Dear ARPAS members,
As we continue to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of animal science, I’m excited to kick off the latest ARPAS newsletter and share some of the initiatives we’ve completed in 2024 and those that we’re undertaking to strengthen our community and advance our profession in the year ahead.
As Al Kertz will touch on in more detail in his letter, ARPAS is currently in an exciting moment of change and growth. We’ve launched a new and improved website to improve user experience and provide more valuable resources for our members. We are also soon to be rolling out a new online ARPAS qualifying exam system to allow new members to take their test anytime and anywhere. Our journal, Applied Animal Science, has gone open access and lowered its article charges, all while continuing to be a critical platform for animal science. See editor in chief David Beede’s journal updates in this newsletter issue, including a note on his forthcoming transition and our welcome of incoming editor in chief William (Bill) Weiss.
During this time of growth and change, we have rolled out a slight increase in our annual membership dues to help support these new initiatives and set our community up for success into the future. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to log your continuing education units (CEUs) and renew your membership for 2025.
ARPAS leadership knows our community has strength in numbers, which is why we’re always working to explore and launch new and tailored paths to ARPAS qualifications. We still offer a Highly-Qualified Individual (HQI) route for the experienced animal scientists—and we just approved a new path to membership with aPAS membership option, which is available to animal science faculty interested in being a part of the ARPAS community using their existing qualifications in place of the ARPAS qualifying exam.
Both membership options can open doors to growing our community and increasing the recognition and sway of our industry. Please share both opportunities widely with your colleagues!
We’re also committed to fostering the next generation of animal scientists. To this end, ARPAS is actively working to increase graduate student membership and representation on the ARPAS Governing Council. We encourage you to nominate promising graduate students from related animal science organizations. Do you have graduate students in your community that would be interested in a leadership position they can add to their CV? Let us know!
Last, are you interested in ARPAS leadership experience on one of our committees? As you renew your membership for 2025, there is now an easy-to-use form to declare your interest to serve on an ARPAS committee. Join us in shaping the future of the society!
As always, we welcome your input and ideas. Together, we can shape the future of ARPAS and elevate our profession.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kristin Hales
ARPAS President
Texas Tech University