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October 2011 |
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From the
Dean
Colleagues, After 25-plus years at Purdue, I know very well that once the Fall semester begins, the level of activity around our undergraduate program means a literal sprint to October Break. (‘Back in the day’ before October Break, it was a sprint to the Thanksgiving holiday!) This year is no exception—so much is happening in the College in support of our teaching/learning vision of ‘students prepared to make a difference.’ Our Fall undergraduate enrollment stands at 2687, 12 students more than last year and once again our highest enrollment since 1982. Our freshman class is a bit smaller (483 this year vs. 573 in 2010), but an even more academically accomplished group. So, higher rates of retention and more transfer students have pushed our overall undergraduate numbers up. Strong enrollment is a good thing from a number of perspectives, one of which is the job market. Our preliminary placement numbers are very strong for the May 2011 graduates (final numbers will be out in February). And even in these tough economic times, more than 120 companies participated in our Agriculture Career Fair last week to interview our students for intern and full time positions (kudos to Assistant Director of Academic Programs Lori Pence Barber and the OAP staff for a terrific event.) Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs Dr. Marcos Fernandez has wasted no time becoming a Boilermaker. (Check out his Facebook page if you doubt me!) Every entering freshman in our College was invited to one of 12 sessions he conducted personally to get to know these students better. The first edition of MUCH in OAP is out, a great guide to what is happening in Academic Programs, and a student e-letter is in the planning stages. I have found our students at so many events this fall: Emilia Czyszczon (ABE) speaking about her undergraduate research at a President’s Council event; Alicia Keller (AGEC and YDAE) serving as emcee and hosting the President’s brunch before the Notre Dame game; Allie Reith (ANSC) singing with the Purduettes, our Purdue Student Government representatives Joe Harmeyer (ANSC) and Joe Rust (ABE) working on plans for celebrating Ag week next year.... And the same holds for our faculty involved in the undergraduate program: Cale Bigelow (AGRY), Barney Dunning (FNR), and John Lumkes (ABE) were recently inducted into the Purdue Teaching Academy, joining 18 other College of Agriculture faculty there. Frank Dooley (AGEC) is serving as a Provost Fellow working on the IMPACT (Instruction Matters: Purdue Academic Course Transformation) project; Lori Snyder’s (AGRY) use in her classroom of engaging game and simulation technology was recently featured in Purdue Today; Steve Hallett (BTNY) advises the “Full Circle” student group who run the student farm that has been in the news lately... While there are a lot of great things going on in our undergraduate program today, much is happening at the university level that will impact our academic programs going forward– activity that will help us take our programs to new places. Many of our faculty are deeply involved in these efforts. A major endeavor called Foundations of Excellence is looking at the first-year student experience with a focus on student retention and successful transition to Purdue. Another group is considering a university core curriculum. The IMPACT initiative is focused on restructuring courses with high rates of student failure. And, a campus wide honors program is moving forward rapidly. I appreciate the efforts of all our faculty and staff who are engaged in these campus-wide initiatives. It may seem to us like this academic year is still new, but applications for Fall 2012 admissions are coming in – a new admit cycle has begun. Thanks for all each of you are doing or will do to get the word out about our College’s undergraduate programs. Thanks too for the roles you are playing or will play in hosting students, making phone calls, providing tours, or just helping a lost parent find the right building. Recruiting our next class is the collective work of all of us, and a student’s decision may well be influenced by a friendly receptionist, an excited student tour guide, a knowledgeable advisor, or a passionate faculty member. I am sure the end of the semester will get here just as quickly as October Break did. I am also quite sure that everyone in our College involved in undergraduate education will continue to move our program forward. Under the leadership of Dr. Marcos Fernandez, we have a really exciting future.
All the best,
News Around Purdue Agriculture
Gene may be good target for tough-to-kill prostate cancer cells
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2011/110926LiuPten.html
Purdue gets $3.8 million to study, educate on bioenergy crops
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2011/110928VolenecGrant.html
U.S. unlikely to hit Renewable Fuel Standard for cellulosic biofuels
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2011/111004TynerCongress.html Asian carp: It's what's for dinner
Full story: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/in_focus/2011/October/AsianCarp.htm
Publication gets to root of tree planting problems, practices
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/general/2011/110926PurcellPublication.html
Agriculture welcomes research assistant professor
Advisory council supports Purdue's focus on commercial ag
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/general/2011/111005GloyCouncil.html
Ag career fair presents opportunities
Full story: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/in_focus/2011/October/CareerFair.htm
Additives meant to protect vitamin C actually cause more harm
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2011/110928MauerCaking.html
Weather leaves dairies to struggle with feed cost, quality
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/general/2011/111006SchutzForage.html
Bean leaf beetles more prevalent in Indiana this fall
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/general/2011/111005KrupkeBeetle.html Purdue Agriculture staff take on new duties
Academic Programs Office launches "MUCH in OAP"The Office of Academic Programs has launched a new newsletter, MUCH in OAP--Monthly Update & College Happenings in the Office of Academic Programs. This monthly publication will go to College of Agriculture faculty and staff to serve as a resource for academic information. MUCH in OAP is also archived at http://www.ag.purdue.edu/oap/Pages/oapnewsletters.aspx
TEAM Award nominations invitedSince 1995, Purdue Agriculture has recognized an outstanding collaborative effort within our programs and across the university. Nominations are invited for the 2012 Purdue Agriculture TEAM Award. The 2012 TEAM Award will be presented at a ceremony in May, and the winning team will be awarded $10,000 for program support. An electronic copy of the nomination is due to Becky Rice at rdr@purdue.edu by December 2, 2011.
Awards and Recognitions
Cale Bigelow, Agronomy, Barny Dunning, Forestry and Natural Resources, and John Lumkes, Ag and Biological Engineering, were recently inducted into the Purdue University Teaching Academy. The Teaching Academy at Purdue strives to bring together the best teaching faculty across the university to create a collective voice for teaching and learning on campus. A total of 21 Agriculture faculty are members of the Teaching Academy.
Harlan Day received the “Seal of Indiana," presented by State Representative Sheila Klinker, at the Indiana Council for Economic Education (ICEE) Annual Awards for Excellence program held at Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. and Farm Bureau Insurance on September 23. The award was to honor Harlan’s years of service in economic education to Indiana teachers, educators, and citizens. Harlan will retire as ICEE Executive Director effective November 30, 2011. He has been the Executive Director of the ICEE for the past 14 plus years and prior to that was Economic Education Consultant for the Indiana Department of Education for 13 years.
Rebecca Doerge, professor of statistics and agronomy and head of the Department of Statistics, was ratified by the Purdue University Board of Trustees at their September 30 meeting as the Trent and Judith Anderson Distinguished Professor of Statistics. Her primary area of research is statistical bioinformatics, and she is the Head of Purdue's Statistical Bioinformatics Center. Scott Hutcheson, Purdue Extension Assistant Program Leader for Economic and Community Development, has been appointed Purdue University’s Interim Assistant Director for Economic and Community Development and Deputy Director for the Purdue Center for Regional Development. Scott replaces Sam Cordes, who retired earlier this year.
Patrick Austin Freeland of Okmulgee, Okla., a doctoral student in ecological sciences and engineering, was recognized as one of "5 Students Who are Pathmakers." Freeland wants to establish a service-learning school of earth sciences at the College of Muscogee Nation in Oklahoma. The school could help a local town purify its contaminated soil by studying the local vegetation.
The DriftWatch™ program has been selected to receive the Best Stewardship Program award by AGROW International. AGROW provides news, analysis and data to the global crop protection industry. Driftwatch, designed by the Office of the Indiana State Chemist using technology developed by the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, is a tool to help protect pesticide-sensitive crops and habitats.
University News
Seasonal flu shot appointments begin Wednesday on campusBeginning Wednesday, Oct. 12, seasonal flu shot appointments provided by WorkLife Programs will be available on the West Lafayette campus. The vendor for these events is Maxim Health Systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine each year. Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Seasonal flu shots on campus are offered to benefit-eligible faculty and staff, graduate staff, official Purdue retirees, and their spouses/same-sex domestic partners. View a list of flu shot events on the West Lafayette campus at www.purdue.edu/hr/pdf/2011FacStaffFluShots.pdf. To register for a seasonal flu shot appointment, go to www.purdue.edu/worklife, log in using your career account and password, and click “Flu Shots” or call WorkLife Programs at 49-45461. Please register for an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Bring PUID to appointment. Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/faculty_staff_news/2011/111011_FluShots.html October wellness screenings in Lilly, Johnson and BeeringWellness screening appointments with the School of Nursing are available this fall. WorkLife Programs provides these screenings for benefit-eligible faculty and staff and their spouses/same-sex domestic partners. Screenings include the finger stick for blood tests for total cholesterol, HDL, and glucose, height, weight, and blood pressure. Participants must bring their Purdue ID at the time of the screening. Free screenings are limited to one per calendar year, so participants are encouraged to select the location that works best for them and stay on an annual schedule for screenings. For example, if an individual completed a screening in the spring of 2011, that person will wait until spring 2012 for the next appointment. Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/faculty_staff_news/2011/111010_WellnScreen.html Purdue announces $6.7 million scholarship match challenge for Indiana students
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