The holidays are here…finals are completed, commencement is done, and grades are being calculated. Winter Break is welcomed by all…snow or no snow!

My first CAFNR commencement at Mizzou was inspiring and energizing. What a privilege to celebrate the accomplishments enjoyed by our outstanding students with their families at this important milestone in their lives! Thanks to all of you who made this memorable weekend a success! Your hard work is appreciated.

I enjoyed opportunities this month to deepen our connections with key partners and stakeholders at the Missouri Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and the Mo-Ag Annual Conference. In addition, there were productive meetings with leadership at Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, our friends in the Missouri legislature and others. These relationships have never been more important.

As was announced at Novemberfest, our strategic planning process is now underway. We did some initial brainstorming during a daylong retreat of the CAFNR leadership team (pictured above) on Nov. 28. You will hear from me soon regarding ways for you to be involved. I am looking for big, audacious ideas on how our college can impact and improve the lives of our students, the citizens of Missouri, and humanity the world over.

I know that many of you have been involved in strategic planning processes before…you may be wary of the time and money invested in such endeavors. I understand your skepticism but also understand that if we want to move forward together, we must think differently, plan more effectively, and intentionally pursue big ideas around the land-grant mission of this great college. With the collective brilliance represented in your ideas, and those of your colleagues, we can be even better, and make this a distinctive college.

A website is currently being constructed where you can monitor our progress and share your ideas for moving forward. Opportunities will be scheduled for everyone in the college to provide input before the plan is crafted. We will also engage key stakeholders from across the state, some of them mentioned above in this message. Stay tuned! I am excited. You will be hearing more about this effort in the new year.

Enjoy the holidays! Warm wishes from me and my family to you and yours for all the best in the coming year.

CAFNR Proud!

Christopher R. Daubert
Vice Chancellor and Dean

Join me for Dean’s Roaming Office Hours, 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 19, Stringer Wing Atrium (between Stringer Wing and Eckles Hall). Tiger Stripe Ice Cream will be provided while supply lasts!

Next Roaming Office Hours are scheduled for Jan. 11 at 3:30 p.m., location to be determined.

A recent survey shows that 90.4 percent of University of Missouri graduates have found successful career outcomes, whether that is full-time employment, public service, military service or continuing education. MU’s career outcomes rate, based on a survey of graduates from fall 2016, spring 2017 and summer 2017, ranks well above the average of Mizzou’s peer groups.

Agriculture is one of the top five industries in which Mizzou graduates find employment. More than 60 percent of MU grads stay in Missouri after graduation, impacting the economy of the state.

CAFNR Business Services and the MU Office of Sponsored Programs will be closed over winter break. The last working day for grants activity will be Dec. 22. Anything that needs to be finished before the new year will need to be processed prior to Dec. 22. Please notify Liz Bent (benteo@missouri.edu, 573-882-0095) immediately if you anticipate any proposal activity that requires processing before the calendar year end.

If, during winter break, an emergency occurs, the Office of Sponsored Programs has established protocols to accommodate this. In line with those, in the event of such an emergency, email Liz directly with the details of the situation and begin the subject line with “EMERGENCY.”

Don’t Miss
Campus Closed for Winter Break, Monday, Dec. 25, through Monday, Jan. 1.

CAFNR Ag Unlimited banquet and fundraising auction, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, Holiday Inn Executive Center.

Save the Date
53rd Reich Executive-in-Residence, Sarah Geisert (BS Food Science ’81), Wednesday, April 4-Thursday, April 5.

Monticello Society Brunch, Saturday, April 28, 2018.

Scholarship Donor Recognition Dinner, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, 5:30 p.m. in Reynolds’ Columns Ballroom.

We are #CAFNRProud of our Staff Advisory Council, which provides a voice for CAFNR staff and their concerns, as well as offers guidance, recognition of accomplishments, support for enhancement, and events to act as awards for general staff duties.

Staff Council plans a fall luncheon and spring picnic; recognizes deserving staff members with the Above and Beyond Award; and serves as liaison between administration and staff. They also have sponsored other engaging activities, like the holiday door decorating contest. Some of this year’s entries are pictured above! Like them on Facebook to follow along.

Serving on Staff Council is a great way to meet and work together with other staff members from across the college!

The Council is seeking representatives from the following areas:

• Administration
• Ag Experiment Station
• Animal Sciences
• Applied Social Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Farms and Centers
• Food Systems and Bioengineering

Interested in joining? Contact Vicki Bryan at bryanvj@missouri.edu for more information!