Women in Bioscience Conference – December 9

BioHio Research Park is a Supporting Sponsor of the Women in Bioscience Conference presented by BioOhio. The event will be held at Villa Milano Banquet and Conference Center, located at 1630 Schrock Rd., Columbus, OH 43229 (map).

Please register here.

Students use the $50 rate and use STUDENT as the promo code.

All others with OSU use the Government Rate of $75.

Any registration questions, please direct to:

Jen Goldsberry
Manager, Member Services & Events atBioOhio
1275 Kinnear Rd. | Columbus, OH 43212
614.675.3686 x1004 | (Fax) 614.675.3687
jgoldsberry@bioohio.com

Advance Notice of New Tax Form for Employees

In January 2016, faculty and staff will receive a new tax form called the 1095-C that will contain important information about their eligibility for Ohio State medical coverage. They will need to keep the form and file it with their 2015 tax returns. Even employees who declined to participate in Ohio State’s medical plans during 2015 will receive a 1095-C if they meet certain eligibility criteria. A Form 1095-C will be sent to everyone who is:

*  Enrolled in medical coverage at Ohio State.
*  Considered a full-time employee who was eligible for Ohio State’s medical coverage at any point during 2015.

Employees need to complete two action steps to ensure they receive Form 1095-C:

*  Confirm the home address on file is accurate.

*  Go to Employee Self Service and click on Personal Information Summary. Select Change Home/Mailing Addresses. To make a change, click “edit” on the home address line.

*  Give consent to access the form online. Click here for directions.

Due to the holiday schedule, it is recommended that faculty and staff update their home addresses and give consent for online access by December 11, 2015. The Office of Human Resources will send employees a direct email on November 19 followed by a letter home in early December about Form 1095-C.

What you need to do:
Learn more, including FAQs, at hr.osu.edu/benefits/hcr_form1095c.

Acting Sr. Associate Dean & Plant Pathology Leadership Announcement

We are pleased to share with you that Dr. Terry Niblack, Chair, Department of Plant Pathology, has accepted our offer to serve as the Acting Sr. Associate Dean for the college, pending approval of the Board of Trustees. Terry will begin this role effective December 2, 2015 and Plant Pathology will be led by Larry Madden, Acting Chair and Guo-Liang Acting Associate Chair.

Terry has a distinguished teaching, research and outreach career that has prepared her for this role. In 2011, Terry joined The Ohio State University as professor and chairperson of the department and has maintained an active teaching, research and outreach program. As chair, her highest priorities have been to support and encourage faculty governance and enable faculty, staff, and students in every possible way. While serving as chair, Terry has maintained an active laboratory and has continued research and extension efforts with colleagues in Ohio and throughout the Midwest on the biology and distribution of the soybean cyst nematode. Terry has been published extensively throughout her career and recognized for her outstanding professional contributions. She has served as editor or associate editor of multiple professional journals, received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the United Soybean Board in 2004, and was elected a Fellow of the Society of Nematologists in 2012.

Please join me in congratulating Terry and thanking her, Larry and Guo-Liang for accepting these additional leadership responsibilities for the coming months.

Bruce A. McPheron & Ron Hendrick

Acting Vice President and Dean Announcement from Bruce McPheron

As you have heard from President Drake, I have been appointed as Interim Executive Vice President and Provost. I am honored to have this opportunity and am tremendously excited to engage in the broad work of the university. Over the past three years, our college has accomplished a tremendous amount, and each of you has played an important part in its success. I have no doubt that the strong upward trajectory we have begun will only continue in the coming months.

I am pleased to share with you that Ron Hendrick has agreed to serve as the Acting Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Most of you know Ron and his unwavering commitment to the success of our college. This commitment, coupled with his deep understanding of CFAES, leads me to have tremendous confidence in Ron’s leadership.

None of us lead alone. Ron will work with a terrific team of leaders, and their energy will be complemented by your excellence in carrying out our teaching, research, and outreach missions.

Bruce A. McPheron

Provost Transition Announcement from President Drake

I am pleased to share that Bruce A. McPheron has accepted our offer to be the interim executive vice president and provost at Ohio State, effective December 2.

For the last three years, Bruce has served as the vice president for agricultural administration and dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). He is a highly respected researcher, teacher and leader who has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing the academic mission of the university and engaging with the community. Bruce is a member of our Discovery Themes executive team, and served as the 2013-14 chair of the Policy Board of Directors of Agriculture for the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities.

We appreciate his leadership during this transition period. We will launch a national search for a permanent incumbent shortly and I look forward to input from faculty, staff and students as we progress. I’d also like to express my gratitude to Senior Associate Dean and Professor Ronald Hendrick, who has agreed to step into the role of interim dean at CFAES.

Please join me in welcoming Bruce and Ron to their new roles — and once again thanking Provost Joseph Steinmetz for his service to Ohio State as he prepares to become chancellor at the University of Arkansas.

Sincerely,
Michael V. Drake, MD
President

Office of International Affairs (OIA) Enrichment Grants Available

This is a reminder that the Office of International Affairs (OIA) is accepting applications from Ohio State faculty and undergraduate & graduate students for its 2015 International Academic Enrichment Grant competition. These grants seek to support international activities related to faculty and student international research, the development of new education abroad programs, and research activities through Ohio State’s China Global Gateway. The Office of International Programs in Agriculture would appreciate if you would pass this announcement on to faculty and students in your respective departments who have an interest in international research and learning.

Please visit OIA’s grant webpage for more specific information related to award amounts, application requirements, and the review process. The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, December 1, 2015.

Thank you again for passing this reminder along and for your continued commitment to engage faculty and students in international agriculture and environmental sciences.

Kresge Foundation Funding Opportunity

The Kresge Foundation seeks to support and accelerate local efforts that successfully use food as a platform for health, economic development and cultural expression, creating co-benefits for all – particularly low-income residents and families.

Fresh, Local & Equitable: Food as a Creative Platform for Neighborhood Revitalization

Kresge invites proposals from organizations and collaborations leading mission-driven food initiatives in economically distressed urban neighborhoods. Kresge intends to award up to 20 planning grants of up to $75,000 each in the first quarter of 2016. Planning grants can last up to 12 months, and awardees will have the opportunity to apply for implementation funding by the end of 2016.

Complete proposals are due on January 15, 2016.

Pi Alpha Xi Poinsettia Sale (December 2-3)

The annual Pi Alpha Xi (PAX) Poinsettia sale will be held December 2nd and December 3rd from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day in Howlett Hall Greenhouse, 680 Vernon Tharp Street. Poinsettia varieties from traditional to the new and unusual will be offered in various sizes and colors. Holly berry bundles, wreaths, cyclamen, Christmas cacti, and other live holiday décor will also be available. Prices for poinsettias are $7.00 (4½” pot), and $12.00 (6½” pot). Cash, Checks, Credit Cards, & Pro-Cards are accepted. Proceeds from this sale fund PAX’s outreach efforts, scholarships, and educational trips. For a coupon, pre-sale orders, and more information visit the Pi Alpha Xi website at: http://osupax.wordpress.com or see the attached flyer.

2015-flyer-1

Upgrading Computer Operating Systems

We’ve received a few inquiries across the college about upgrading to the recent computer operating system releases of Microsoft Windows 10 and Apple OSX El Capitan. At the present time, we are not able to provide support for Windows 10 or OSX El Capitan within the CFAES environment as there are some known compatibility issues with the systems we rely on to keep the computers managed and secure. It is also important that we evaluate the “by default” cloud services that are introduced through the Windows 10 operating system.

To assist you in navigating these as well as other technology issues, be sure to work with an IT staff member when contemplating an upgrade to your computer operating system or the purchase of a new computer to ensure it will work properly in our environment.

Matt DeVore
Chief Information Officer
College of Food Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
131C Research Services, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691
330-202-3577 Office
devore.38@osu.edu cfaes.osu.edu

New Resources Available for Buckeyes ACT

Buckeyes ACT is Ohio State’s comprehensive plan to combat sexual misconduct and relationship violence. Earlier this fall, Ohio State introduced online training for faculty, staff and student employees focused on preventing and responding to these issues. A video describing the importance of this training has been produced to help you encourage participation in the training within your college or business unit. You are encouraged to direct faculty, staff and student employees to view this video in your college or business unit communications.

In addition to this online training, the Office of Human Resources offers an in-person training specific to the university’s Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Harassment, and Relationship Violence policy. This training expands upon and complements the information available in the online training, and will be particularly helpful for HRPs, managers and supervisors. For your convenience, a training comparison flyer is also available and details some of the topics covered by both trainings. Registration for both trainings is available in BuckeyeLearn.

What you need to do:
Watch the Buckeyes ACT training video and share it with your college or business unit.
Review the training comparison flyer for more information on the training opportunities available related to sexual misconduct and relationship violence.
Register for the online training and in-person training via BuckeyeLearn.
Contact Kristi Hoge with questions at hoge.42@osu.edu.

Spring Term Dependent Tuition Assistance

The Ohio State University offers eligible employees and their dependents the opportunity to advance their education at Ohio State. For dependent tuition assistance, applications must be submitted each term. Spring 2016 term enrollment window opens Monday, November 16. Faculty and staff can apply online using Employee Self Service or paper applications.

What you need to do:
Direct interested faculty and staff to http://go.osu.edu/tuitionbenefit for more information.
Direct questions to the Office of Human Resources Customer Service Center at
hr-Customer_Service@osu.edu or 614-292-1050.

Benefits Confirmation

Faculty and staff 2016 Benefits Confirmation Statements will be available November 16-20 online via Employee Self Service and will also be sent to the home addresses of faculty and staff. The statements reflect enrollment elections in university-sponsored benefits for 2016. This is the final opportunity, outside of a qualifying event, to change 2016 elections. To view their statements and make changes, faculty and staff should visit Employee Self Service.

Emails will be sent about this on November 16 to benefits-eligible faculty and staff.

Questions? Contact the Office of Human Resources Customer Service at hr-Customer_Service@osu.edu.

What you need to do:
Encourage faculty and staff to review their confirmation statements November 16-20 at Employee Self Service.

Direct faculty and staff to review 2016 open enrollment information posted at hr.osu.edu/oe.