One of the things I value most about ARPAS is that it supports animal scientists at every stage of their professional journey. Whether you’re a graduate student taking your first steps toward certification or a seasoned professional shaping the future of our field, ARPAS is designed to grow with you. This year’s initiatives reflect that commitment to supporting our members and our shared profession.
For our graduate students, we’re making the certification path more accessible, more flexible, and more fun. Our new pizza‑lunch initiative has already brought students together at Michigan State University, the University of New Hampshire, Pennsylvania State University, and more! With free first‑time exam fees, complimentary retakes, and online testing, students can certify their knowledge while building community within their departments. As a member, you know that earning ARPAS certification is a major career milestone—help us propel the next generation by sharing the word!
As students transition into early‑career professionals, ARPAS continues to meet them where they are. Our new membership pathway, the aPAS membership option, helps faculty and postdocs gain their ARPAS credentials without the exam. We’re also expanding professional development opportunities that help you contribute to the scientific record with a series of CEU-approved Applied Animal Science webinars from our own Bill Weiss, editor-in-chief of the journal, on structuring compelling scientific articles and mastering your manuscript submissions. It’s not every day we can distill the expertise of someone so respected in your field—watch, bookmark them, and share them with your students and colleagues looking to hone their publishing skills! And don’t forget to display your professional credentials with your ARPAS member badge!
For established professionals, we’re strengthening the tools that help you contribute to and stay current in the field. First, we continue to offer very significant member page charge discounts—$370 per article, which entirely covers the cost of member dues—to help you share your work and grow your impact.
We also want to keep you connected to the latest science and are very proud of the ARPAS Symposium at this year’s American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting from June 21 to 24, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! Our full day of programming (including 21 CEU credits) on Monday, June 22, 2026, will cover emerging science around the transition period—the most critical stage of the dairy cow production cycle. Despite decades of research, nutrition during this period remains an active frontier, and we want to provide our members with new insights into nutrient metabolism and immune regulation.
Do you know someone established in their career who belongs in the ARPAS community? Let them know about the Highly-Qualified Individual (HQI) route, which lets them skip the exam!
From free pizza and first exams to professional development, publishing support, and leadership opportunities, ARPAS is here to champion your growth—and to ensure that our community remains strong and forward‑looking. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to log your continuing education units (CEUs) and renew your membership for 2026.
Thank you for being part of the ARPAS community.
Glenn Duff, PhD, PAS, President