Campus Campaign – Last Day to Give

Campus Campaign ends today.  If you have already given – thank you so much!  If you have yet to make a donation this year, please consider making a gift to a cause you are passionate about.  This campaign is all about Ohio State faculty and staff coming together to make a difference in our world.  You can give to support any aspect of CFAES:

CFAES student scholarships (622310)
ATI student scholarships (303230)
ACEL’s Centennial Fund (483150)
AEDE’s Ag-Econ Fund (600033)
Animal Sciences Annual Fund (301895)
Entomology (306595)
Extension (306726) – or even choose a specific county office
Food Animal Health Research Program (308144)
Food Science and Technology (314335)
FABE (303027)
Farm Science Review (307837)
Horticulture & Crop Science (303108)
OARDC (307593)
Ohio 4-H Youth Development (310225)
Plant Pathology (302418)
School of Environment & Natural Resources (313978)
Stone Lab (308272)

And these are just the tip of the iceberg. Whatever you are passionate about, chances are that you can support that cause via Campus Campaign!

CFAES Alumni Society Scholarship Fundraiser

Please join CFAES alumni and friends at Land Grant Brewery Wednesday, May 23 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. 10% of every drink purchased will support scholarships for students in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Enjoy a great beer and do some good at the exact same time!

The Land Grant Brewery is located at 424 West Town Street in Columbus.

Click here for more information about the fundraising event.

IT Transformation Update – Purchasing IT-Related Items

As the transition of IT services and support occurs, we will be rolling out new processes and procedures for the various ways you receive IT support. This update highlights one of those ways – how you purchase IT equipment. Please note that how you receive help desk support has not changed; continue to request IT help as usual, until you receive specific instructions otherwise.

Since the announcement of the partnership between the college and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), we have received some excellent questions from faculty and staff. One topic that continues to be raised is how to go about purchasing IT-related items including computers, software, services, or other equipment.

As part of the agreement with OCIO, existing computers will be refreshed every four years. This refresh program will kick off in a few months. In the meantime, the purchasing of new computers is for individuals who have devices that are unusable to effectively do their job or for new employees.

Starting today, we are introducing a new standard process for all CFAES departments and units to follow to purchase computers and other technology equipment. This includes equipment purchased with grant funds.

If you need to purchase computers or other IT-related items, please contact the IT Service Desk. You can contact it through the following methods:

For individuals that submit eRequests, you should NOT submit an eRequest or purchase the equipment directly. The IT Service Desk team will work with you to determine specific requirements and find the best option. Based on the joint determination, the IT team will initiate the purchasing transaction.

Please note that some items are NOT covered by the refresh program. Examples include iPads, software, and some services. The IT Service Desk will work with you to order these items. They will be paid for by your department/unit and billed to your chart fields.

You should still follow your internal department and unit processes and procedures for seeking approval for IT-related items. If someone in your department approves these requests before they are submitted, you should still follow that process.

We know that transition periods can sometimes be confusing. We continue to be committed to addressing any questions as soon as possible. We encourage you to reach out with questions. Please contact Mike Chakerian, Graham Cochran, or Diane Dagefoerde. You can also submit questions through the Ask a Question form at the bottom of the CFAES IT Transformation Project website at any time.

 

Future of Waterman Task Force Update

The Future of Waterman Task Force wants to thank everyone who has participated in listening sessions so far, and encourages faculty, staff, and students to continue to provide input.

The task force is charged with leading efforts to develop a comprehensive vision for Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory, a physical master plan (working with our partners in Physical Planning and Real Estate), and a proposed governance structure.

So far, more than 100 faculty, staff, and students have shared more than 5,000 pieces of input during five internal listening sessions.

If you weren’t able to attend a listening session, the task force will be gathering input through May 11 and encourages you to participate in one of these ways:

  • Reach out to a current task force member with your thoughts
  • Send an email to John Foltz or Graham Cochran, co-chairs of the task force, with your thoughts
  • Join us at our Wooster listening session, May 10, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Skou Hall 206. Click here to register.

The team needs to hear from you quickly, because they will be using the information to work towards a vision during a May 16 meeting.

Besides the listening sessions with faculty, staff, and students, listening sessions with Waterman residents and with commodity groups were held.

Additional one-on-one interviews are underway with other stakeholders. The task force has divided into three subgroups, each charged to gather input from specific audiences. Group A is working with industry, donors, and producers; Group B with the media, government, and the local neighborhood; and Group C with students, the college, and the university.

CFAES Spaces and Agricultural Administration Auditorium Reservation Requests Update – New Online Form

Previously, reserving many of the CFAES instructional, meeting, and university general assignment spaces on the Columbus Midwest campus was completed via submission of a fillable PDF form, which was emailed to cfaes_spacerequest@osu.edu. This process is being upgraded to a new online electronic form!

What’s New
Beginning Tuesday, May 1, 2018, the Academic Programs Office for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment will no longer accept submissions of the fillable PDF space request form for CFAES instructional, meeting, and university general assignment spaces on the Columbus Midwest campus. Instead, an online form is to be submitted for these reservation requests.

The Office for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment has also been assigned the responsibility for processing reservation requests for the Agricultural Administration Building Auditorium.

Request to Reserve Space
Here is an overview of how CFAES instructional, meeting, and general assignment spaces on the Columbus Midwest campus, and/or the Agricultural Administration Building Auditorium may be requested:

  • All of the information previously required on the fillable PDF space request form will be required for the online Space Reservation Request form.
  • The online Space Reservation Request form for CFAES instructional, meeting, and university general assignment spaces on the Columbus Midwest campus must be submitted at least 10 business days prior to your event.
  • The online Space Reservation Request form for the Agricultural Administration Building Auditorium must be submitted at least 15 business days prior to your event.
  • Once the Academic Programs Office for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment receives your Space Reservation Request form, the team will verify the availability of the space for your requested dates and times. You will be notified if there is a conflict, otherwise the team will proceed with the steps for processing and approving your reservation in the system, and sending an email confirmation once the reservation is completed.

Click here to access the new online Space Reservation Request form.

If you would like to know more about the spaces you may request to reserve, click here for the Instructional and Meeting Spaces list.

 

2018 Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference – Save the Date

The 2018 Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference will be Friday, Nov. 2, 2018.

The agenda and registration information will be posted this summer.

You can view the entire 2017 annual Ohio State University Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference that was held on Nov. 9. Click here for more in information on the Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference series.

CFAES IT Services Leadership Update

As CFAES starts implementing the CFAES IT Transformation workforce plan, we are excited to announce the leadership team for the new CFAES IT Services. This new team will collaborate with Office of Chief Information Officer (OCIO) staff to provide a combined IT Services Portfolio for CFAES.

Michael Chakerian has been appointed to director of information technology. In this role, he will establish the overall strategic direction for computing support for CFAES, direct a portfolio of college-provided IT services, manage the SLA relationship with OCIO, and lead the IT portion of building projects. He also will serve as part of the associate dean for operations’ leadership team.

Michael joined Ohio State in 1996 as a member of University Technology Services (now Office of the CIO) where he served as a support specialist. In 1999, he joined CFAES as a systems manager with the Department of Animal Sciences. Michael has carried a joint appointment with the broader CFAES IT Services team since May 2015, where he worked to improve core services to several CFAES buildings on the Columbus campus as well as serving on committees tasked with shaping the university’s IT strategy. In 2012, Michael received the Distinguished Staff Award for accomplishments, leadership and contributions to The Ohio State University.

Matt DeVore has been appointed to director of application services. In this role, he will lead the CFAES local applications strategy, lead a portfolio of college-provided local applications services, and partner with CFAES and the Office of Distance Education and eLearning on support for the Digital Flagship.

Matt joined Ohio State in 2001 at OARDC, where he served as a systems developer/engineer. Since then he has taken on additional responsibilities and leadership, serving as the head of OARDC Wooster IT and in 2015 serving as the college’s chief information officer (CIO). As CIO, he provided overall strategic direction for information technology services across the college.

Mike and Matt will provide leadership as part of CFAES’s new IT Services team focused on support for research and local applications. Research support includes instrumentation specific consultation, high-performance computing, research file storage, research network support, research data management, security and compliance, specialized computer needs, and consultation. Local applications include purchased or custom software, software as a service, or mobile apps that college units adopt to support college administrative, academic, research administration, and extension functions.

These leadership appointments are effective immediately.

Raise Your Hand for 4-H

Ohio 4-H youth development and CFAES could really use your help in winning a competition that will bring funds for STEM education and leadership training to thousands of Ohio youth. Many 4-H youth go on to become CFAES students and alums. If you could help promote the national Raise Your Hand for 4-H campaign, we’d really appreciate it.

Ohio is in a national competition to see which state can have the most people raise their hands for 4-H youth.  We are in the number one spot right now, and we want to keep it that way!

A few tips:

  • If you raised your hand last year, you can do so again. Please do!
  • You can participate if you are a 4-H volunteer or alum or even just a friend / admirer of 4-H. The addition of friends of 4-H is new this year.
  • If you can spread the word via social media and to friends, family, and coworkers, that would be great.
  • Some companies and organizations have agreed to promote the campaign for us as well. If you have a connection to help spread the word, let Beth Frey know.
  • The winning state gets $20,000 to support youth programming. Ohio 4-H will divvy the entire winnings between the top 35 counties with the most hands raised.
  • We won this contest last year, and we REALLY want to win again.

Click here to raise your hand or to share this link with others who can raise their hands in support of Ohio 4-H.

Chadwick Arboretum Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser

The Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens is hosting its annual spring plant sale and auction fundraiser. The sale is held on the northwest corner of Lane Avenue and Fred Taylor Drive.

Thursday, May 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. is an opening night reception for Friends of Chadwick Arboretum members.

The sale is open to the public on Friday, May 11 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 12 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday, May 11 is National Public Gardens Day, and Casey Sclar, executive director of the American Public Gardens Association will be at the event joining Ann Fisher, WOSU/89.7 NPR News, for a live broadcast of All Sides With Ann Fisher from 10 a.m. to noon.

Click here for more information on the event.

Ohio State WestFest

Ohio State WestFest is the West Campus Sustainability and Outreach Festival.

Saturday, May 19
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
West Campus Quad, 1090 Carmack Drive

Experience the technology, discoveries, and resources available across central Ohio at the 2018 Ohio State WestFest. This free, public event showcases what Ohio State researchers and community partners are discovering to protect our environment, improve how we use our natural resources, and enhance our daily lives.

Exhibitors include: Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, Center for Applied Plant Sciences, Center for Automotive Research, Columbus Audubon, COSI, Electrical and Computer Engineering, ElectroScience Laboratory, Friends of the Lower Olentangy (FLOW), Labs in Life, Molecular Genetics/ Zebrafish Facility, Museum of Biological Diversity, Ohio Bioproducts Innovation Center, Office of Energy and Environment, Ohio Energy Project, Ohio 4-H, Ohio State Energy Partners, Olentangy River Wetland Research Park, Ohio Sea Grant/Stone Laboratory, Orton Geological Museum, Smart Columbus, Speech and Hearing Science, STEAM Factory, and Wexner Medical Center Green Team.

Food trucks and a bike corral will be on-site for your convenience.

Click here for more information about the event.

Small Business Innovation Research Road Tour

The SBIR Road Tour is a national outreach effort to convey the non-dilutive technology funding opportunity provided through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The SBIR/STTR programs annually provide $2.5 billion in funding to small advanced technology firms to spur new technological discoveries and facilitate the commercialization of innovations.

The event is Wednesday, June 20. Registration is free for faculty and opened Friday, April 20.

Click here for more information about SBIR and the road tour.

CHAIRE Presents an Evening with Jack Hanna

Save the Date!

The Center for Human-Animal Interactions Research & Education (CHAIRE) presents an evening with Jack Hanna and the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium.

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018
5:30 to 8 p.m.
Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center

More details for the event will be forthcoming. Click here for more information on CHAIRE.

Campus Campaign Updates and Events

Don’t forget to take part in one or more of these faculty and staff activities this week!

April 16
Extension Campus Campaign Breakfast
9:30 a.m. in Ag Admin Auditorium

April 18
Columbus Campus Campaign & CFAES Staff Advisory Council Breakfast
8 – 9:30 a.m. in Ag Admin auditorium

Wooster Campus Campaign Breakfast
8 – 10 a.m. in the Shisler Conference Center

Highlighted Funds:

Helen Thompson has suggested the Arts, Science & Business Technology Fund (#308533) for the good of the division.  It supports important work at Ohio State ATI.

Other OSU funds to consider:

  • Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation – Because everyone matters – Fund 312040
  • Nourishing Success Scholarship – Provides a meal plan for a CFAES student who demonstrates financial need – Fund 315732
  • Star House – A shelter for homeless youth – Fund 312330
  • Military and Veterans Services – This office helps veterans transition to student life at Ohio State – Fund 314337
  • The James Fund for Life – Supports cancer research – Fund 31092
  • Veterinary Care Endowment – Used to provide veterinary services to animals whose owners cannot afford them – Fund 627487
  • Ohio Military Kids 4-H Fund – Supports camp and youth development for the children of service members –  Fund 311984
  • TAP Fund – Supports a program in College of Engineering to adapt toys for children with disabilities – Fund 315339

No matter the size of your gift, your support will help create a better world for us all.  Please make your gift by April 30.

Waterman Listening Sessions for Faculty, Staff and Students

The Future of Waterman Task Force is seeking input from important stakeholders, including college and university faculty, staff, and students, elected officials, neighbors, alumni, commodity groups, friends of the college, and more.

The task force is charged with leading efforts to develop a comprehensive vision for Waterman Farm, a physical master plan (working with our partners in Physical Planning and Real Estate), and a proposed governance structure.

Input from college and university faculty, staff, and students at upcoming Waterman Listening Sessions is key to the success of the task force. Please plan to attend, and encourage others to as well.

More details are included in the attached flyers for the sessions, and can be found here.

Faculty and Staff
Waterman Listening Sessions for Faculty and Staff
Ag Admin Auditorium
April 18, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
April 19, 9 to 11:30 a.m.
April 25, 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Click here to register.

Students
Waterman Listening Sessions for Students
Free Pizza and Drinks!
Howlett Hall 164
April 16, 4 to 6 p.m.
April 25, 2 to 4 p.m.
Students do not need to register.