It is a rainy Saturday and there is a football game this afternoon.  As a matter of fact I received a game ball today on behalf of the college.  CNAS was recognized at today’s game and each college will be recognized at a game this fall.  Farm Bureau sponsored today’s game and we certainly appreciate their sponsorship of the game but more importantly their support of the Department of Agriculture.  Thank you – Farm Bureau!!!

I will be attempting to give you some needed deadlines and information through this blog so I hope that you will check it regularly. 

Majors Fair is Wednesday, September 23 – I look forward to seeing everyone’s displays.  This is a great opportunity to share our strengths with our current students and to prepare for all of the fall recruitment fairs that we will be attending.

Dr. Nietzel’s state of the university address is Tuesday, September 29 in the PSU Theatre. 

Many of you have mentioned over the years that you wished we had help so that we could provide more summer camps – especially related to STEM fields.  The president and provost have funded a “Science Education Project Director” position to help us do more.  This new position will report to me.  The search committee is meeting this week and I hope that the ad is out within the next two weeks.  The person in this position will be charged with seeking funding for summer camps as well as recruiting students to participate and help with coordination.  None of this will happen without faculty support as well and I certainly hope that some of this might turn into research projects and/or publications for faculty.  It is expected that both CNAS and COE faculty would be involved as co-PI’s or senior personnel on the grant proposals.  The position is funded for three years and it is hoped that the position would be grant funded after that time period.  I know that we have had a number of successful programs in the past and if you are interested in participating again, please let me know.

Program Reviews in CNAS – Computer Science progress report was presented to the BOG in May.  FID is working on their action plan.  GGP external reviewers will be here on November 2-3, 2009.   PAMS external reviewer will be here November 19-20, 2009.  I am reviewing the latest draft of the MTH SWOT analysis and action plan.  I am also reading the AG self-study.  We hope to have reviewers on campus for MTH and AG in late 2009 or early 2010.  BIO and CHM have started their self-studies and their first drafts are due March 1, 2009.

There will be a sustainability fair on campus November 18, 2009.  At this fair you will learn what Missouri State University is doing to be sustainable, you will learn about various faculty research projects involving sustainability, you will learn about student and faculty groups concerned with sustainability issues, and you will learn some actions that you can personally adopt to become more sustainable.  There will also be opportunities for you to share with Missouri State administration recommendations on what our next steps should be related to sustainability initiatives.  Watch for more information.

We hope to have a new/improved MNAS website and recruitment materials by November 1.  We have collected some possible degree program options and we will be posting some so students will be able to see examples of the variety of possibilities.  All CNAS faculty with current research projects will also be highlighted on this site so that students can contact faculty directly about opportunities to work in research groups.

A list of latest funding awards received by CNAS faculty: 

• Chris Barnhart: Award from The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the project entitled “Mussel Biologist”.  The award is in the amount of $21,751.00.
• Chris Barnhart: Award from The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the project entitled “Propagation and Culture of Winged Mapleleaf and Pink Mucket Musselss”.  The award is in the amount of $8,000.00.
• Alicia Mathis: Award from The National Park Service for the project entitled “Fire Effects Monitoring in Central Great Plains NPS Units”.  The award is in the amount of $79,298.00.
• Robert Pavlowski: Award from Olsson and Associates, Inc. for the project entitled “Geomorphic Assessment of Lackman Tributary, Lenexa, KS”.  The award is in the amount of $8,000.00.
• Robert Pavlowski: Award from the City of Springfield for the Springfield MS4/TMDL Monitoring Project.  The award is in the amount of $19,746.00.
• Lynn Robbins: Award from The Missouri Army National Guard for the project entitled “Acoustic and Mist Net Surveys for Bats With Emphasis on Endangered Bats from Macon”.  The award is in the amount of $28,087.00.
• Diane May and Shuo-Sheng Wu: Award from SEMA for the project entitled “Barry County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update”.  The award is in the amount of $19,200.00.
• Dan Beckman: Award from the Missouri Department of Conservation for the project entitled “Ozark Cavefish Distribution and Life History Related to Mining in Jasper and Newton Counties”.  The award is in the amount of $42,190.00.
• Jane Hood: Award from the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce for the project entitled “Economic Development Services-Cost of Living Index Price Report”.  The award is in the amount of $750.00.

Congratulations to all faculty!!!  I know that several submissions have gone in the last month and I wish you all the best.

I hope you are having a great semester.  If you have any questions or comments please email me.