New Programmatic Structure
Effective July 1, 2025, UC ANR has a new programmatic structure to better represent the breadth of research and extension efforts of our academics and programmatic staff while facilitating collaboration between UC ANR-affiliated personnel to advance the UC ANR Strategic Vision. With this new structure, the five Strategic Initiatives have been replaced by six Program Areas that group together new related Program Teams. Program Areas and Program Teams will be overseen by the new Vice Provost of Research and Program Integration.
Program Areas
Program Areas are groupings of related Program Teams within a broader thematic range and serve as a unifying structure that brings together similar focus areas to address shared challenges, opportunities and programmatic goals. Each Program Area has a Chair who is responsible for providing leadership to the Program Team leaders within their Program Area, serving on Program Council, and convening their Program Area Panel. Program Area Panels will facilitate collaboration, align efforts and streamline communication among related Program Teams; identify programmatic priorities; and facilitate proposal development to help secure funding for their Program Area.
The Program Areas are:
- Agronomy and Horticulture
- Animal Production Systems
- Community and Economic Development
- Integrated Pest Management
- Natural Ecosystems & Working Landscapes
- Youth, Families, & Communities
See the list of new Program Areas and their leaders
Program Teams
Program Teams provide a structured, discipline-focused platform for UC academics, staff and external partners to convene, collaborate, share knowledge and experiences, engage in self-training, and drive research and extension efforts. While they are oriented around broad disciplinary themes, they also play a crucial role beyond a single discipline, especially when they support multiple workgroups, and are better positioned to collaborate with UC ANR administration, UC campuses and stakeholders. New Program Teams have been developed under respective Program Areas to ensure that UC ANR’s Program Teams are broad enough to be effective networking avenues while also being narrow enough in scope to support effective collaboration. Each Program Team is now co-led by a field-based and a campus-based academic to encourage collaboration across the UC ANR network.
See the list of new Program Teams and their leaders.
Workgroups
Workgroups are research and/or extension based and function as part of a Program Team. Program Teams will now manage their own Workgroups. Academics and relevant staff interested in joining a Workgroup should contact the relevant Program Team Leader.
Program Team Meetings
UC ANR will continue to provide funding for Program Teams to meet once per year in-person, including funding for academics and relevant staff to travel to one in-person meeting per year. UC ANR’s Program Support Unit will continue to provide logistical support and event planning for Program Team meetings.
For more information about programmatic operations and logistics, including Program Team meeting guidelines and how to request a Program Team meeting, visit the Program Team Meetings website.
As we transition to the new programmatic structure, we will monitor outcomes and adapt the structure to address needs. I appreciate your patience as we transition to the new structure, establish new Program Team membership, and merge the previous Workgroups into the new Program Teams.
I want to extend my gratitude to the outgoing Strategic Initiative Leaders for their participation in Program Council, their programmatic and strategic leadership, and their valuable input in developing the new programmatic structure. I also want to thank those of you from across UC ANR that provided feedback on the new structure as it was being developed. We will continue to consider feedback as we implement the new programmatic structure.
Brent D. Hales
Associate Vice President