COVID-19 continues to impact our program and the ability to complete standard UC Master Gardener volunteer hour requirements. Based on feedback of program coordinators, adjustments to volunteer hour requirements are available for the 2021-22 program year (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022).
This flexibility is intended to address ongoing challenges related to COVID-19 and is currently not approved beyond the 2021-22 program year. This article was prepared for UC Master Gardener Program Coordinators and can be shared in full or in part through county channels.
Items identified as “at the discretion of the County Program” (see Master Gardener below) may be implemented based on county circumstances. The UCCE County Director has decision-making authority that may be delegated to the UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator or Advisor.
2021-22 Adjustment to Volunteer Hours
- Limited Active – Statewide policy change in 2020 allowing volunteers to remain on Limited Active status for 3 years before being considered “Resigned.” Limited Active volunteers must complete reappointment annually to stay on Limited Active status.
- First-Year Master Gardener – There are no adjustments to First-Year Master Gardener expectations for the 2021-22 program year. Expectation is 50 volunteer and 0 continuing education hours.
- Master Gardener – At the discretion of the County Program, flexibility may be applied to qualifying continuing education and volunteer activities such that:
- Continuing Education (CE) Hours
A minimum of 12 continuing education hours is required. Up to 25 CE hours may also be recorded as volunteer hours in the ‘COVID Exception Hours' project in VMS.
Example: A volunteer has 30 continuing education hours, they can record 12 as CE hours and 18 as volunteer hours in the ‘COVID Exception Hours' project in VMS. This volunteer will only need an additional 7 volunteer hours for the year. Those 7 hours may be recorded in any project/category including ‘COVID Exception Hours'. - Volunteer Hours
A minimum of 25 volunteer hours is required. Limited non-traditional activities are approved for volunteer hours for the 2021-22 program year and should be recorded in the ‘COVID Exception Hours' project in VMS. Up to 25 ‘COVID Exception Hours' are allowed.
Example: A volunteer volunteered 40 hours at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic and 20 hours supporting the UC Master Gardener Program's helpline. They can record 25 hours in the ‘COVID Exception Hours' project in VMS for working at the vaccination clinic and 20 hours in the ‘Hotline/Helpline' project in VMS for their helpline work. Altogether, they have 45 recorded volunteer hours and have met the volunteer hour requirement for the year. (Note: COVID Exception Hours can not exceed 25 hours, while this volunteer spent 40 hours at the vaccination clinic, only 25 hours can be recorded in VMS for this year.)
- Continuing Education (CE) Hours
- “COVID Exception Hours” may not exceed 25 hours and must be for unpaid work as outlined below. This flexibility is only approved through the 2021-22 program year. See How-To Enter COVID Exception Hours for a quick VMS tutorial.
- Up to 25 continuing education hours
- Volunteer work directly related to the COVID-19 response (e.g., work at a vaccination clinic or as a contact tracer)
- Food delivery, including groceries and prepared foods, to at-risk individuals outside of the immediate family unit, 1 delivery = 2 hours
- Grow and donate garden produce to a local food distribution center(s), 5 lbs = 1 hour
- Grow and donate garden bouquet to a local care facility (Senior, Veteran's, Alzheimer, other), 1 bouquet = 1 hour
- Maintenance of school, demonstration, and community gardens (cannot be UC Master Gardener volunteer's own community garden plot, can be a new project and/or an existing project)
- An urban greening project not related to the UC Master Gardener Program
- Volunteer work at food closet/food bank and/or shelters
NOTE: Volunteers with long-term or ongoing Wi-Fi or internet challenges or experiencing exceptional circumstances are encouraged to continue participating with the program on Limited Active status.
Exceptional circumstances must be self-defined by the volunteer. For legal reasons, it is not at the discretion of UC or County personnel to determine qualifications for “exceptional circumstances.” Volunteers should not be encouraged to disclose exceptional circumstance details to UC. Program coordinators who implement hours flexibility are encouraged to allow volunteers to record up to 25 hours in the “COVID Exception Hours” VMS category using the honor code system (without significant oversight). COVID Exception Hours are limited to 25; there is no limit on continuing education or volunteer hours that fall under standard project categories.