Memorandum of Understanding

Memorandum of Understanding Among
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture,
The Pennsylvania Department of Education, and
The College of Agricultural Sciences and The College of Education of
The Pennsylvania State University

Whereas, the Pennsylvania State University’s land grant mission is distinctive within Pennsylvania’s higher education community, and one focus of that special mission connects Penn State, Pennsylvania government agencies and residents of the commonwealth in the pursuit of excellence for the improvement of life for Pennsylvania’s families and youth, and

Whereas, The Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences (PSUCAS) has been promoting Integrated Pest management (IPM) for many years through its research, education and cooperative extension programs, and

Whereas, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), through its agricultural research funds, has funded IPM research projects for the College of Agricultural Sciences, and

Whereas, through a previous memorandum of understanding PSUCAS and PDA have combined their efforts to form the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program (PAIPM), and

Whereas, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has recognized IPM as a learning objective for teaching students in Kindergarten through 12th grade, has recognized the value of agricultural concepts such as IPM for providing new and emerging career options for students, encourages opportunities for integration of the multiple disciplines in the vocational and academic curricula, thus enhancing the academic skills of vocational students and providing real-world experiences for all students, and

Whereas PDE recognizes the value of incorporating agricultural concepts into the basic school curricula with an emphasis of educating the general student population about the importance of the agriculture industry and the role of agriculture in the students’ lives, and

Whereas, the Pennsylvania State University College of Education (PSUCE), through research, teaching and outreach, prepares outstanding educators, scholars, and researchers, and

Whereas, the Science Education Group in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the PSUCE engages in the initial preparation and ongoing development of exemplary science teachers, science teacher educators, and educational researchers, and

Whereas, the Department of Entomology in the PSUCAS and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the PSUCE are engaged in the collaborative development of contemporary science and education courses appropriate for K-12 teachers, and

Whereas, PDA, PDE, PSUCAS and PSUCE agree that IPM has proven value and that further IPM education and promotion will benefit Pennsylvania farmers, students, all Pennsylvania citizens and benefit the environment.

Therefore, The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Education at The Pennsylvania State University agree:
1) to cooperate in developing educational materials for use in the public school system of Pennsylvania 2) to cooperate in conducting educational programs on IPM for Pennsylvania public school teachers and students
3) to share resources whenever possible in fulfillment of this agreement
4) to evaluate and identify those IPM concepts and tools most favorable for educational purposes, and
5) to cooperate in an effort to secure additional public and financial support for Integrated Pest Management awareness and education.

Duration:

This Memorandum of Understanding shall become effective upon the date of final signature and shall continue indefinitely. This Memorandum of Understanding may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties in writing, and may be terminated by either party upon 60 days written notice to the other party.

Agreed to:Samuel Hayes, Jr., Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture     

Robert Steele,  Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences

Chris Herr, Deputy Secretary                 

Dr. Paul Wangsness, Sr. Associate Dean

Eugene Hickok, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education      

Edwin Herr,  Dean, College of Education

Dr. Thomas Carey, Deputy Secretary      

Dr. Peter Rubba, Head, Department of Curriculum and Instruction

AMMENDMENT 
Memorandum of Understanding Among
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture,
The Pennsylvania Department of Education,
The Pennsylvania Department of Health, and
The College of Agricultural Sciences and The College of Education of
The Pennsylvania State University

Whereas, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) works collaboratively with public and private partners in communities to facilitate the development of an effective public health system which promotes the optimal health of its citizens and strives to eliminate preventable illnesses and promote healthy behaviors, and

Whereas, the DOH recognizes the value of IPM in reducing human and environmental exposure to pesticides, and supports and promotes the use of IPM, and

Whereas, PDA, PDE, DOH, PSUCAS and PSUCE agree that IPM has proven value and that further IPM education and promotion will benefit Pennsylvania farmers, students, all Pennsylvania citizens and benefit the environment. 

Therefore, The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Education at The Pennsylvania State University agree: 1) to cooperate in developing educational materials for use in the public school system of Pennsylvania, 2) to cooperate in conducting educational programs on IPM for Pennsylvania public school teachers and students, 3) to share resources whenever possible in fulfillment of this agreement, 4) to evaluate and identify those IPM concepts and tools most favorable for educational purposes, and 5) to cooperate in an effort to secure additional public and financial support for Integrated Pest Management awareness and education. 

Duration: 

This Memorandum of Understanding shall become effective upon the date of final signature and shall continue indefinitely. This Memorandum of Understanding may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties in writing, and may be terminated by either party upon 60 days written notice to the other party.

Agreed to: 

Robert S. Zimmerman, Jr., Pennsylvania Secretary of Health (signed March 2000)