Governmental Relations and Advocacy

The Governmental Relations and Advocacy unit represents the Division's legislative, budget, advocacy and program interests with county governments, the California State Legislature, Congress, governmental agencies and other key audiences and interests. The unit works closely with the UC Office of the President in Oakland and colleagues in the offices of Statewide Governmental Relations in Sacramento and Federal Governmental Relations in Washington, D.C., to ensure consistency in ANR and UC budget and advocacy messages and program priorities. The unit is managed by Steven Nation.

News and Information Outreach

The News and Information Outreach unit is the Division's primary liaison with the news media and assists ANR academics and staff in preparing press releases, media advisories, meeting announcements and other communications materials. Public information representatives in Oakland , Fresno and Riverside write news releases, conduct media training for ANR employees, arrange news conferences and other media events, and answer media inquiries about the Division, its programs, people and accomplishments. In addition, News and Information Outreach is responsible for the ANR Web site, ANR Report and the News and Information Outreach in Spanish program (see below). ANR Report is the Division's internal electronic newsletter and serves as a key communications vehicle for the Office of the Vice President and Division academics and staff on three campuses, over 60 county-based offices and nine research and extension centers. ANR Report is published monthly, with frequent special editions to bring ANR employees the latest news on the budget, personnel matters, and awards and accomplishments. News releases, issues of ANR Report, and media training and information materials are available online. The unit is managed by Pamela Kan-Rice, assistant director for ANR News and Information Outreach.

News and Information Outreach in Spanish

The statewide News and Information Outreach in Spanish (NOS) program, located at UC Riverside, links ANR with the Spanish language media and works with faculty, specialists and advisors on UC campuses and in UC Cooperative Extension county offices to extend educational information from the Division to California 's Spanish-speaking population. The unit produces a series of radio stories and news feeds each month that are distributed to Spanish-language radio stations and newspapers. It also offers AsisTel de la UC, pre-recorded information on a variety of consumer topics via a toll-free line. In addition, NOS provides ANR academics with media liaison assistance, Spanish-language translation services, and general guidance in working with Spanish-language audiences in order to maximize their ability to reach this important sector of the state's population. Information in Spanish is available online. Myriam Grajales-Hall is manager for the NOS program.

Administrative Support

The Administrative Support unit provides general support for the Office of Governmental and External Relations, including budget, personnel and database management services, distribution of news releases, newsletters and other communications, and compliance with UC guidelines, policies and administrative procedures. The unit manages ANR logo use and distribution and development of a variety of logo materials. Administrative Services is responsible for tracking state, federal and local legislation and regulations directly affecting the Division, its programs and people and compiling legislative analyses. The unit provides support for the President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources, including planning and logistical services for biennial meetings, and assists the Office of the Vice President-Agriculture and Natural Resources in ANR-related events and tours involving The Regents, the Office of the President, campus and county-based units, elected officials, various official delegations, and key stakeholders.

President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources

The President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources (PAC) was established by former UC president Richard C. Atkinson in 1998 to strengthen communications with California's agricultural interests, reinvigorate the University's land grant mission, and build greater understanding and support for UC's research activities, Cooperative Extension county-based programs and classroom instruction and teaching at three colleges of agriculture and natural resources and the school of veterinary medicine. The PAC, under President Robert C. Dynes, brings together senior leaders from the state's agricultural, natural resources, environmental and human resources interests and the University twice a year to share new information and ideas, surface emerging issues and challenges facing California and gain exposure to the breadth and range of UC research, teaching and Cooperative Extension programs. The Office of Governmental and External Relations staffs the President's Advisory Commission, arranges meetings and coordinates communications.

Joint Policy Council on Agriculture and Higher Education

The Joint Policy Council on Agriculture and Higher Education (JPC) was established to encourage greater collaboration in teaching, research and educational outreach programs across Community Colleges, California State University and the University of California. Co-chairs are the UC Vice President-Agriculture and Natural Resources and the President, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The Office of Governmental and External Relations staffs the JPC.

Revised May 2007