August 2007

Colleagues,

Where has the summer gone? We may be in the dog days of summer, but we’re thinking Fall—as in Fall semester, and we're welcoming some 2,500 undergraduate Agriculture majors to campus for the 2007–2008 academic year.

We have another large freshman class this year. While Animal Sciences continues to enroll the most freshmen, enrollment is growing in such areas as Biochemistry and Forestry and Natural Resources. Of course, a large majority of our freshmen are Indiana residents, and we're also seeing growing numbers of students from non-rural backgrounds. This tells me that students are being attracted to the wide variety of opportunities that an Agriculture degree brings, and they're getting the message that Purdue Agriculture truly is farming...and more!

Our students are our highest priority and our most important product. Thanks to all of you who give so much of yourselves to engage them both inside and outside the classroom. Have a great semester!

Cheers,
Randy

New faculty join Purdue Agriculture

The College of Agriculture is pleased to welcome 16 new faculty members this year:

Grzegorz Buczkowski, Entomology

Indrajeet Chaubey, ABE

Scott Downey, Ag Economics

Reuben Goforth, FNR

Kee-Hong Kim, Food Science

Neil Knobloch, YDAE

Roberto Lopez, HLA

Jianxin Ma, Agronomy

Tamilee Dawn Nennich, Animal Sciences

Michael Saunders, FNR

Lori Unruh Snyder, Agronomy

Mitch Tuinstra, Agronomy

Luc Valentin, Ag Economics

Changlu Wang, Entomology

H. Holly Wang, Agricultural Economics

Genyi Zhang, Food Science

Click here for profiles: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/in_focus/2007/August2007/newfacultystory.htm

Jules Janick Receives Honorary Degree

An honorary doctorate was bestowed on Horticulture and Landscape Architecture professor Jules Janick at the Mount Scopus campus of the Hebrew University on June 3, 2007 in recognition for his “exploration and development of new food crops whose pioneering insights and discoveries have had a significant impact on biotechnology, breeding and genetics, and medicinal drug development.” 

Get the stats online

Purdue Agricultural Research Program's 2005-2006 Annual Statistical Report is now on-line at <http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/arp/stat_report_05-06/>.The report highlights sponsored research programs, faculty areas of expertise, and stories of interest—all demonstrating that, in Purdue Agriculture, research works.You can navigate through the site via hyperlinks and also print the programs and expenditures content as PDF documents.

USDA-CSREES Grantsmanship Workshops

The Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES) will host 2 two-day workshops on grant writing in October.

The CSREES Grantsmanship Workshop on the first day will focus on CSREES-USDA Funding Opportunities, with an emphasis on the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRICGP), Higher Education, Multicultural Alliances and International Programs, Integrated Research, Education and Extension Programs, Children Youth and Families at Risk Program, Pest Management Alternatives Program (PMAP), and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Programs.

The Writing Winning Grants Workshop is held on the second day and focuses on how to navigate the grant writing process. Participants will be walked through the process of developing a successful grant submission, how to participate in the review process, proposal organization, the development of integrated team proposals and will also highlight common errors and what should be avoided.

The agenda, registration information and other details are available on the following web sites:

October 2-3, Denver, Colorado http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/AES/csrees/

October 9-10, Washington, DC  http://www.conted.vt.edu/usdagrant/index.html

Workshops help sharpen teaching skills

Center for Instructional Excellence staff will present the entire "CTW-1: Basics of Teaching series" beginning September 4. These sessions are designed to improve the teaching skills of Purdue faculty, staff, and graduate teaching assistants. Instructors may register for one session, or for the entire series. To register online for any or all of the sessions, visit:http://www.cie.purdue.edu/workshop/register/index.cfm

Purdue to roll out new job posting system

Purdue University will begin using a new employment application system as of October 1.  In preparation for transitioning to the new system, called Taleo, we need to bring closure to jobs that are now posted in our current employment system (Resumix).  Supervisors should check the schedule for posting information during the transition period. More information: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/in_focus/2007/August2007/newrecruitmentstory/.htm

Townsend Outstanding Communicator in Agriculture debate competition callout

There will be a callout for students interested in participating in the annual Townsend Outstanding Communicator in Agriculture Debate Competition on September 4 at 5:30 in Whistler (WSLR) 116. This informal debate competition helps students to enhance their communication, research  and public speaking skills while also winning money and a plaque.  Students can form teams of three to debate this topic: "The future of Indiana's rural economy depends on agriculture."

This annual competition is open to any full-time College of Agriculture undergraduate student.  Any agricultural club can also organize a team.  Any interested people can attend the callout or if they already have team, at least one team member needs to be present at the callout. The first place team will receive $750, second place receives $500 and the best speaker will be awarded $100. Each participant on the winning teams will also receive plaques. 

There will be three workshops held over the next two months to help students learn about the debate process and how to conduct research and debate basics.  Please visit www.ydae.purdue.edu (look under news) for the Townsend link to learn more about the debate.  Feel free to contact Natalie Federer, Debate Coordinator at nfederer@purdue.edu with questions.  The debates will take place on November 8, 2007.  Please encourage your students to take part in this fun, rewarding and educational competition.  This is a great way for ag clubs to make some money as well. 

Purdue University Multicultural and Gender Forums have been scheduled for 2007.  All faculty and staff who have not yet attended are encouraged to do so.  You must have attended a Multicultural forum in order to attend a Gender forum. 
Schedule:  http://www.science.purdue.edu/DiversityForums/dates.html

September 6-8:  Farm World Expo in Terre Haute, IN.  Vigo County Extension Coordinates this event for Purdue Agriculture.  Contact Danica Kirkpatrick at 494-9113 for more information.

September 15:  Family Day activities. Contact the Office of Academic Programs at 494-8470 for more information.

September 18-20: Ohio State Farm Science Review in London, OH.  Contact Danica Kirkpatrick at 494-9113 for more information.

October 19:  College of Agriculture Dean’s Advisory Council Meeting.  Contact Dinah McClure at 494-9505 for more information.

October 27:  Purdue Homecoming.  Agriculture Alumni reunite on campus for food and fun prior to the football game versus Northwestern. Contact Donya Lester at 494-8593 for more information about College of Agriculture Alumni activities. Contact Barry Delks at 496-7234 for more information about Animal Sciences Alumni, Genetics Graduate Student and postdoc reunions.

November 14:  PCARET State Conference. Contact Teresa Rogers at 494-8489 for more information.

November 16-17:  Agronomy Centennial Celebration at the Beck Center, ACRE, & PMU Ballrooms. Contact Kelly Delp at 494-6586 for more information.

First director hired for Purdue's new Native American Educational and Cultural Center

Purdue University's new Native American Educational and Cultural Center has its first director. Verónica Hirsch was chosen to lead the university's efforts to provide outreach to Native American communities in Indiana and beyond. Hirsch had previously been at the University of Arizona, where she had most recently served as graduate program coordinator for the soil, water and environmental science department. Full story: http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2007b/070823HirschNativeAmer.html

Purdue breaks ground on new residence hall

The Purdue College of Agriculture is an equal access/equal opportunity university.