UF Plant Science Symposium

There is one week left to submit an abstract for the poster competition at this year's Plant Science Symposium. Participation is free, open to students of all disciplines, and 1st through 4th place winners will recieve $250-$100 in monetary prizes. While this year's symposium theme is "Big Data in Plant Science", we welcome all posters related to plant science or related fields. Registration for general attendance can be found here.

Spring 2020 Graduate Student Success Series

The UF Career Connections Center invites you to join in its Spring 2020 Graduate Student Success Series, designed specifically to help PhD, master’s, and other graduate and professional students explore their career options. These workshops are focused on professional development to prepare for jobs across various fields!

Prep for Success: How to Prepare for the Job Market
1/14: Inspiration Room, Career Connections Center, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Are you a graduate student preparing to enter the job market? This workshop will introduce you to tools and techniques to help you succeed, from job search resources in your field, to building your professional network!

Showcasing Your Skills: Transitioning Your CV to a Resume
January 15: Inspiration Room, Career Connections Center, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

You may already have a CV (curriculum vitae) as a graduate student, but do you also have a resume? This workshop is designed to help graduate students create a strong, professional resume by highlighting their key skills, experience, and strengths. This is an excellent opportunity for graduate students interested in working outside academia, as well as those planning to attend Spring Showcase. Learn how to create a strong resume to share with employers during the event and in your job search!

Beyond Academia: How to Network with Industry Professionals
February 11 & 12: Exploration Room, Career Connections Center, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Are you a graduate student considering careers beyond academia? This workshop series will provide graduate students with an opportunity to hear from professionals in various fields and receive advice from other former graduate students now working in industry.

For more information directions, and contacts, click on this link to the UF Career Connections Center’s “Upcoming Events” webpage: UF Career Connections Center Links.  

Questions? Email careercenter@ufsa.ufl.edu. 

Seminar on cutting edge agricultural technology - January 14th

Join Field & Fork, the Environmental Horticulture Department, and the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems for a special seminar and lunch discussion with visiting scholar Dr. Dickson Despommier. He'll share a seminar titled "New City," addressing cutting edge agricultural technology and his book "The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century."

Seminar and discussion: Tuesday, January 14, 12:00 - 1:00 PM in Fifield Hall rooms 1304-1308 (2550 Hull Rd)

Reception and mingling: 1:30 - 2:30 at the Field and Fork Farm and Gardens (2656 Museum Road)

Read about Dr. Despommier's work here http://www.verticalfarm.com/, and check out the Future of Food Forum, right here at UF the next day courtesy of the UF Institute of Sustainable Food Systems! https://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/foodforum/

If you are unable to attend in person, we welcome you to connect via Zoom: https://ufl.zoom.us/j/909839233

CALS 2020-2021 Graduate Scholarship and Awards Applications are Available Online

Scholarships

The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences graduate scholarship application is now available online. CALS awarded $174,200 to 71 graduate students for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Apply by April 1 at http://cals.ufl.edu/scholarships.

Students should be prepared to provide the following:
abstract of your academic research or master’s project (2,000 character limit),
a brief statement about your career plans (3,500 character limit),
a pdf of your curriculum vitae/resume, and
the names and email addresses of two individuals who will provide letters of reference.

Awards

Each spring, CALS recognizes outstanding students at its Scholarship and Leadership Awards Banquet (April 16, 2020).

CALS recognizes graduate students with the following awards:
Jimmy G. Cheek Graduate Student Medal of Excellence (due Feb. 3, 2020)
Jack L. Fry Award for Excellence in Teaching (due Feb. 3, 2020)

Spring 2020 SPEAK Tests and Spoken/Written English Classes for International Students

Spring 2020 Scholarly Writing

The Spring A Scholarly Writing class will begin January 21^st and will end February 27^th.

The class will meet 5:10 p.m. to 6:25 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in 214 Matherly Hall.

The last day to register for the class is January 14^th. The last day to drop the class is January 24^th.

A Spring B section of the class (if enrollment allows) will be offered Mondays and Wednesdays March 9^th through April 15^th. 

  

Scholarly Writing (formerly EAP 5845 and EAP 5846) is designed for international graduate students and visiting scholars who wish to improve their written academic English skills.

The Scholarly Writing course is offered as a non-credit class lasting six weeks. This class is not eligible for a tuition waiver and is not offered as a distance education/online class. The cost of a six-week section is $350.

For more detailed information, click on this link: https://eli.ufl.edu/information/academic-information/academic-written-english/

To register for the Scholarly Writing class, click on this link: http://xms.dce.ufl.edu/reg/groups/eli/registration.aspx.

If you have questions about the class, please e-mail Dr. Megan Forbes at mforbes@eli.ufl.edu 

ACADEMIC SPOKEN ENGLISH

EAP 5836 (3-credit, “ASE 2” supervised ITA teaching course):

All international graduate students whose first language is not English (official first language of home country) and who may be appointed as teaching assistants (with lecturing/lab responsibilities) need to have a passing score (45 or higher) on a UF SPEAK Test (administered on the UF campus), or a TOEFL-IBT Speaking test (23+).  

In addition, any international graduate teaching assistant whose first language is not English who scores a 45 or 50 on a SPEAK/TSE test, or 23 - 27 on a TOEFL-IBT Speaking section and who is appointed to teach (with lecturing/lab responsibilities) must enroll, during their first semester teaching, in a 3-credit EAP 5836 course. International graduate students appointed as TA-G (grading and office hour responsibilities only) are not required to pass a SPEAK test and are not eligible to enroll in EAP 5836.

EAP 5836 (Supervised ITA Teaching) Class Times, Spring 2020.  All sections meet in the Yon 320 classroom:

Tuesdays, Periods 5 – 6

Wednesdays, Periods 2 – 3

Wednesdays, Periods 8 – 9

Register for three credits of this class listed under "Linguistics" in ONE.UF: http://ase.ufl.edu/ASEcourses.html.

If you have questions, please e-mail Gordon Tapper at gt@ufl.edu.  

Spring 2020 SPEAK Test Dates:

SPEAK test dates, times, and locations are as follows: 

(Please note:  Check in no later than 4:30 p.m. for 5:10 p.m. tests.)

January 2, 2020 12:00 pm (noon), Turlington 1317 (check in no later than 11:30 am.)

February 11, 5:10 pm, Turlington 1317

March 18, 5:10 pm, Turlington 1317

April 14, 5:10 pm, Turlington 1317

The cost of the UF SPEAK test is $100 (check or cash only.)  

Students can register online for the SPEAK test here: http://ase.ufl.edu/testing.html.

If you have questions, please e-mail Gordon Tapper at gt@ufl.edu.

EAP 5835 (3-credit class)

International graduate students may wish to enroll in EAP 5835 (ASE 1) to improve their oral English skills, prepare for an assistantship and participate more effectively in their graduate work.  It is recommended that international graduate students who have not scored at least a 45 on the UF SPEAK test or a 23 on the TOEFL-IBT enroll in EAP 5835 within their first year in the United States.

The Graduate School or the student's home department may require an ASE course of any student whose English competency is not considered adequate.

This class is eligible for a graduate tuition waiver.

EAP 5835 will meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, period 7 in 320 Yon Hall.

Register for this class EAP class under "Linguistics" in ONE.UF: http://ase.ufl.edu/ASEcourses.html.

If you have questions, please e-mail Dr. Jules Gliesche at drjdg@ufl.edu

Poinsettias & Citrus - Great gift ideas!

Poinsettia Sale by the Environmental Horticulture Club
Dec. 6-7 | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Fifield Hall Horticulture Greenhouse

Whether for home or office, decorating or gifting, pick up your poinsettias at the largest student-run plant sale in the country. Proceeds fund the ENH Club's international agricultural trips.

Gator Citrus Club Annual Citrus Sale
The Holiday Citrus Sale is a longstanding tradition of the Gator Citrus Club. Preorders received by Dec. 1 receive a 10% discount. Place your order at this link. Email and phone orders can be made at citrusclub@ifas.ufl.edu and 352-448-1195. To pay or donate, use PayPal. Learn more at the Gator Citrus Club Facebook account.

Fall Collection Day is Thursday, Dec. 5th - Donate unwanted items!

7:30am - 1:00pm @ the NW Corner of O'Connell Center Parking Lot*

*Parking Lifted for Reading Days Collection Day is your one stop drop-off event! Students, faculty and staff are invited to drop off any unwanted household items, clothing, hazardous waste, old electronics, furniture, appliances, and non-perishable food items.

See full list of items you can bring to Collection Day Here