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Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda April 13, 2026, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - March 16, 2026
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Reports
• Strategic Enrollment Management Annual Report
• Student Success Annual Report
• Committee on Committees Annual Report
• Calendar Committee Annual Report
• 4:00 Information
• EPC Report - April 2, 2026
• 4:15 Additional Business
• President-Elect
• Adjourn: 4:30 pm

Feeding Strategies And Milking Behavior In Robotic Milking Systems, Katherine M. Kennedy, Elizabeth French, Porter D. Ricks, Emma K. Lundgreen

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Adoption of automatic milking systems (AMS) in the US are expected to increase rapidly in the coming years driven primarily by a desire to improve labor efficiency and flexibility and decrease reliance on hired labor. As such, feeding and milking strategies to best optimize milk production and economic gains tailored to US dairy production systems are needed. Initially introduced as a method to encourage the cow to visit the AMS more frequently, offered feeds through the AMS provide an opportunity to individualize nutrient needs. Often, a pelleted concentrate is offered through the AMS due to its uniformity and customizable nature. …

“That Would Be Confusing For Fifth Graders”: Boundary Infrastructure Moves In A Research-Practice Partnerships, Jody E. Clarke-Midura, Alireza Zandi, Saríah López-Fierro, Mimi M. Recker

Publications

Research Practice Partnerships (RPPs) are a key strategy for educational improvement, yet little is known about the interactional mechanisms that drive their success. This study analyzes a three-year RPP co-designing integrated math and computer science lessons. We identify "boundary infrastructure moves”, actions partners use to navigate differences. Our findings reveal that productive tension, often sparked by a "potential overstep," was highly generative. A case study shows how a teacher challenging a lesson's terminology initiated a negotiation that transformed the artifact and created a new, shared vocabulary tool. We argue that productive tension is an essential mechanism for growth in RPPs …

Strawflower Cut Flower Production In Utah, Melanie Stock, Ali Harrison, Lorin Harrison, Cheyenne Reid, Victoria Xiong, Benjamin Scow, Claudia Nischwitz, Nick Volesky

All Current Publications

Strawflower is a cut-and-come again, full-sun annual that performs well with reduced irrigation. Often called the “everlasting flower” and “paper flower,” the dry, daisy-like blooms range from earthy salmon and terracotta to white and dusky blush tones. Strawflower adds texture to floral design, and the diverse color palette is attractive to florists. This cut flower is also exceptional for drying, as it is nearly dried in the field when ready for harvest. The non-fussy growth, low resource use, branching habit, and easy harvest make strawflower an excellent field crop in the U.S. Intermountain West, though expected yields may be lower …

Basket Flower Cut Flower Production In Utah, Kellie Webb, Melanie Stock, Amanda Pratt, Claudia Nischwitz, Nick Volesky

All Current Publications

Basket flower is a versatile and visually striking plant valued by florists and gardeners alike for its unique texture, ease of cultivation, and environmental benefits. The large, fringed blooms in shades of pink, lavender, and creamy white add elegance and texture to floral arrangements, harmonizing well with other flowers and greenery. As a reliable mid-season, low-water annual, this crop thrives across soil types with minimal maintenance, making it an excellent choice for U.S. Intermountain West growers. Moreover, its ability to attract pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, enhances its ecological value, while its resistance to pests and diseases further contributes …

Gomphrena Cut Flower Production In Utah, Kellie Webb, Melanie Stock, Cheyenne Reid, Victoria Xiong, Benjamin Scow, Amanda Pratt, Claudia Nischwitz, Nick Volesky

All Current Publications

Gomphrena, also known as globe amaranth, is a full-sun annual with clover-like, papery blooms. Plants thrive in the heat and prefer drier soils once established, making this crop a water-wise choice for Utah cut flower production. Blooms range from soft to fluorescent pink, white, orange, lilac, and red. Gomphrena is especially useful in detailed design work, such as boutonnieres and corsages, as the blooms do well out of water. Gomphrena is also an exceptional flower for drying. The versatility of selling gomphrena as both a fresh and dried cut flower increases its value for Utah growers. Grown primarily for field …

Selecting Dwarf Tomato Cultivars For Space-Limited Systems: Tradeoffs In Size, Yield, And Fruit Quality, Abigail Lazier, Bruce Bugbee, Noah Langenfeld

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Global food systems face increasing pressure to produce more food with fewer resources, while urbanization limits access to traditional growing spaces. Urban agriculture offers a strategy to improve local food production, but space constraints remain a major challenge. Dwarf crops, bred to be compact and high yielding, can improve production efficiency in these systems. This study evaluated the growth habit, yield, and fruit quality of 18 dwarf tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars grown in controlled environment rooms under LED lights. Cultivars differed substantially in growth habit, size, yield and fruit quality. Generally, larger cultivars produced higher per-plant yields but …

Detection Of Lupine Alkaloids In Earwax Of Sheep, Clinton A. Stonecipher, Stephen T. Lee, Benedict T. Green, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Lupines (Lupinus spp.) are a common plant species located on western U.S. rangelands. Most livestock death losses due to lupine toxicosis occur in sheep. Cattle are often affected due to the teratogenic nature of lupines in which crooked calf syndrome can occur. Earwax has been used to detect lupine alkaloids in cattle, but it is unknown if the alkaloids in lupine can be detected in the earwax of sheep. The objective of this study was to evaluate earwax as a noninvasive specimen to determine sheep exposure to lupine. Fifteen sheep (45 ± 3.8 kg body weight) were group housed …

25 Rules Of Thumb For Field Crops, Matt Yost, Niel Allen, Grant Cardon, Earl Creech, Ryan Larsen, Rhonda Miller, Mark Nelson, Claudia Nischwitz, Matthew Palmer, Steven Price, Ricardo Ramirez, Corey Ransom, Benjamin Scow, Randall Violett

All Current Publications

This article is not a comprehensive list of the practices farmers need to be successful in their operations, but it represents an attempt to capture 25 common tips or “rules” from a wide range of Extension experts throughout Utah, from seedbed preparation, to harvesting guidelines.

Irrigation Water Loss And Recovery In Utah, Bradley S. Crookston, Troy Peters, Matt Yost, Burdette Barker

All Current Publications

When deciding which irrigation systems to adopt, permit, or promote, it is important to consider how their efficiency and losses affect the water balance of Utah’s watersheds and drainage basins. Irrigators have no control over precipitation and only limited control of surface waters entering and leaving the state, as most of those are controlled by legal agreements. However, Utah’s water managers, elected officials, and water users can consider how surface water flows and groundwater storage is affected by using more efficient irrigation systems. Sprinkler, surface, or drip irrigation systems each have trade-offs in irrigation application efficiency, cost, and other factors. …

Guide To Drought Tolerance Of Utah Field Crops, Matt Yost, Tina Sullivan, Dakota Boren, Luree Johnson, Melanie Mills, Earl Creech, Boyd Kitchen, Randall Violett

All Current Publications

Crop variety selection is one of the most important choices on the farm. Crop genetics determine a significant portion of the yield potential and resource use efficiency. Crop types and genetics that use water more efficiently will become increasingly important as water becomes scarcer. Throughout Utah and the Western United States, water availability is decreasing due to various factors, including reduced snowpack and rapid urban growth. Alfalfa, other hay, small grains, and corn are grown on more acres than any other crops in Utah and much of the Intermountain West. These crops all have varieties, hybrids, and cultivars with the …

Irrigation, Crop, And Soil Management Impacts On Water Use In Pivots/Laterals, Tejinder Singh, Matt Yost, Masoumeh Hashemi, Burdette Barker, Cheyenne Reid, Rebekah E. Iverson

All Current Publications

In this fact sheet, we describe evapotranspiration (ET), introduce a new tool, the soil moisture evapotranspiration (SMET) model, and share results from multi-year trials across Utah evaluating different center-pivot irrigation technologies, deficit irrigation strategies, crop types, drought-tolerant crop genetics, and conservation agriculture practices. These findings highlight how Utah growers can improve water productivity and maintain profitable production under limited water supplies.

Small Grain Forage Production Guide, Matt Yost, Megan Baker, Earl Creech, Justin Wyatt Clawson, Michael Pace, Kalen Taylor, Cory Farnsworth, Jacob Hadfield, Corey Ransom, Steven Price, Claudia Nischwitz, Clara Anderson

All Current Publications

Small grain forages can be used for pasture, hay, and silage and have become more common in cropping systems in Utah and the western United States. The most common small grain species used for forage production are barley, oat, rye, triticale, and wheat. Although there has been an increase in the use of small grains for forage production in the western U.S., little published information is available on best management practices for small grain forage production. This guide will discuss the key production practices for small grains used for forage.

On-Farm Research Guide, Matt Yost, Jody Gale, Earl Creech, Megan Baker, Jeffrey Austin, Grant Cardon, Cody Zesiger

All Current Publications

Many growers want to increase crop productivity and farm profitability. On-farm research is a way growers can achieve this goal by discovering answers to important questions about the benefits of using specific products or practices they are uncertain about or are unproven. Validating the efficacy of already-implemented practices is another important reason to do on-farm research trials (Nielsen, 2008). Each farm is unique and can benefit from individualized on-farm research, especially since university and industry researchers cannot study every product or practice for every unique field or farm growing condition. This how-to guide covers benefits and best practices for conducting …

Sorghum-Sudangrass Production Guide, Dakota Boren, Matt Yost, Luree Johnson, Tina Sullivan, Earl Creech, Grant Cardon, Corey Ransom, Randall Violett, Cheyenne Reid, Cody Zesiger, Kalen Taylor, Jacob Hadfield, Michael Pace, Jody Gale

All Current Publications

Sudex is a warm-season forage crop that performs well in Utah’s dry climate due to its drought tolerance. It can be especially useful during drought years or when irrigation supplies are limited. As well as being a high-quality feed, Sudex has many benefits, including weed suppression and soil-building properties. Although there are concerns for prussic acid and nitrate poisoning, these concerns can be reduced and often eliminated with proper management. This fact sheet provides information to producers about using Sudex and best production practices. Much of the information may also apply to forage sorghum and a few of the major …

Predicting Soil Organic Carbon In Lower Depths From Surface Soil Features Using Machine Learning Methods, Lawrence Aula, Milena Maria Tomaz De Oliveira, Amanda C. Easterly, Cody F. Creech

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Topsoil features within a depth of 0–10 cm are vital for making soil management decisions that affect crop production. However, the use of these soil features to predict soil organic carbon (SOC) at 10–20 cm requires further investigation. The study aims to predict SOC at 10–20 cm using total nitrogen (total N), pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and SOC at 0–10 cm and select a suitable model for predicting SOC. This study was conducted using data from a long-term tillage, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow experiment established in autumn 1970. Treatments included moldboard plow, stubble mulch, no-till, and native …

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes April 2, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm 

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda April 2, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - March 5, 2026
• R401 - Program Proposals 
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

General Education Subcommittee Agenda April 2, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Call to Order

Approval of Minutes – February 5, 2026

Course Approvals/Removals/Syllabi Approvals

Additional Items

Adjourn: 9:30 am

General Education Subcommittee Minutes April 2, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Call to Order

Approval of Minutes – February 5, 2025 

Course Approvals/Removals/Syllabi Approvals 

New Business 

Adjourn: 9:30 am 

Educational Policies Committee Agenda April 2, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Approval of Minutes - March 5, 2026

Subcommittee Reports

• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee
• Center for Civic Excellence

Other Business 

Adjourn: 4:00 pm

Screening Biostimulants To Enhance Early Growth Of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Under Water-Limited Conditions, Claudia Garrido-Ruiz, James Frisby, Amita Kaundal, Youping Sun, Milena Maria Tomaz De Oliveira

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Biostimulants offer a sustainable strategy to improve plant growth and stress resilience, particularly under limited water availability. We evaluated seven biostimulant treatments, including beneficial bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, seaweed extract with humic acid, and their combinations, on early growth and physiological responses of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under well–watered and drought-stressed conditions. Plants were assessed before and after a seven-day controlled drought period using a range of morphological and physiological traits, including height, effective quantum yield of PSII (Φ_PSII), stomatal conductance (g_s), and leaf pigment profile. Results showed that microbial treatments that included Bacteria + …

Utah Women And Skilled Trades, April Townsend, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Currently more than 8 million people in the US work in the construction and skilled trades industries, which have historically been referred to as “blue-collar” jobs.¹ The numbers will likely increase as there is a growing demand for skilled labor across the US because of the retirements of experienced tradespeople and the fact that fewer young people are pursuing these fields. Estimates show that by 2030, more than 40.0% of the current skilled trades and construction workforce will retire, leaving these industries with a critical worker shortage.² Projections suggest that in the US by 2030, the skilled trades …

Rethinking Behavior - Spring 2026, Midwest Symposium For Leadership In Behavior Disorders

ReThinking Behavior Magazine

A magazine for professionals serving children and youth with behavioral needs.

Spring 2026, Volume 9, Issue 3

Organic Management Of Pillbugs And Sowbugs In Strawberries And Other Fruits, Briger Carey, Marion Murray, Emilie Demard, Jennifer R. Reeve

All Current Publications

Pillbugs and sowbugs are collectively known as isopods that typically feed on soil organic matter, but under certain conditions, they can be a pest of many young plants and berries. This fact sheet reviews identification, life cycle, damage, and organic management strategies for pillbugs and sowbugs.

Shine: Multimodal Machine Learning Approaches For Solar Energetic Particles Events Event Prediction And Posthoc Analysis, Soukaina Filali Boubrahimi

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Faculty Senate Minutes March 30, 2026, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - March 2, 2026
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Reports
• Budget and Faculty Welfare
• Faculty Development and Educational Leadership
• Sustainability Council
• Information
• EPC Report - March 5, 2026
• Employee Benefits
• Task Force Report
• Additional Business
• President Elect Nominations
• Faculty Senate Spotlight
• 2026-2027 Faculty Senate Calendar
• Adjourn - 4:39

Faculty Senate Agenda March 30, 2026, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes March 2, 2026
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Report
• Budget and Faculty Welfare
• Faculty Development and Educational Leadership
• Sustainability Council
• 3:55 Information
• EPC Report - March 5, 2026
• Employee Benefits
• Task Force Report
• 4:20 Additional Business
• 2026-2027 Faculty Senate Calendar
• Adjourn: 4:30 pm

Creating Sustainable School And Home Gardens: Creative Ways To Store Seeds, Aurora Hughes Villa, Kaitlin U. Campbell, Rita Hagevik, Kathy Cabe Trundle

All Current Publications

Seed saving, the practice of collecting and preserving seeds from plants (e.g., vegetables, herbs, and flowers), allows them to be planted in future seasons. It’s commonly used by home gardeners, farmers, and seed stewards. This fact sheet provides information on seed storage, cultural and historical connections, seed rematriation, creative ways to store seeds, and creative uses for seeds. Many resources are included.

Utah Altitude Adjustments For Home Canning, Margie Memmott, Ariel Petersen, Callahan Adams, Andrea Schmutz

All Current Publications

Knowing your altitude is critical for canning. Safe home food preservation depends on adjusting processing times and pressures for altitude. This fact sheet provides a county-by-county and town-by-town listing of elevations across Utah, paired with the boiling-water and pressure canner adjustments recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Center for Home Food Preservation. By referencing this resource, Extension educators, food preservation instructors, and home canners can quickly identify the correct processing adjustment for their location.