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March 28, 2016

Posted by entomology.office | April 4, 2016

Announcements

No colloquium next week due to the ESA meetings in Hawaii.

The Insect Cinema Cult Classic will be on Friday, April 15th in Todd 276 from 6 PM – 10 PM.  This year’s films are:  The Fly, Empire of the Ants and Skeeter.  If you would like to order a ICCC T-shirt contact Robert Orpet at robert.orpet@wsu.edu.

Congratulations to Timothy Lawrence, Carrie Foss, and Darrell Kilgore, plus the WSU bee team, who have been given the Gold Award from the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals for the video Pollination and Protecting Pollinators.  Access to video at site http://pep.wsu.edu – under News and Updates.

Are you attending the PB-ESA conference in Honolulu April 3-6th? Come practice your impromptu speaking skills at our fun blitz talk event! Signups are available at the registration desk. Priority to students and early professionals, but open to anyone interested!”  Alix B. Whitener, PhD Candidate, ESA Student Affairs Committee Vice Chair

Plant Pathology Graduate Students Present: “Creating Sustainable Management Strategies for Thrips and Tospoviruses” by Dr. Diane Ullman on Monday, April 11 at 4:10pm in 343 Johnson Hall.  Dr. Ullman is the Associate Dean and Professor of Entomology at University of California, UC Davis, Department of Entomology and Nematology. Research questions addressed in the Ullman research program have necessitated investigations in her lab using a variety of insect vector species including thrips, aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies, and mealybugs, within several plant virus systems – tospoviruses, citrus tristeza virus, potato leafroll virus, curlytop virus. Research approaches have varied from basic studies in the laboratory to more applied investigations in the field. The short-term goal of these investigations is to elucidate the inter-relationships of plants, plant pathogenic viruses, and their insect vectors. The long-term goal of the program is to translate advances in understanding of these relationships into technologies and methodologies that can be applied in novel strategies for preventing epidemics of insect transmitted pathogens.

Registration for Fall 2016 for grad students begins on April 12th

The deadline to take a final exam/defense for a doctoral or master’s degree and graduate spring 2016 is Friday, April 22, 2016. All graduate students must submit a Final Exam Scheduling Form and take a final exam. This includes master’s non-thesis degree students (non-thesis exams are frequently scheduled as Ballot Meetings in many departments/programs.  For more information, see the Deadlines and Procedures for Graduation form >> more here, and the Graduation Checklist (pdf)

This is a notification regarding the April 9th, 2016 Graduate Grant Writing Workshop offered by the Office of Research Advancement and Partnerships (formerly part of the Office of Grant and Research Development). From now on, the workshop will be offered free-of-charge solely via an online format. This will provide students from all campuses equal access to the materials with no cost barriers. In addition, the software used to produce the online workshop will allow students to slow down or speed up the videos and to search for keywords within the verbal and written materials. If you have already paid for the workshop, you will be refunded and/or your check will be voided, but your registration will remain active. If you are still interested in signing up for the workshop, please do so via this link. If you have any questions contact Hannah Merley, Graduate Support Coordinator, Office of Research Advancement and Partnerships at 509-335-3825

I have important news regarding the CAHNRS Business Center.  Creating a highly functional Business Center service model that faculty and staff value and appreciate is a high priority for the CAHNRS administration team.  For faculty to be successful, the Business Center must function well.  Providing excellent customer service is the fundamental goal of both center locations.  Last fall, I committed to working with administration, faculty and staff to adaptively manage the Business Center to success.  To that end, I am making an organizational change in CAHNRS support units to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Business Center, and to address high priority needs in other areas.  Kim Kidwell.

Effective immediately, Chris Johnson, the Director of the CAHNRS Business and Finance Office will assume the additional role of the Director of the Business Center.  Chris has tremendous leadership and managerial experience, and already oversees the CAHNRS Grants Team.  Assuming responsibility for the Business Center is a natural extension of his current leadership role in CAHNRS. Karey Strong will continue to serve as the manager of the Business Center, and will report to Chris.  Kimi Lucas will continue in her role as the Director of CAHNRS Operations with the added responsibility of overseeing the creation, implementation and execution of the CAHNRS Safety Initiative, which was created in response to a recent university-wide safety mandate from Interim President Bernardo. I am grateful to those of you who have provided constructive feedback concerning the functionality of the Business Center over the last few months.  We heard you. The CAHNRS administration team and I are making a focused effort to address concerns, and we remain committed to creating a functional Business Center service model that is valued and appreciated throughout the CAHNRS community. I am confident that the effort that has been invested in this model will come to fruition as we mindfully adjust to implement best management practices and to improve customer service.  I sincerely appreciate your guidance, support and patience as we navigate our way through the adjustment process. Kim Kidwell, Acting Dean 

Destination Sales Tax Explained: The State of Washington rules regarding charging of sales tax changed effective July 1, 2008. The old method of charging sales tax was based upon the point of sale while the new rule states that the point of destination becomes the basis for the amount of sales tax charged. The old method was uncomplicated as the majority of sold items were charged the same rate of sales tax and only one item type was necessary to input on sales invoices in most cases. The new method is more complicated as the sales tax rate at the point of destination must be determined. There are more than 357 different locations within the State of Washington and all have a unique WSU project number. We have attached a rate table to help with determination of the amount. The table is in alphabetical order and shows the tax rate as well as the associated project number. The table also includes the appropriate item type that will be required to be entered on WSU invoices. The unique project number may also enter the picture in the case of a cash sale where the item is shipped by WSU to a different location. Rate Table: The attached rate table can be used to locate the exact tax rate at the different destinations in the state. It will be necessary to utilize the table in order to identify the unique WSU project required for each of these areas and to identify the item type attached to that unique project number. The item type is what is to be used in charged sales when an invoice is created. Other Valuable Resources: The State has provided an excellent website to help determine the appropriate tax jurisdiction based upon addresses. Please click on the following link for further information:

https://dor.wa.gov/find-taxes-rates

Your Voice Matters: Employee Engagement Survey Now Open!:  This year’s Employee Engagement Survey is now open to all employees system-wide on active Faculty, Administrative, and Classified appointments, and has been distributed via email link, or mailed directly to employees without a WSU email. You are encouraged to complete the survey between now and Friday, April 8, at midnight.  For questions about the WSU Employee Engagement Survey, please visit https://hrs.wsu.edu/employees/employee-engagement-survey/, or contact Human Resource Services at 509-335-4521 or hrs@wsu.edu.

 

IMPORTANT DATES TO KNOW:

Entomology Dept. Faculty Meeting Schedule

4/22/2016 – 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM  5704472

5/20/2016 – 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM  5704472

6/24/2016 – 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM  5704472

7/22/2016 – 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM  5704472

GPSA Professional Development Seminars for Spring 2016:

Modern Industry Job Search & Networking, Friday, April 15, 10 AM-12PM, in Terrell Rm. 4

Interviewing & Negotiating, Saturday, May 14 in CUB 212              See attached flyer for additional info.

Spring 2016 Commencement will be held Saturday May 7, 2016 at the Beasley Coliseum.  The CAHNRS ceremony begins at 11:30 (lineup is at 11:00am).

ESA Pacific Branch meetings are April 3-6, 2016 in Honolulu, HI at the Pacific Beach Hotel.

2016 International Congress of Entomology, Sept. 25-30, 2016, Orlando, FL. Website: http://ice2016orlando.org/

2017 Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America meeting will be April 2-5, 2017 at the Hilton DoubleTree in Portland, OR.

Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting will be November 5-8, 2017 in Denver, CO.