[Ccb_faculty] Administrative changes within and beyond BMPN

[CNAS Dean]

Dear Faculty.

I am updating you on our next steps as we work with the BMPN unit to continue to strengthen operations.  Our strategy is to first reduce the workload of the unit and then help the team stabilize and gain momentum.

To this end:

1. The CNAS Dean’s office is assisting with analysis and close-out of historical accounting issues within the unit.  This has already commenced.  This will free up the BMPN staff to focus on managing current awards and preparing new grant proposals.  The Dean’s office role is temporary, but we anticipate reconciliation to be completed by the end of this current quarter, with a follow-up during FY closing in June 2026.

2. The CNAS Dean’s Office, working with FAO Morgando and FOM Vanta, will closely monitor, with the CNAS Dean’s Office, the progress of the two new analysts being trained.  The CNAS training program will continue.  Evaluation of permanent staffing levels that are appropriate for BMPN sustainability are underway and are a component of the long term plan.

3. Administration of the Nematology Department will permanently transfer to the Entomology Department.  The two departments will retain their separate academic titles, responsibilities, and identities; however, Entomology administrative procedures will be followed for purchasing, facilities, contracts, and grants, among other matters, to create a unified unit with respect to procedures and services. Nematology faculty will be assigned analysts in consultation with FAO Tapia who will work with Chairs Weirauch and Dillman.  Entomology will receive an additional staff FTE who will be based in the Entomology office.  We aim to have this transfer completed, in stages,  by the early-mid winter quarter of 2026.   		

Announcements of further changes will follow over the next few weeks.  I again ask for teamwork, flexibility, patience, respect and grace from all faculty and staff as we undertake the continued strengthening and support of BMPN.  Our staff and faculty colleagues in Entomology welcome their colleagues from Nematology, and our office will also be attentive and focused on the merger of these two administrative units, ensuring that the increased workload for them does not generate stress.  

I thank the staff and faculty of the Entomology Department for their willingness and enthusiasm in stepping up to this difficult task and for helping our colleagues in other units, as has the Botany & Plant Sciences Department, which has also helped train new analysts in BMPN  and assisted elsewhere as needed.  The college is indebted to you.  Finally, I thank the faculty and staff of BMPN for being open to change and for their ongoing teamwork to keep things moving forward during this challenging transition.

Gratefully yours,

Peter


Peter W. Atkinson, Ph.D.
Dean
College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences
2315 Olmsted Hall (Dean's Office)
2234A Genomics Building (Faculty Office)
University of California 
Riverside, CA 92521, USA

Ph: 951-827-3101
e-mail: peter.atkinson at ucr.edu
https://atkinsonlabentm.ucr.edu/

Executive Assistant: Jennifer Markovski
(office) 951-827-4597



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