Month: May 2018

2019 Community Engagement Conference

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Last year, the Office of Outreach and Engagement and OSU Extension co-sponsored the university’s inaugural Community Engagement Conference focused on Health and Wellness.  More than 800 faculty and staff attended the two-day event.  The planning committee included faculty and staff from virtually every college on campus.

Mark your calendar for next year’s event, which will be held January 23-24, 2019.  The theme will be sustainability.  This theme aligns well with the emerging priorities of CFAES and will allow us to demonstrate our leadership in this important area of work.

 

Smart Columbus Ride & Drive Roadshow

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Come out to the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) on June 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to take part in the first Smart Columbus Ride & Drive Roadshow held at Ohio State. Test drive one of the newest electric vehicles on the market and learn more about the multi-modal transit options central Ohio has to offer. Click here to learn more and reserve your time to test drive an electric vehicle.

Additionally, the Smart Campus student organization, CAR, the Risk Institute, TTM and other Ohio State centers and departments will be showcasing their work around Smart Cities and the many mobility options available at Ohio State.

Smart Columbus is working to deploy more affordable, reliable, and sustainable transportation options in Central Ohio, and Ohio State is joining them as a key partner by encouraging all of our employees to drive electric and drive less.

As the winner of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) first-ever Smart City Challenge, Columbus was awarded $50 million in grant funding and the designation as America’s Smart City. The initiative seeks to transform mobility in central Ohio, and change what it’s like to live in our community. Ohio State is the primary research partner of Smart Columbus.

Inclusive Excellence Trainings – Summer 2018

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These one-hour trainings focus on best practices for ensuring all reasonable efforts to attract a diverse candidate pool for open staff or faculty positions. Participants will examine the role that implicit bias often plays in screening applicants.  Strategies for advertising and creating avenues for underrepresented applicants will be presented.

Over the summer, these trainings will be available via Zoom.

Staff hire training will be June 8 and Aug. 17. Click here to register for staff hire training.

Faculty hire training will be June 22 and Aug. 10. Click here to register for faculty hire training.

Summer Discounts for Faculty and Staff

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Vendors offer discounted products and services to faculty and staff. As a summer special, half-priced tickets to Zoombezi Bay can be purchased through Tuesday, June 5 and are valid through Sunday, July 8.

Ohio State also partners with COESRA to provide additional local and national discounts to many attractions, including Kings Island, COSI, Cedar Point and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

To access Discount Programs, click on Benefits on the Human Resources website. Once you are logged in, you will see Discount Programs.

Impact Diabetes Prevention Study

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Want to lose weight? Are you at risk for diabetes?

We are recruiting employees to participate in an 18-month research study to help people lose weight. The study includes a group-based nutrition and physical activity program. You may be eligible if you are eligible for employee benefits, at least 21 years old, and have an elevated glucose level.

Diabetes Prevention Study Flyer

For information, call 292-4772, contact diabetesimpactstudy@osu.edu or visit u.osu.edu/impactstudy for more information.

CFAES Staff Advisory Council Appreciates You!

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Attention CFAES staff members: be on the lookout in your mailboxes for some great CFAES swag from Staff Advisory Council! We appreciate all that you do to make our college the best of the best! If you would like to nominate an excellent staff member, be sure to visit the SAC website and check out the multiple recognition awards we have available for staff.

YOU make this a great place to work!

Staff Professional Development and Recognition Awards

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Applications for CFAES Staff Professional Development Awards and the CFAES Staff Recognition Awards are available and now being accepted by the CFAES Staff Advisory Council Staff Awards and Recognition Committee.

Staff Professional Development Award
The CFAES SAC Staff Professional Development Award is funded through support from donations from current and former employees. It is offered to help supplement the costs associated with travel and fees for professional development opportunities for staff of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. This is a one-time reimbursement for expenses related to professional development activities, not to exceed $500. Please note, the award is up to $500, and the committee may opt to award a partial request (e.g., $250 of a $500 ask) depending on the full range of submissions and awards.

Applications will be reviewed and awarded twice per year. The deadline for the first round is June 15, 2018. The application deadline for the second round is Dec. 1, 2018. This second round will allow staff to apply for funding for professional development that may occur later in the fiscal year that they might not be aware of early in the fiscal year. Professional Development Award recipients have one year from the date of approval to use the award.

Staff Professional Development Award Timeline

Professional Development Application deadline:
Round 1 – June 15, 2018
Round 2 – Dec. 1, 2018

Notification date (recipients and those not selected):
Round 1 – by July 10, 2018
Round 2 – by Dec. 15, 2018

Staff Recognition Awards

Shirley Brooks Jones Citizenship Award ($500)
Awarded to a staff member who:

  • Provides outstanding and ongoing excellence in services to faculty, staff, students, and/or others.
  • Enhances the quality of work-life in ways that makes a significant difference for colleagues or customers.
  • Develops creative solutions to problems that result in significantly more effective and efficient college operations.
  • Contributes to positive changes in the college.
  • Promotes the college core values and college goals. College core values are: discovery, life-long learning, science-based knowledge, academic freedom, civility, professionalism, and diversity. College goal is to be the standard of excellence for colleges of agricultural and environmental sciences.

Above and Beyond awards ($300 each)

Key Values Award – A service award for dedication, cooperation and positive attitudes in the workplace. Nominations limited to staff members within their first three years of employment.

Innovation Award – For developing and/or participating in project initiatives and/or process operation improvements that enhance CFAES, OSU Extension, Ohio State ATI, or OARDC and its mission.

Special Recognition – For going above and beyond job duties, special commitment to tasks, positive customer service, and improving workplace communications.

Staff Recognition Award Timeline

Staff Recognition Award Application deadline: June 30, 2018
Notification Date: by Aug. 15, 2018

The applications for the Professional Development Award and the Staff Recognition Awards are available on the Staff Advisory Council web page.

All applications are to be sent to Staff Advisory Council Awards Committee c/o Joy Bauman, CFAES Center for Cooperatives, 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon, OH 45611 or email to bauman.67@osu.edu.

National Public Gardens Day

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In honor of National Public Gardens day, the American Public Gardens Association’s (APGA) Executive Director Casey Sclar, will be attending the 31st annual Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser at Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens, Friday, May 11, 2018.

Mary Maloney, executive director, Chadwick Arboretum states, “APGA has provided a significant leadership role with the public gardens of central Ohio in education, sustainability, and conservation—especially in relation to the spring board that AmeraFlora provided to the avocation and profession of horticulture, and to the resurrection and development of public gardens in central Ohio.”

A few of those public gardens are Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens, Park of Roses Garden at Whetstone Park, Franklin Park Conservatory, Inniswood Metro Gardens, the Gardens at Gantz Farm, Dawes Arboretum, and The Topiary Park.

Casey Sclar, PhD, and his team serve and support over 625 gardens and their more than 9,300 allied members located throughout America and 14 countries. Collectively, these gardens reach over 121 million people per year and help to realize American Public Gardens Association’s vision – a world where public gardens are indispensable.

Casey Sclar will join Mary Maloney and 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 dates and times of the Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser.

CFAES Business Office Closure

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On Monday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 22  the CFAES Business Office (both Columbus and Wooster locations) will be closed as staff participate in a two-day retreat.

Voice mail, email, and university systems (eRequest, eTravel) will not be closely monitored during these days. Time-sensitive requests should be submitted/received in the Business Office the week prior (May 14-18).

Regular hours will resume on Wednesday, May 23.

 

CampusParc Permit Upgrade/Downgrade Requests

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CampusParc will begin accepting permit upgrade and downgrade requests effective Monday, May 7, 2018. If you are interested in requesting an upgrade or downgrade, you must submit your request no later than Friday, May 25, 2018.

To request an upgrade or downgrade, follow these simple steps:

  1. Log in to your parking account.
  2. Click on the “Waitlist” tab (bottom left).
  3. Click on “Add Waitlist.”
  4. Select the appropriate waitlist.

Successful requests can be confirmed immediately by selecting the “Waitlist” tab again on your account home screen. If you submit a request, we will send you an email no later than June 1, 2018, to let you know whether your request has been approved.

As a reminder, upgrades and downgrades are awarded at random and must be submitted every permit year, even if you were awarded an upgrade or downgrade in previous years. Click here for additional program details.

Just need to purchase or renew your permit? Faculty and staff permits go on sale Monday, June 4. If you have any questions or need assistance with an upgrade/downgrade request, please contact CampusParc Customer Care team at osuinfo@campusparc.com or at 614-688-0000.

Funding Opportunity for Sustainable Agricultural Systems

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the availability of up to $80 million in funding for integrated projects to increase sustainable production of food and agricultural products. Funding is made through a new program in NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) – Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) program. AFRI is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, which aims to address challenges in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences.

SAS program focuses on system-level approaches that promote transformational changes in food and agricultural systems within the next 25 years. SAS supports trans-disciplinary projects that aim to transform agricultural systems that provide safe, nutritious, abundant, and affordable food for a growing population, while enhancing economic opportunities for Americans, especially those in rural areas.

Applications are solicited for projects focused on increasing agricultural productivity; optimizing water and nitrogen use efficiency; protecting yield losses from stresses, diseases and pests; reducing food-borne diseases; and advancing development of biobased fuels, chemicals, and coproducts.

Eligible applicants include colleges and universities, 1994 land-grant institutions, and Hispanic serving agricultural colleges and universities. NIFA reviews all proposals accepted in NIFA’s competitive grant programs through an external peer review process. Specific details on panel meetings, review formats, and evaluation criteria may vary among programs.

A letter of intent is a prerequisite for the submission of an application. The deadline to submit a letter of intent is June 27, 2018.

The deadline for applications is Oct. 10, 2018.

See the SAS Program Request for Applications for more details.