It has been an exciting year for the Food Science Department!  The year has been eventful because of our department review, an event that comes about every five-six years.  This review gave us a chance to examine where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we’re going.  The strategic plan we developed in 2002 served us well over the past six years, and guided us as we prepared for our department review.  We’ve made a great deal of progress over the past six years in all of our mission areas:  learning, discovery, and engagement.  We’ve made significant improvements in our undergraduate and graduate curricula, and we’ve increased the number, quality, and diversity of our students.  Our research capacity has increased with new faculty, and we have many cutting-edge research areas being pursued.  Just this year we had two new faculty members begin, who have primary research appointments.  Our extension/engagement efforts have greatly expanded in the past few years, with new faculty and new programs.  With input received from the external team that reviewed our department, we will finalize our strategic plan for 2008-2012.  We will keep you up to date on those events on our website and with our annual newsletter. To read more about news from the department, see our 2009 newsletter. If you do not receive our annual newsletter by mail and/or our electronic newsletters, please contact our Administrative Director, Laurie Swift, with your correct mailing address and email address.