for county needs
- The Business Operations Center at Davis for support units and statewide programs
- The Program Support Unit for support of all phases of ANR program delivery.
Total savings from the administrative reorganization is just under $1.3 million. ANR business, personnel, and program support activities and workflow are being handled. Also, we benefit from the fact that coverage and business controls requirements are met.
These changes have not been without other costs as well. Many staff have been affected by closures or restructuring. Virtually all staff have adapted to new realities and accepted new responsibilities. The result is that we are now structured to more efficiently conduct the business of ANR and more effectively support our research and extension mission.
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This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.