Updates

It has been too long since my last post.  My apologies. Since admissions season ended, time seems to have gotten away from me! So, here's an update on various topics:

• Admissions: The rate of application to the Joint Program in Biological Oceanography continues to increase.  This year we had nearly 100 applicants.  From those candidates we admitted seven; of those four accepted.  They are: Amalia Aruda (to be advised by Ann Tarrant), Santiago Herrera (to be advised by Tim Shank), Nicholas Macfarlane (to be advised by Peter Tyack), and Kristen Hunter-Cevera (to be advised by Heidi Sosik and me). Nicholas Macfarlane deferred his enrollment until 2010.  Skylar Bayer (to be advised by Lauren Mullineaux) was admitted in 2008, and will be enrolling this year, bringing the size of the entering class of 2009 to four.

• Mentoring:  I have received a few receipts for spring lunches between students and their peer mentors.  If you haven't had your lunch yet, please get together with your mentor soon.  (Remember the $25 limit.)  Also, I'll be looking for four new post-generals mentors for the incoming class.

• External Review: Once every five years the Joint Program undergoes a review by an external committee.  The next review will take place in June.  I'll hold a meeting with the students soon to find out if there is anything of which they think we should make the committee aware.  I hope to hear the opinions of the faculty at an upcoming Scientific Staff meeting.   I welcome any thoughts from all of you.

• Topics Courses:  I recently mailed a solicitation for 2009-2010 Topics Course proposals to the Biology Department Scientific Staff and others.  Students, this is your opportunity to recruit someone to organize a Topics Course on a subject about which you'd like to learn more.