MINUTES OF THE FACULTY MEETING -- DECEMBER 1, 2005

ATTENDEES: D. Boucias, M. Branham, E. Buss, J. Capinera, P. Choate, B. Crow, J. Cuda, T. Fasulo, J. Foltz, H. Frank, P. Goldstein, D. Hahn, D. Hall, P. Kaufman, P. Koehler, N. Leppla, O. Liburd, J. Maruniak, H. McAuslane, G. Nuessly (Everglades REC), F. Oi, M. Scharf, J. Stimac, S. Webb, G. White, S. Yu, P. Howell, and C. Pickles. Ft. Pierce REC joined by PolyCom.

Meeting convened at 10:35

Capinera introduced Dr. Kirby Barrick, IFAS Dean for Teaching in Academic Affairs. The faculty then introduced themselves and explained their area of expertise and their teaching assignment.

Dean Barrick took the floor and talked about what he expects to help happen in the college, as well as what he would like to see the units do. He talked about issues and concerns, and that he wants to get more of a handle on what need to be done in the college. He said that there is no control right now over undergraduate admissions, but that he would like to see some control over undergraduate admissions in the same manner as there is control over graduate admissions.

Barrick stated that we need additional money to grow and continue to fund graduate education. He noted that UF/IFAS is the only agricultural and life sciences college in the state, and we need to be working with specific goals as a college to attract only the best graduate students. He stated that undergraduate students MAKE us money, but graduate students COST us money (with tuition waivers, stipends, scholarships, etc.), so again we need to seek money to grow and continue to fund graduate education. He reminded the faculty that we can't do research without graduate assistants.

Barrick stated that we need more leadership out of his office for graduate education. He asked what we can do to help graduates. We need to help them be more competitive in teaching and in industry. We need to stress value added aspects of education, especially improving teaching skills.

Barrick spoke about outcomes assessment. He stated that we are 50th in the nation of all the national universities for inputs. The ratio is 23:1 (students to teachers) here, while at Harvard the ratio is 5:1. Our outcomes need to be as good as other schools. He also noted that we are 6th in the nation for land grant institutions.

Leppla asked what Barrick envisions for targeting the efforts of our program. Barrick said we need to be more focused, not more specialized.

Maruniak asked do we need fewer or more students per faculty to move up in the ranks. Barrick said we have other ways to fund faculty other than by the number of students. There's money out there but we haven't asked for it yet.

Goldstein asked what Barrick has in mind for this department. What are our strengths and weaknesses. Barrick noted that our department is an internationally renowned unit and he wants to work with us until we say we don't need him anymore. He stated that CALS and the departments will have some tough decisions to make in the future.

McAuslane asked if he envisions us teaching courses on graduate professional development. Barrick said we can take advantage of campus or IFAS-wide activities.

Koehler asked how Barrick calculated the faculty to student ratio. Barrick said he took the ratios from the U.S. News and World Reports. He doesn't have the figures from his campus source yet but they're coming. He noted that ratios are different from department to department and this is not a one-size-fits-all score.

Leppla asked about student evaluations of teaching faculty. He said that the forms are difficult to interpret. Barrick said his people that are coming in will work on this question, then they will work to try to figure out what the numbers mean.

Koehler stated that the area of growth is distance education and asked what could be done. Barrick said that what we should be doing as a center/unit is to find out where the program is needed. He stated that to have a program available at one REC when it's needed at a different REC is not helping anyone. He finished up by saying that anyone can contact him at kbarrick@ufl.edu with questions or comments.

Capinera took over again and mentioned that Dave Schuster has brought up an interesting topic about tenure and promotion candidates. When discussing in the faculty meeting last month, Capinera had pulled the plug on the PolyCom in order to keep discussions confidential from the candidates. He asked if the faculty thought this was something that needed to be discussed with the RECs via the PolyCom by asking the T&P candidates to leave the scene before discussions. Maruniak said it was appropriate to pull it at that time since it was not decided in advance. However, he said, discussions with the RECs should definitely be included. Cuda stated that the more input, the better. Stimac asked if the centers could control attendance at the discussions. Hahn stated that we need to be able to trust our colleagues. Capinera stated that being able to trust the faculty, especially where we can't control the room, is very important. He also said that we need as much open dialogue as possible. It was finally decided that in the future, candidates under consideration will leave the room and open discussion will take place.

Steve Lasley then took the floor to discuss upcoming conversions to IFAS email. This will affect the emails with the "@ifas.ufl.edu" addresses. It will not affect ones with the "@ufl.edu" addresses, or NERDC/NERSP accounts. He handed out an email use policy statement and said that official business email will change to "your_Gatorlink_name@ufl.edu" over the holiday break. Those using Eudora or Outlook Express need to change their return address to reflect the new email address. You also need to change on business cards, stationery, etc.

Discussion was held regarding courtesy appointments for Mirian Hay Roe and Jaret Daniels. After discussion, voting showed that Hay Roe was not approved and Daniels was approved.

McAuslane next spoke about the Insect/Lepidoptera Conservation position that is currently open. She stated that only two applications were received and they will interview the most qualified candidate. Jaret Daniels will interview on December 14 and will have a research seminar on the 19th and an extension seminar on the 20th.

Capinera stated that the Apiculture/Youth position is going along well. We have gotten some good applications, but we will have to look beyond those that are overqualified. The committee will meet within the next couple of weeks.

Maruniak asked about the staff vacations during the holiday break. Capinera stated that most of the Administrative Office are now TEAMS and will take the holiday break off. The office will be open but will be thinly staffed, maybe even without a receptionist at least part of the time.

Meeting adjourned at 11:55