Hello,
Please see below for a summary of the Department Council minutes from July 5. If you have any comments/questions, please let me know.
Thanks, Becky
BUSINESS ARISING
i. Martin Entz updated on the Departmental Spirit committee, - it has not met as yet CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Horticulture Storage Building is nearing completion of the upgrades and will be commissioned. Please remove anything for the rooms as they will be filled with potatoes to ensure the proper function as a storage facility.
REPORTS
1. Graduate student report - PSGSA will be meeting in August to elect board and appoint representatives for departmental committees.
2. Support staff report: storage containers at the Point - who is responsible for shelving. Rebecca Dueck to look at Dr. Lawley's shelving and get quotes for shelving to enhance storage space.
3. Postdoc/RA Report: Mohammad Sayeri,
During the department council meeting, it was announced that the department of Plant Science and the department of Food and Human Nutritional Science (FHNS) have jointly established the first PDF/RA association at the faculty level.
Additionally, we are pleased to inform you that we have secured a $3000 endowment fund from the faculty. This fund will be utilized to organize an event exclusively for PDFs within our faculty. Furthermore, we have planned two lunch events that were open to all PDFs across the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses of the University of Manitoba.
We are excited to share that a 3-minute PDF talk (3PT) is scheduled to take place on September 22nd. The specific date and venue will be announced in the near future.
Lastly, the faculty of postgraduate study has generously agreed to provide four PDF Distinguished Awards. These awards will be presented to outstanding PDFs across the University of Manitoba. More detailed information will be communicated via email shortly.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Committee member replacement
Elected Members:
* Advanced Plant Science Seminar Committee - Harmeet Chawla elected.
Moved/Seconded that the committee look into the terms of reference and propose that the committee be expanded to include a member from the PostDoc/RA group within the Department and determine the length of term if membership is proposed.
* Bunge Canada NSERC Innovation Award Committee -
passed to approach Sean Walkowiak/Colin Hiebert/Malcolm Morrison be approached in this order to serve on this committee.
* Gift Advisory Committee - Rob Duncan to serve on this committee.
* Land and Equipment Resources Committee - Rob Duncan serve on this committee.
* Lab Equipment Resources Committee - Harmeet Chawla to serve on this committee.
Appointed Members:
* Controlled Environment Committee - Replacement for Dr. Stasolla
* Gift Advisory Committee - Dr. Gulden
* Graduate Studies Committee - Dr. Ayele
* Lab Equipment Resources Committee - Replacement for Gurnoor Kaur;
* Point Management and Operations Committee - Replacement for Dr. Lawley; Ardelle Slama
2. Laboratory charge backs. Lab fees are collected and are to pay for the costs incurred in the delivery of the labs. Please keep track and submit.
3. Teaching Assignments for fall 2023.
i. PLNT 2500 and PLNT 0401 - Dr. Cattani will be assigning these courses to be co-taught.
ii. PLNT 0820 - assessing applicant for suitability.
iii. PLNT 4270 - two applicants and we are making a decision based upon teaching experience.
4. Once the computer upgrade is made in Room 2018, we will have a dedication of the room.
5. Internal communication announcement that Dr. Cattani was awarded the "Teacher of the year award" for 2023. This award is selected by the graduating degree class and presented at Grads Farewell.
6. Kristen Macmillan was appointed for a second 5-year term as "Agronomists in Residence". Co-funded by MPGA, Faculty and the Department. Kristen will be teaching PLNT 0410 and the experiential learning Crop Scouting course when she returns from leave.
1. Martin updated dept council on the degree review process that involves Agroecology, Agronomy, Plant Biotech and Animal Systems. Visits by reviewers are to take place in the fall.