July 21, 2020 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

NOTE: These minutes reflect discussions that happened on the date of these minutes. Due to the COVID-19 situation, things are rapidly changing. For offical policy, please wait for documents from the appropriate offices.

Attendees (7/21/20): Curtis Bennett, Barbara Taylor, Tangan Gao, Chris Brazier, Andreas Bill, Babette Benken, Christine Whitcraft, Dessie Underwood, Lisa Martin, Margaret Karteron, Rick Behl, Kris Slowinski, Will Murray (invitee, incoming Chair), Henry Wu, Maryanne Horton.

  1. Approved agenda
  2. Approve minutes from July 7.
  3. Announcements
    1. Operations
      1. The tenant collapse that migrated all student emails to @csulb.edu was completed on schedule.
        1. Students have completely new accounts with old emails used as aliases. Students must use their csulb.edu email addresses.
      2. Teams/Sharepoint
        1. Students previously added as guests must be re-added with their new account.
        2. Business communications are expected to be separate from the academic communications.
      3. Students who are paid must use the SA accounts.
        1. Business communications are expected to be separate from academic communications.
        2. In the event of litigation, holds are put on accounts; we do not want holds placed on academic accounts.
      4. Students who have lost emails can reach out to Thuy or David for assistance. Most issues are a result of cached credentials that need to be cleared.
    2. ASM update
      1. Fall hiring list
        1. 4 weeks away from Fall semester so we need to get started with contracts.
        2. Cannot use Adobe Sign – must use DocuSign.
        3. Send to Henry and he will confirm with you.
      2. Budget
        1. CSU budget cuts is $299 million. For our campus it’s a little less than $23 million.
          1. $964,000 cut for CNSM
          2. Likely won’t see major damage this year; next year we will probably have to cut more of our regular budget.
        2. Your CARES, SEF, and SVDI money cannot be saved; spend this money.
          1. Email Henry or the Dean if you want to change how you’re spending this money to be sure it is still within the guidelines.
    3. Dean’s report
      1. Budget
        1. We’re likely to see some cuts in various forms of release time.
        2. The academic side will be the highest priority; classroom instruction will probably not be cut.
      2. Approvals for coming to campus
        1. Must have MPP approval (associate deans, ASM, & the dean)
        2. Our limitations have kept the buildings reasonable
        3. Still don’t want faculty to be staying in their offices for extended periods.
      3. Teaching
        1. For courses approved for Face-to-Face instruction in the Fall, please inform Kris if you are planning to add or remove a section/class.
      4. Research
        1. PI plus up to 2 students (names) in labs
          1. We have to limit the total number of people entering the building irrespective of when they enter and the total number of people who enter at one time.
      5. Other
        1. Commencement 2020 grads to be invited to 2021.
        2. Report on lecturers not getting work needed in Kirsty’s office (Faculty Affairs).
          1. Doesn’t apply to one-year lecturers.
        3. Discussion about lecturer evaluations and visibility in InterFolio.
  4. MICR Feasibility study
    1. Last week, Kris & Barbara met with BBS to discuss the possibility of doing a feasibility study.
    2. Thinking of moving SAS Center and potentially the G2 Lab to the third floor of the Micro building and the impact that would have on lab spaces.
    3. BBS would like to meet with all of the chairs (Math and Science Education optional) to discuss the best use of the space.
    4. It’s a good time to start thinking about what would be appropriate needs and wants for the space.
    5. If we cannot do this without losing research space, then it is not feasible for us.
  5. Associate Deans
    1. Graduate
      1. Mentoring Program
        1. Cases in every department of graduate students not always getting an appropriate level of mentoring which lead to the new CNSM Mentoring Program.
        2. Took existing university language and added language that included lab situations, expectations of faculty, appeal process, etc.
        3. Present this document as a two-way contract or relationship document signed by both student and mentor.
        4. Discussion of possible grievances and punitive measures.
        5. Trying to establish consistency across the college.
        6. If you have an existing contract, please send it to Babette.
        7. Christine, Andreas, and Babette to work on crafting something for review.
      2. University Grad Mentoring Policy
        1. Overseen by Brian Rodriguez
        2. Possible university-wide graduate student orientation
    2. Academic Programs
      1. New SI model for all students
        1. Cancelled 7 sections of SI (BIOL 212, 213, 260, 360, Chem 111B [3]), assigned SI leaders hired by SAS.
        2. Each section is $2,300 =150h or 10 h per week, we need ca 40 h (or less) for training, check ins, etc, departments 9CHEM/BIOL) can use the rest for peer support for all students in the above (or other) courses. MATH / PHYS can use part of tutoring and learning assistant/tutoring HVDI allocation for analogous peer support in courses (zoom breakouts, managing chat, assisting faculty, midterm prep, course specific tutoring, problem solving sessions...etc). The SI leaders can swapped with SAS mentors based on availability.
        3. Send Kris a list of prioritized courses (section by section) in need of support along with preferred form of support and logistics by Monday, July 27.
        4. Willing to stipend faculty ($500) to facilitate these conversations between faculty and peer mentors.
        5. Some additional resources for Statistics classes; Kris will work with Math Dept.
      2. NSCI-190A needs
        1. Information about department and major; similar to incoming freshmen webinars.
        2. Take a look at the list of topics on the list and let Kris know if there are any particular faculty you think will be able to contribute by the end of this week.
      3. SOAR update
        1. Almost completed.
          1. Freshmen: 503 scheduled so far, 80 left; 89% in classes; Record use of ALEKS
          2. Transfers: 377 scheduled, 32 left; 92% in classes
        2. Under enrolled learning community classes
      4. Enrollments Update N/A
    3. Research
      1. Reminder to Chairs: CSU STEM-NET Virtual Café (to Chairs and Assist. Profs). Alex Klotz (Physics is presenting at 1st Café 8/6 (Thursday) 11am-noon.
      2. Microbiology building will be turned over to us tomorrow, 7/22.
      3. Tomorrow, 7/22 , Biology will do a Zoom call on TA training
    4. Development
      1. Looking for student stories for year-end Annual Fund campaign. If you know of students who have a good story of how they have managed throughout the COVID-19 crisis, please forward them and their contact information to Maryanne.

Upcoming Dates:

N/A

Submitted by Allie Puz (Communications & PR Coordinator, CNSM)

Meeting Minutes were APPROVED on Tuesday, August 4, 2020

*Note: This reflects discussion on the date of the CDC meeting about policies, not actual policy. Faculty and staff should wait for official communication on each subject before acting.