Hello,

Please see below for minutes from January Dept Council meeting.  Next meeting is Feb 7.  If you have anything you would like for me to bring up at that meeting, please let me know.

Thanks,

Becky

BUSINESS ARISING

1. Plant Science Student Employment Pay Scale Manitoba Provincial Minimum wage increased to $15.30 October 2023. The proposed April 1, 2024 Plant Science Student Pay Scale was reviewed and discussed. MOTION: Fernando/Duncan moved to increase the Plant Science Student Pay Scale to 2024 values. Carried

2. Plant Science Graduate Student Stipend Increase The Plant Science Graduate Studies Committee will meet to review the current graduate student stipends. The committee decision will be brought forward at the next Department Council Meeting.

3. Safety Committee – Security Issue – Door Locks Required Becky Dueck brought forward the safety issue of no door locks on basement rooms: ladies’ washroom, the freezer rooms, and the storage room. These rooms have attracted uninvited overnight guests.

Action Item: Contact Physical Plant to determine type/install locks.

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Academics to update their HOME page website. Dr. Cattani reminded Academics to keep their HOME webpages up to date.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

The Point Facility Transitions Committee

Dr. Lawley presented the following:

• This is a new sub-committee formed at the last Department Council meeting.

• Academic members are Drs. Cattani, Gulden, Lawley, and McCartney.

• Technician members are Mary Meleshko, Jonathan Rosset, and Mel Kaufmann.

• Academic members of the committee met with Dean Scanlon on December 22nd to discuss the new PCSRC building and the poultry barn as possible sites to relocate some of the Point activites, the timeline to relocate, and the funding options available.

• At the Jan 4 technicians meeting, 3 dates will be selected for inclusive technician planning meetings. All academics are invited/welcome to attend.

REPORTS

Graduate student report

• Some PSGSA members will be attending the 39th Annual Graduate Student Symposium at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Travel barriers will be non-existent for international students as the symposium is within Canada. PSGSA will be approaching the department to discuss funding opportunities for the road trip.
• PSGSA is enquiring if there is a possibility of a gender inclusive washroom in the building. Ms Paulusma responded that the Dean’s office has identified a spot for the gender inclusive washroom.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Lab Equipment Committee MOTION: Stasolla/Fernando moved to implement user fees in 2024 to recover the new autoclave maintenance fees. Carried Ms Paulusma said the fees will be directed to a new dedicated fund for this purpose.

2. Program Reviews 3 Dr. Entz brought forward that the External Reviewers Report received by the Department Head and Program Chairs is available for review. An Academic meeting has been scheduled for 8:30am, Friday, January 12, 2024, in 218 Plant Science Seminar Room, for discussion of the report. Dr. Entz also brought forward that the Ian N. Morrison Research Farm was not visited during the review.

3. Plant Science Seminars Dr. Entz brought forward the lack of student attendance at the Thursday Advanced Plant Science Seminars. There was discussion as to how the lack of attendance should be addressed: compulsory attendance tied to the student’s curriculum, Academics need to set an example and show up for the seminars, the possibility of combining the Master’s and PhD seminar courses, changing the time of the seminar presentation, all virtual presentation/attendance. It was suggested that the Department Head should take the lead in communicating with the graduate students and developing a strategy for increased seminar attendance.

4. Academic Retreat The Academic Retreat will be held in either April or May 2024. Items for discussion will be the seminar courses, as well as the declining enrollment.