Faculty Judges Needed – Hayes Graduate Research Forum

The Council of Graduate Students has worked hard to recruit faculty judges but at least five more judges from CFAES are needed to meet the needs of CFAES graduate students who want to participate.

Faculty can either

· Review abstracts (before Jan. 11, 2016)
· Or judge student presentations on the day of the Hayes Forum ( Jan. 26, 2016, Ohio Union)

The Hayes Graduate Research Forum showcases the innovative research of graduate students, and it is important that faculty show their support. Please ask your faculty to volunteer and have them contact CGS Vice President Meghan Fitze at Fitze.1@ osu.edu. Megan is the lead coordinator of the Hayes Forum, which is co-sponsored by the Office of Research and Graduate School.

Thank you for your assistance,

Scott Herness

Scott Herness
Interim Vice Provost for Graduate Studies
Interim Dean of the Graduate School
Graduate School
250 University Hall, 230 North Oval Mall Columbus, OH 43210-1366
614-247-7413 Office / 614-292-3656 Fax
herness.1@osu.edu

CFAES Research News

Research News is a monthly electronic newsletter for faculty and other members of the FAES community that summarizes upcoming funding opportunities and provides updates, strategies, and grant writing tips. See the December 2015 Newsletter here.

Chagas Disease Communication

Chagas Communique for OSUE (pdf)

Chagas Communique for OSUE (word)

CFAES Colleagues,

In recent days there has been substantial press and social media attention focused on the potential risk of contracting Chagas disease in Ohio, and we’ve received a few questions from Extension Educators. The risk of contracting Chagas disease in Ohio is miniscule to non-existent. The pathogen is vectored by kissing bugs and a couple of other species that are similar in appearance to some bugs that are common in Ohio, including leaffooted seed bugs that commonly invade homes (BTW, which are completely harmless).

In response, Drs. Pete Piermarini (a veterinary / medical entomologist in the Dept. of Entomology) and Dave Shetlar (Extension State Specialist in our department) have prepared the following informational communique that hopefully will be useful if you receive questions from concerned stakeholders. It is attached in pdf and word format, at the beginning of this email.

Please contact Pete or Dave if you have additional questions.

Best regards,
Dan

Daniel A. Herms
Professor and Chair
State Extension Specialist
Department of Entomology
The Ohio State University
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691
330-202-3506 Office / 330-749-5453 Mobile / 330-263-3686 Fax
email: herms.2@osu.edu
Entomology Department: http://entomology.osu.edu
Herms Lab: http://oardc.osu.edu/hermslab

OSU Writing Group

This spring, the OSU Writing Center is once again offering an array of writing groups for graduate students, undergraduates, post-docs, and junior faculty, and it is time to sign up! Please use the link below to apply soon before the groups are full. Please share this opportunity with your students as well.

Our group offerings this term include:
· Dissertation Writing Groups
· Dissertation Writing Group: Sit Down and Write!
· Masters Thesis Writing Group
· Post-Doctoral Writing Group
· Grant Writing Group
· Graduate Student Open-Genre Writing Group
· Graduate Student Open-Genre: Site Down and Write
· STEP Writing Groups
· Undergraduate Thesis Group
· Creative Writing Groups
· Personal Statement Writing Groups
To learn more or apply to be part of one or more of these groups, please visit our website and click on the link to the appropriate group (http://cstw.osu.edu/cstw-writing-groups).

Each group is facilitated by an experienced writing center consultant and meets once per week for 1-1.5 hours. As part of a group, you will be expected to read and respond to group members’ projects, receive feedback on your own, and discuss various aspects of the writing process. Writing groups are a great way to get feedback on your writing as well as to learn more about writing for particular audiences and about managing writing projects. We hope you’ll come join us!


Dr. Richard (Dickie) Selfe <selfe.3@osu.edu>
Director, Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing
Writing Center Coordinator
174 W. 18th Ave.
4132C Smith Labs
614-546-6854 (primary, cell)

CFAES Launches Gender Initiative

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Sandy Velleman will be the faculty lead on a new project for CFAES.

The CFAES Gender Initiative program will focus on building a pipeline for women in the agricultural and natural sciences who want to enter the academy or other professional positions. The initiative will function as part of the Office of Equity and Inclusion and work closely with Kathy Lechman, the director. The first Equity and Inclusion Symposium will launch the Gender Initiative. The Symposium is February 16. The symposium will take place at the 4-H Center with connection to Fisher Auditorium on Wooster Campus. Dr. Christine Daughterty, Vice President for Sustainable Food Production at Tyson foods will be the key note speaker followed by a panel addressing the career continuum and important skills to pick up along the way. The theme for the Symposium is “Your Career on a Continuum: Building the Skill Set for Your Lifelong Journey”. Lunch will be provided at both sites. Participants will be asked to register for sessions but do not have to commit for the entire day.

This event is sponsored by my office and I encourage and support participation of faculty, staff, and students who are part of CFAES. The symposium is structured to allow for you to come and go for different segments. More information can be found here ­­­­http://equityandinclusion.cfaes.ohio-state.edu/gender-initiatives on the Equity and Inclusion web site.

Ron Hendrick, Ph.D.
Acting Dean and Vice President for Agricultural Administration

Faculty and Staff Discounts Available

Staff and faculty are eligible for discounts on the products and services offered at many local and national retailers and businesses. From new automobile purchases to mobile phone services, being a Buckeye can help you save money. New discounts are now available from Macy’s, the Harlem Globetrotters, Sam’s Club and additional businesses. Learn more at hrtech.osu.edu/discounts.

What you need to do:
Share this information with your college or unit and include the link to the discounts website: http://hrtech.osu.edu/discounts

Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Awards Nominations Accepted Until January 15

The Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Awards celebrate and reward diversity efforts on The Ohio State University campus. The award recognizes people who have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity at Ohio State and exceeded expectations with their contributions to the diversity plans of Ohio State.

Award nominees may include campus organizations, academic units or teams, students, alumni, faculty or staff who have implemented policies, procedures, or programs to enhance diversity on the basis of any diversity qualities, such as color, race, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran or military service status, gender identity, economic status, political belief, marital status or social background.

Up to five recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony in April and each recipient will receive a commemorative award and $1,200 cash award.

The nomination deadline is Friday, January 15, at 5 p.m.
What you need to do:
Share this information with staff members in your college or unit and include the link to additional information: http://hr.osu.edu/special/ddea
Print the nomination form and post in common areas or distribute to staff.

Distinguished Staff Award Nominations Accepted Until January 15

The Distinguished Staff Awards recognize and celebrate staff members who have made an impact at The Ohio State University. The award honors 12 outstanding staff members for their significant leadership, accomplishments and service to the university.

Recipients are honored at an awards luncheon ceremony in April. Each recipient will receive a $1,500 cash award, an increase of $700 to his or her base salary and a commemorative trophy.

Eligibility includes all part-time and full-time staff with a minimum of five years of continuous service at The Ohio State University in a regular, non-faculty position.

The nomination deadline is Friday, January 15, at 5 p.m.

What you need to do:
Share this information with staff members in your college or unit and include the link to additional information: http://hr.osu.edu/special/dsa
Print the nomination form and post in common areas or distribute to staff.

UPDATE: Tax Form Website Available to 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 plan 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, or
–  Considered a full-time employee who was eligible for Ohio State’s medical coverage at any point during 2015.

Employees need to take action to ensure they receive Form 1095-C:

Give consent at mytaxform.com if they wish to receive Form 1095-C online.
Ensure their home address is accurate through Employee Self Service or onesource.osumc.edu (for Wexner Medical Center employees). The form will be mailed to the home address in the HR system if online consent is not given.
Access their form online at mytaxform.com once they are notified in January that it is available or receive it in the mail after it is sent by February 1, 2016.
The Office of Human Resources will send employees a direct email on December 3.

What you need to do:
Let faculty and staff know this form is coming.
Encourage faculty and staff to update their home addresses.
Encourage faculty and staff to give consent for online access.
Learn more, including FAQs, at hr.osu.edu/benefits/hcr_form1095c.

Connect and Collaborate Grant Opportunity

More than $1 million from multiple sources is available through the Connect and Collaborate Grants Program. These diverse grants provide funding opportunities for Ohio State faculty, students and staff to catalyze engaged collaborative teaching and research aligned with the Discovery Themes. An information session is scheduled for Tuesday (12/8) 9 a.m.-10 a.m. in 110B Hale Hall or remotely via Carmen Connect at carmenconnect.osu.edu/.
— > Read more: oaa.osu.edu/ccgrants.html

Chadwick Winter Walk – Towers Agricultural Honorary

“I am contacting you on behalf of Towers Agricultural Honorary to invite you to Chadwick Winter Walk. On the evening of December 9th, we will place luminaries along a path in the Chadwick Arboretum. Attendees will be able to walk the beautiful path throughout the arboretum, accompanied by the opportunity to warm up with s’mores and hot chocolate. This event will be a great way for students, faculty, and staff to spend time together before winter break and enjoy a truly unique, beautiful landmark on the CFAES campus. In addition, we plan to raise money through this event to donate to Military Kids, an organization dedicated to supporting the youth of military families throughout the deployment cycle. We plan to involve CFAES student organizations by sponsoring sections of the luminaries and collecting donations at the event to support Military Kids.

We hope that you are able to attend this event, and we also hope that you encourage students, faculty, and staff within your department to attend. We would love to celebrate this event with all areas of CFAES. The event is on December 9th, 6PM – 8 PM at the Chadwick Arboretum.
Please let me know if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!”

Emily Meese

meese.20@buckeyemail.osu.edu

Staff Advisory Council – Town Hall with President Drake

Staff members: Save the date for a town hall forum with President Drake on Wednesday (12/9) noon-1 p.m., hosted by the University Staff Advisory Committee (USAC), in the U.S. Bank Conference Theater at the Ohio Union. It will also be streamed live (link will be shared closer to the date). To submit questions in advance, or for more information, visit usac.osu.edu.