Internal Resources
Internal Resources
Policies, Procedures & Forms
Access our departmental policies, procedures and forms.
View Policies, Procedures & FormsInternational Visitors
Access information specific to hosting international visitors.
Explore InformationNew Employees
Access procedural information for new Plant and Soil Sciences employees.
Review InformationNon-Traditional Instruction Resources
View resources for non-traditional instruction.
View ResourcesStaff Support Roles:
Cynthia Byars
Department Manager
- Assist Coordinators of Instruction, Extension and Director of Graduate Studies
- Manage faculty distribution of effort (DOE)
- Assist with faculty tenure and promotion process and evaluations
- Compile various annual reports
- Assist with reviews and tracking of extension publications
- Chair support – meetings, approvals, etc.
- Building maintenance requests
- Equipment inventory
- Inventory property numbers for new and existing equipment
- Equipment location and tracking, including Off-Campus Equipment Requests
- Administrative support for Undergraduate and Graduate programs
- Manage visa requests and requirements for visiting scholars and students
- TA assignments and course schedules
Zoë Womack
Administrative Assistant
- Pre-travel forms, travel reservations, travel reimbursements (Concur)
- Building, Room and Departmental Vehicle Keys
- Manage PSS Social Media
- Event Support: invited seminar speakers, graduate student symposia, S.H. Phillips and Outstanding Alumnus, Department functions and meetings
- Reservations for PSB conference rooms, Cameron Williams and AGN N-224
- Create/assist/maintain PSS, IPSS, individual, lab, and group websites
- AGN Building PSS Support – mail, printers, copiers, and supplies
- Seminar speaker schedules/announcements/reimbursement
Bill Bruening
Surplus Property Specialist (UK and FEPP)
- Assist with annual inventory of UK equipment (primarily North Farm)
- Processing/removal of UK and FEPP surplus equipment
Sara Carter
Property & Facilities Specialist, North Farm
- Monitors department vehicles and trailers
- Work orders for department vehicles
- Spindletop Farm Fuel Service
- Spindletop Farm Facilities - buildings, utilities, dryers
- Spindletop Farm Facilities - safety
Emily Hill
PSS Human Resources Manager
- Hiring
- Position Updates
- New Employee Onboarding and Separation Procedures
- Departmental contact for HR policy questions
- Departmental contact for Staff Performance Evaluation questions
- Graduate Students - GSAS Form
- Payroll
- Pay account distributions
- Staff - time sheets
- Post-doc appointments
Ellen Weisenhorn
Business Officer
- Oversee all business and financial operations
- Handle all budgeting, forecasting, and reporting
- Complete JVs and Business Procedures Exceptions
- Approve all Concur reports for PSS accounts
- Department contact for grant expense management
- Distribute monthly account ledgers for gift, income, and fixed price residual accounts.
- Monthly reconciliations for all PSS accounts and grants
Cheyenne Davis
Purchasing Specialist
- Employee Reimbursements/PRDs
- Procard delegate/editor/send reminders (Concur)
- Receive and deposit all cash/checks including gifts
- Purchasing equipment and supplies that can’t be purchased with Procard
- Goods Confirmations - collects packing slips for punch out orders
- Process office supply orders through Office Depot
- Minor equipment data entry
Jim Nelson
Facilities and Safety Specialist
- Annual Department space inventory
- Work orders for campus facility repairs
- Facilitates campus space assignments/management
- Coordinates laboratory safety inspections
- Coordinates building safety training
Information Technology:
Shawn Simpson
IT Specialist, Plant Science and KTRDC
- Creating AD accounts
- Internet connections
- Computer consulting, installation, repair, anti-virus
- Install UK site licensed software
- Install SAS software
- Graduate student laptop assignment
- Processing surplus computers
- Distance Learning
- Computer Systems Specifications Consultant/Procurement
Brian Lauer
IT AGN, Seedhouse, Greenhouse and Spindletop Farm
- Creating AD accounts
- Internet Connections
- Computer consulting, installation, repair, anti-virus,
- UK site licensed software
- SAS
- Graduate Student laptop assignment
- Processing surplus computers
- Web strategy and development
- Web Support
- Activating department web profile
- Help with using the Content Management System (CMS)
- Creation/help with custom web pages for individuals/labs/groups
UK Emergency Phone Numbers
- UK Police Department: Dial #UKPD from a cellphone; dial 257-1616 or 257-8573 from a landline.
- Ag Security: Office 859-257-4637; cellphone 859-509-2957
Print a copy of this information to post in your office or lab.
Designated Storm Shelter Areas
- Plant Science Building (PSB)
- Agricultural Center North (AGN)
- KY Tobacco Research and Development Center (KTRDC)
- Seedhouse
Use the Campus Map to find your building.
BEAP Evacuation Plans
- Plant Science Building (PSB)
- Agricultural Center North (AGN)
- KY Tobacco Research and Development Center (KTRDC)
- Headhouse, Seedhouse and Greenhouses
See all plans at CAFE Emergency Preparedness.
Reporting Accidents
- Emergency Building Maintenance: 24-hour response is available from the UK Delta Room (257-2830)
- Non-Emergency, but Quick Response Desired: Contact Building Operators at 257-4894 or 257-7740
- Non-Emergency for PSS Department: Contact Jim Nelson
For information on new employees, account changes, staff performance evaluations and more, contact Emily Hill with our Business Office or visit UK Human Resources.
View the PSS Conference Rooms in Ag. Science North and the Plant Sciences Building.
To reserve the Cameron Williams Lecture Hall, PSB Lobby, PSB 301E, PSB 401E, PSB 360, PSB 460 or AGN N224, contact Zoë Womack.
See All Martin-Gatton CAFE Reservable Rooms Request Martin-Gatton CAFE Room Reservations
LinkBlue: Follow these steps to get your LinkBlue. To reset your LinkBlue password, see these instructions. Still can’t reset your password? Call Central IT for assistance at 859-218-HELP (4357).
Use this Student Tech Checklist as your go-to guide for essential tech at UK.
For all general IT questions, find curated guides and instructions for troubleshooting technical trials and tribulations. Or contact Shawn Simpson or Brian Lauer.
For building concerns in laboratory or offices, or for department facility management, visit our internal page to see who oversees the different departmental functions and contact that person.
For issues with pay rate, raises, etc., please contact our department HR administrator, your direct supervisor or our department head.
Any problems, questions, concerns, complaints, etc., may be taken to HR Employee Relations.
For harassment or discrimination of any kind, please contact whomever you feel most comfortable with:
- Your Supervisor
- Department Chair Dr. Rebecca McCulley
- CAFE Dean
- CAFE Director of Operations & Assoc. General Counsel
- UK Office of Equal Opportunity
Please note that if a victim of harassment shares a complaint with you, it is your responsibility to report it immediately to any of the contacts listed above.
Any illegal or dishonest activity may be reported anonymously with the University of Kentucky Comply Line: 1-877-898-6072 or online.
Useful UK websites:
