COLLEGE NEWS
- Faculty meeting Oct. 30 to vote on catalog changes
- Consortium goal: Globalize agricultural education
- Ukraine conference evaluates ag education project
- MIAC office now in Curtiss Hall
- Informational session on MIAC on Nov. 12
- Upcoming dedications of new animal science facilities
- AgComm workshop on peer appraisals Oct. 20
- Iowa secretary of ag candidate forum Oct. 20
- Animal Science Career Day set for Nov. 6
- Deadlines & Reminders
COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
- Business e-mail: Make it quick but not casual
INFOGRAZING
- Web newsletters: Leopold Letter now in text, PDF formats
- Web newsletters: Gene Exchange follows ag biotech industry
EXTERNAL VOICES
- Doing our duty, whether we get credit or not
MARGINALIA
- October is Pizza Month: Support your local pizza farmer
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C O L L E G E N E W S
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FACULTY MEETING OCT. 30 TO VOTE ON CATALOG CHANGES
A college-wide meeting of faculty will be held Friday, Oct. 30, to vote on the proposed college curricula for the 1999-2001 catalog. The meeting will be held in 118 Horticulture (the auditorium), 3:10 to 4 p.m. All college faculty are encouraged to attend to hear a summary report of all proposed courses, programs and changes for the new catalog, and to vote on acceptance. For more information: Joe Colletti, chair, ag curriculum committee, 4-4912 or colletti@iastate.edu, or contact your department/program representative on the committee.
CONSORTIUM GOAL: GLOBALIZE AG EDUCATION
A consortium of universities has been created to globalize agricultural curricula. The International Consortium for Agricultural Education will work to unify the agricultural programs at universities worldwide to facilitate student and faculty exchanges. ISU, the National Agricultural University of Ukraine, Kiev; and Humboldt University, Berlin are the organizing institutions. The consortium was formed at a conference in Ukraine in September (see next item). ISU President Martin Jischke is president of the group; ISU Provost John Kozak is vice president; and Dean David Topel serves on the group’s presidium, or board.
UKRAINE CONFERENCE EVALUATES AG EDUCATION PROJECT
Accomplishments of a four-year educational project between ISU and the National Agricultural University of Ukraine (NAUU) were outlined at an international conference on the future of agricultural education in Kiev, Sept. 28-30. ISU President Jischke led an ISU delegation to the event, which attracted university and government officials from 25 countries. The centerpiece of the project was the creation of a new educational plan at NAUU, which may be used as a model in other countries. Since 1994, 23 Iowa State and 39 NAUU faculty and staff have participated.
MIAC OFFICE NOW IN CURTISS HALL
The MidAmerica International Agricultural Consortium (MIAC) recently relocated its office from the Food Sciences Building to 111 Curtiss. MIAC staff members are David Hansen, executive director; Shelley Taylor, administrative assistant; and Vi Hall, accountant. MIAC's mission is to establish agricultural and natural resource management programs with other nations, with a primary focus on Mexico. Besides ISU, other MIAC universities are Kansas State, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Missouri. For more information: http://www.miac.org/
INFORMATIONAL SESSION ON MIAC ON NOV. 12
International Agriculture Programs will sponsor a brown bag lunch and informational session on MIAC and its Mexico interests at noon, Nov. 12, in 106 Curtiss. For more information: 4-8454.
UPCOMING DEDICATIONS OF NEW ANIMAL SCIENCE FACILITIES
The Kildee Hall-Meats Laboratory addition will be dedicated on Saturday, Nov. 7. The two-year construction and renovation project has expanded and modernized animal science classrooms, laboratories and offices. The $18-million project was funded by the Iowa Legislature and private gifts. A week earlier, Oct. 31, a conference room in the new addition will be dedicated in the memory of M.E. "Gene" Ensminger, a noted animal scientist and educator who died in July. Ensminger, who received an honorary degree from Iowa State, worked with ISU animal scientists and others to conduct agricultural technology schools in several countries.
AGCOMM WORKSHOP ON PEER APPRAISALS OCT. 20
An AgComm workshop for faculty, grad assistants and administrators will be held at noon, Tuesday, Oct. 20, in 8 Curtiss. The topic is "Implementing Peer Appraisals that Work with Communication Assignments & Activities." A light lunch is available. RSVP to Norma Hensley, 4-6614 or nhensley@iastate.edu.
IOWA SECRETARY OF AG CANDIDATE FORUM OCT. 20
The Collegiate Farm Bureau Club forum for Iowa secretary-of-agriculture candidates Dan Brown and Patty Judge will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 20, in 175 Scheman.
ANIMAL SCIENCE CAREER DAY SET FOR NOV. 6
The ISU Block and Bridle club is hosting the Fall 1998 Animal Science Career Day for prospective animal science and other agricultural students Nov. 6. The event is held in conjunction with Experience Iowa State Day. Students will tour ISU and meet with professors in the College of Agriculture and Block and Bridle members. For more information: Dr. Doug Kenealy, 4-6022.
DEADLINES & REMINDERS
Oct. 19-Nov. 13: Free flu vaccinations, 205 TASF, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: Implementing peer appraisals that work with communication assignments/activities, AgComm workshop, noon, 8 Curtiss. RSVP, 4-6614.
Oct. 20: Iowa secretary-of-agriculture candidate forum, 175 Scheman, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21: Teaching at a distance, Brenton Center workshop, 4:10 p.m., 8 Curtiss.
Oct. 30: College faculty meeting on proposed catalog changes, 118 Horticulture, 3:10 p.m.
Nov. 2-6: Ag Week at ISU.
Nov. 6: Animal Science Career Day at ISU
Nov. 10: Ag Career Day, Memorial Union.
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C O M M U N I C A T I O N S K I O S K
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BUSINESS E-MAIL: MAKE IT QUICK BUT NOT CASUAL
Business-related e-mail may be quick, but it shouldn’t be treated casually. Writing and proofreading e-mail should be done with the same care used with business letters and memos. Other suggestions: use short paragraphs; avoid using all caps unless you want to emphasize something; don't use just lower case (it’s hard to read); read it over; and use a spell-checker. (Writing That Works newsletter)
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I N F O G R A Z I N G
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WEB NEWSLETTERS: LEOPOLD LETTER NOW IN TEXT AND PDF
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture's newsletter is now available on the web in both text and PDF formats. In the Leopold Letter's fall issue, George Washington Carver is profiled as an early pioneer in sustainable agriculture. Find the newsletter online.
WEB NEWSLETTERS: GENE EXCHANGE FOLLOWS AG BIOTECH
The Gene Exchange, a Union of Concerned Scientists newsletter on developments in agricultural biotechnology, is available on the web. The newsletter, which will begin posting monthly updates early next year, follows the ag biotechnology industry, government regulation and approvals of genetically engineered products, and offers to biotechnology.
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E X T E R N A L V O I C E S
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DOING OUR DUTY, WHETHER WE GET CREDIT OR NOT
B.R. Barwale of India was awarded the 1998 World Food Prize on Thursday in Des Moines for his work in developing the role of private enterprise in India's agriculture. In his acceptance speech, Barwale said: "Our ancient Hindu scripture Bhagavad-Gita says: 'To action alone hast thou a right and never at all to its fruits; let not the fruits of action be thy motive; neither let there be in thee any attachment to inaction.' I drew lessons from this. I have always believed that we must do our duty irrespective of whether we get credit for it or not. I do realize when such efforts and achievement are appreciated, it provides incentive, encouragement and enthusiasm . . . This award also acts as an example for the entire community of seedsmen to work with greater devotion and dedication for the objective . . . The seed industry is not yet established in several countries of the developing world. Without this development, it is difficult to increase agricultural production. This provides a great challenge and opportunity . . . to be of help to these under-developed economies."
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M A R G I N A L I A
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OCTOBER IS PIZZA MONTH: SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PIZZA FARMER
The Pizza Farm, Madera, Calif., is a working farm dedicated to teaching school children about agriculture, using their favorite food. The circulate farm is divided into eight "slices," each growing or raising an ingredient of pizza: wheat, tomatoes, peppers, olives, herbs, dairy cows for cheese, pigs for pepperoni and beef for hamburger. For more information, check the web site: http://www.pizzafarm.org.