MINUTES OF FACULTY MEETING -- JUNE 16, 2004

ATTENDEES: M. Branham, J. Capinera, S. Choate, T. Emmel, T. Fasulo, D. Hall, G. Hall, A. Hodges, S. Hoopaugh, M. Hoy, N. Leppla, O. Liburd, H. McAuslane, R. McSorley, J. Stimac, S. Webb, G. White, Frank Woods, S. Yu, and Myrna Litchfield

Meeting convened at 11:00

A statement describing the changes in the business office due to the University system switching to People Soft was handed out (see end of minutes for a copy of the handout). This was discussed and it was brought out that when traveling cost of meals would depend on the city you were in. Also, the mileage has increased to 37.5 cents per mile. There will be no more travel advances unless the traveler requests it through People Soft. However, if the travel advance is not settled no later than 10 workdays from the travel ending date, UF will garnish wages through Payroll and the traveler will not be eligible for future advances.

Capinera announced that on September 9th and 10th the new president would be inaugurated. The department has two opportunities to demonstrate what the department does. It should be something scholastic such as seminars or symposia, and we can also suggest something that would be IFAS-wide. Capinera asked for suggestions.

Capinera announced that Jim Cuda has received promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure.

Capinera stated that Dr. Hoy had been nominated to serve on the University Senate as well as two entomologists from the RECs, R. Rutledge and B. Howard.

Capinera passed out a list of Tropical-Subtropical Agricultural Research (T-STAR), PL 89-106, FY 2004, New Projects funded for the first 24 months of 3 year projects. This is the most recent round of funding and he wanted faculty to be aware of this opportunity because the rate of successful funding is quite high. Many faculty seem to believe that they must have collaborators in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands to compete successfully for the T-STAR projects, but this is only one factor and a brief examination of the list of funded projects will show that all-UF projects are regularly approved.

Capinera passed out the President's CSREES Budget Proposal for FY 2005, noting that there are many changes in level of funding and areas of funding, creating new opportunities for grant support. The final budget will certainly look different, but it is important to be aware of changes in program structure and funding levels.

The Medical Entomology position is under way and has been advertised. We have a new physiologist: Dr. Dan Hahn has accepted the position and will start in January 2005. The Apiculture/Youth position has not been released yet but is looking very favorable.

The McGuire Center for Lepidoptera Research will provide many new opportunities for the Department. It would be beneficial to both the department and the center to hire a lepidopterist with expertise in systematics, evolution, conservation, ecology or behavior. Capinera suggested that it might be possible to make a special minority (African-American or Hispanic) hire as a lepidopterist. This would strengthen our program and allow more direct linkage with the McGuire Center. We should identify a pool of potential candidates and interview 3-4 to see if there are any suitable individuals. This person would be a member of the department with a mailbox (perhaps office) but housed at the McGuire Center. Faculty aware of potential candidates should let Capinera know.

Dr. Hall stated that we would have at least 20 new students in the fall increasing our graduate enrollment to over 100.

The meeting adjourned to take a tour of the McGuire Center led by Tom Emmel.