Louisiana State University's Path to Permanent Membership

Kyle E. Harms (Dept. Biological Sciences, LSU) &

Christopher E. Carlton (Dept. Entomology, LSU)

Louisiana State University (LSU) recently joined a growing list of OTS consortium members to commit to becoming a permanent member. During the early stages of our discussions of potential permanent membership, we found useful the article in the 2011 newsletter - View from the Canopy - on the process by which two University of California campuses achieved permanent-member status. As reported in the article, each path towards permanent membership
is unique. We hope that by sharing details of our own experience we can provide a few suggestions and inspire others to seek creative pathways towards permanent membership for their institutions.

OTS allows an institution to pay the permanent membership fee (currently set at 16 times the annual membership dues) over a two-year period. This generous time frame was useful to us, as it was easier for LSU administrators to commit to two rounds of relatively smaller budget contributions, rather than a single larger payment.

In addition, OTS will credit an institution's current annual dues towards permanent membership during the fiscal year in which the process of paying the permanent membership fee begins. For planning purposes, institutions should note that OTS pro-rates those contributions.

Photo by Nathan Lord.

LSU submitted the most recent annual dues payment early during OTS' fiscal year 2013-2014 and then made an additional partial payment towards permanent membership late during the same fiscal year - together amounting to 73% of the total permanent membership fee. Generous donors contributed an additional 11% of the total. The final payment will be made at the end of OTS' 2014-2015 fiscal year.

Prior to our campaign here at LSU towards permanent membership, previous LSU OTS Delegate, Bruce Williamson, had negotiated an agreement between the College of Agriculture (on behalf of the Department of Entomology and the School of Renewable Natural Resources), the College of Science (then known as the College of Basic Sciences and on behalf of the Department of Biological Sciences), and the School for Coast and Environment to share the cost of LSU's annual dues. To codify the arrangement, relevant LSU administrators signed an official in-house Memorandum of Understanding about ten years ago, and then renewed the agreement about five years ago. Even though the memo simply identified how our annual dues were paid, and would have needed to be renewed at the next five-year mark, it probably smoothed the way towards permanent membership by keeping OTS relevant and topical for various LSU administrators.

We have identified three other key items which ultimately led to a successful campaign. One key to our success was Elizabeth Losos' invitation to selected LSU administrators to attend the OTS 50th anniversary celebration in Costa Rica. Chris D'Elia (Dean, School for Coast and Environment) and Guillermo Ferreyra (Dean, College of Science) thoroughly enjoyed their first-hand experience at the La Selva Research Station and at the joint Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) - OTS meeting. Furthermore, they each returned from the meeting with a personal appreciation of the high quality of the programs offered by OTS for both students and faculty, the importance of institutional membership in OTS, as well as the value of permanent membership.

A second key to our success, developed from suggestions made by Deans D'Elia and Ferreyra upon their return to LSU from the meeting in Costa Rica, was that we convene a one-hour seminar at LSU to share with faculty and administrators the myriad opportunities available to students and others through OTS. Elizabeth C. Losos (President and CEO of OTS) and Julie Denslow (Chair, OTS Board of Visitors and former President of OTS) were our special guests and featured speakers. Dr. Losos gave an overview of OTS, courses, stations, and the general benefits of membership in the OTS consortium. Julie gave a personal history and the meaning of institutional membership. Chris Carlton described his specialty course (Beetle Taxonomy and Tropical Biodiversity) and delighted the audience with a description of his course's discovery of a new species of beetle at the La Selva Field Station (now officially named Leptochromus laselva). Five current and former graduate students (Mike Ferro, Andrew Flick, Katherine Hovanes, Metha Klock and Scott Kosiba) highlighted the special meaning of an OTS experience from their individual perspectives. Finally, Kyle Harms briefly outlined the specific advantages to permanent membership. The seminar was especially effective in inspiring our two key deans to engage higher-level administrators.

The third key to our success was securing a pool of private donations, prior to requesting funds from the administration. When Dean Ferreyra met with LSU administrators, our ability to show commitment from others was instrumental in leveraging commitments from the administration. LSU's Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Stuart Bell and LSU's Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development Kalliat Valsaraj agreed to contribute university-level funds, which fulfilled the total for permanent membership dues.

We are already seeing returns on the investment towards permanent membership. Our first undergraduate student in several years took an OTS course this past summer, two graduate students signed up for courses, and Chris is planning a second offering of his specialty course at La Selva. Even though these types of benefits to membership could continue to accrue through annual membership, we are already seeing immediate dividends from permanent membership. As we told our campus during our seminar earlier this year, just think of the returns we would have made on our investment if we could have become permanent members 50 years ago when LSU first joined the consortium. We are now well on our way towards the next 50 years and beyond!

Click here to learn more about Institutional Membership. 

La Selva Hosts 8th Annual Environmental Fair   

On November 9, the La Selva Biological Station held their 8th annual Environmental Fair. This year, La Sleva opened the gates to welcome 1,800 visitors throughout the day. Visitors learned about the research programs developed at the Station, enjoyed guided tours through La Selva trails, and took pictures of tropical birds.
   

"For us it is the most special day of the year because we can share, not only what we do in education and research. It is also a cultural, recreational, educational and family event. It is also an important event for researchers as an opportunity to share their work and present their projects", explained Carlos de la Rosa, La Selva's Director.  

One of the La Selva's researchers, Linus Günter, a German doctoral student, presented his project about the social behavior of bats. "Ordinary fruits as bananas, papaya or passion fruit are produced thanks to bat's pollination". In another stand, Socorro Ávila, spoke to guests about the importance of water insects. "Most of the people don't know water insects, that's because we don't see them very often. But they are very important to determine the quality of the water where they live", said Socorro.

Each year, the most popular activity are the guided tours and this year was no different.  A group of Scouts from the near village Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí were thrilled to visit the forest. During the tours, the kids were fascinated with the animals they spotted, "the frogs and iguanas are awesome" said 7 year-old Jaikel who was visiting La Selva for the first time.  

Local artisans displayed their crafts and sold their products, dance groups performed for the crowds, and a variety of community groups offered information and fun for everyone. 

Graduate field course offerings for 2015 (4 to 6 weeks):

Field Ecology: Skills for Science and Beyond 

December 29, 2014 - January 24, 2015

OPEN ENROLLMENT  

Ecologia Tropical y Conservacion  

January 12 - February 21, 2015

COURSE FULL 

Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach
June 10 - July 21, 2015

Sistematica de Plantas Tropicales
June 30 - August 3, 2015.

OPEN ENROLLMENT   

NEW COURSES FOR SUMMER 2015  - Enrollment now open! 

  Ecology and Evolution of Coleoptera (Beetles)

June 4 - 24, 2015