MINUTES OF THE FACULTY MEETING -- DECEMBER 9, 2004

ATTENDEES: C. Barfield, M. Branham, E. Buss, J. Capinera, S. Choate, T. Fasulo, J. Foltz, Don Hall, M. Hoy, J. Maruniak, H. McAuslane, F. Oi, M. Scharf, F. Slansky, J. Stimac, C. Tucker, S. Webb, S. Yu, and Myrna Litchfield.

Meeting convened at 1:15.

Capinera introduced Tara Cataldo, Assistant University Librarian from the Marston Science Library. She presented a power point showing how to use the new electronic library system. She passed out a business card to everyone so that we would have her phone number, email address and web site address. She also passed out a list of online databases. She is the main contact person and suggested that if we have any problems or questions to email her anytime. Tara also said that if instructors had several articles that they require students to read the library would put these items under the course title and the students could access them through the library web page. She stated that if you would like for this to be done give them plenty of time to obtain the articles and get them on the website. Tara also explained how to access the library from a remote area such as the research centers. She stated that in order to access the electronic library you would need to activate your Gator One Card and you can do this online under Online Request. She also showed how to check out your account to see if you had any books that were due or checked out. The library will be willing to see if they can get requested articles or books they don't have available through interlibrary loan or purchase them so they can be available. Tara will be sending Myrna some information on the different links she showed, how to access them and what they contain.

Capinera gave an update on the Vet/Med Position - Phil Kaufman has accepted the position and will be here in May. He also announced that Fred Fishel has accepted the Pesticide Information Coordinator position and will start in about three months. He is a weed scientist and will be affiliated with agronomy.

The faculty voted on Dr. Charles Covell to be appointed as Courtesy Faculty. The vote was unanimous.

Capinera passed out the Natural Disaster/Hurricane Emergency Plan. He thought that it should be updated to better suit our needs. He asked for some input since we now have quite a bit of experience. It is best to contact Facilities Operations and let them know what your needs are in order to preserve anything that is in a freezer or refrigerated in case of a power outage. Everyone is responsible to report damages in their areas. It was suggested to put heavy-duty garbage bags over computers and electronic equipment. If you have a question about whether your equipment is hooked up to a generator you need to consult with Jerry. It was suggested that each lab be equipped with a flashlight since it is quite dark in the hallways when there is no power. A question was raised about the Pesticide Storage building. Capinera said that facilities reviewed the situation and the preliminary plan is to raise the floor and roof to get the storage area above flood stage. We probably will not get a new building just the old one remodeled. It was suggested that a better ventilation system be installed with an area provided to mix the insecticides.

Capinera passed out a Survey of Entomology Graduate Students Stipends for 2004-2005. Student stipends at the UF are low compared to the rest of the country. The numbers aren't exactly correct but if you wish to support a graduate assistant you should think about increasing the stipend to $15,000 - $16,000/year. The dean's office has been putting up $6,000 per year for matching stipends, but Capinera has requested that it be increased to $8,000.

Capinera talked about the optional merit-based small pay raise for USPS/TEAMS staff - 1.5% increase. If your employee should not receive this 1.5% please let him know. These pay raises are paid by the President's office until June 30 then the department has to pick it up indefinitely. This will consume the equivalent of most of a position. The President has frozen all Special Pay Increases or bonuses. If you feel that your employee deserves a higher pay increase the department can transfer dollars from your state operations budget to salary. However, this increase would roll over to the next year and will have an impact on your operations budget. We have the ability to shift these dollars now, something that was lacking in the past.

An announcement to elect Alumni for awards was passed out. The dean is looking for nominations for Alumni of Agricultural and Life Sciences. If you know of someone who has been outstanding you need to contact the dean and let him know that you are interested in supporting the nominee.

Federal Projected Budget Increases was passed out. Many increases are projected in the USDA grant programs. Faculty should be aware that a lot of money is going to the military-related programs. A list of military contacts was passed out.

The department has received a new video polycom unit for conferencing. This can be plugged in to any place where Ethernet connections are available allowing voice and video communications with RECs. Steve can show how it works.

Capinera announced that the FAS-2 system is not ready yet. It has been promised that it will be ready by the end of January or the first of February. Delay entering annual performance review data until the end of January to allow for removal of glitches.

Carl Barfield announced that we have 5 new major and 5 new minor students - most are from Anthropology. The majority is interested in forensic entomology. The department is getting some pretty high quality undergraduate students.

Don Hall announced that he had emailed a ballot to all faculty on the Biology GRE exam. The Graduate Committee decided that any new decision would not take effect until fall of 2005. He said that if you did not vote please do so.

Meeting adjourned at 2:30

SURVEY OF ENTOMOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT STIPENDS 2004-2005