May 11, 2021 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

In attendance: Curtis Bennett, Barbara Taylor, Margaret Karteron, Henry Wu, Chris Brazier, Andreas Bill, Christine Whitcraft, Dessie Underwood, Rick Behl, Kris Slowinski, Will Murray, Babette Benken, Allie Puz, Lisa Martin.

NOTE: THESE MINUTES REFLECT DISCUSSIONS THAT HAPPENED ON THE DATE OF THESE MINUTES.  DUE TO THE COVID-19 SITUATION, THINGS ARE RAPIDLY CHANGING.  FOR OFFICIAL POLICY PLEASE WAIT FOR DOCUMENTS FROM THE APPROPRIATE OFFICES.   

 

  1. Approve agenda (10:00)
  2. Approve minutes from April 27
  3. Announcements
    1. ASM
      1. Single Sign-On will change to Microsoft SSO on 6/1.           
        1. Official communication will come from IT.
      2. I-9 Sign In
        1. The current authorization for us to accept remote sign-in will expire on 5/31.
        2. If we do not get authorization for remote sign-in on 5/31, they must sign in, in person within 3 days of 5/31.
      3. Budget
        1. Last year’s cuts may be restored.
      4. Phishing
        1. Continue to be cautious about emails asking for information.
      5. Staff Evaluations
        1. Coming up in mid-June.
      6. Endowment Funding Structure Change on 7/1
        1. Endowment Spending Fund will be created.
        2. This will impact scholarships but hopefully just internally.
    2. Operations Update
      1. Commencement Updates
        1. Expecting fairly good attendance due to student response.
        2. The processional will be led in from the dugout tunnel, across the stage. Those sitting on the stage remain, all others will circle back to the dugout for seating.
        3. New development: Master and Bachelor degrees will confer separately, by year.
        4. Certificates are being produced for all award recipients listed in the program; completion date TBD.
        5. Regalia will arrive in the bookstore on May 17; not sure when it will be available to faculty.
        6. CNSM Virtual Ceremony Page
          1. Dean’s Speech
          2. Award Recipients – Photos
          3. Marching Order link to all CNSM Grad’s Slides
          4. Virtual Department Ceremonies?
            1. Let Margaret know if you are planning to have one.
          5. The ceremonies will all be livestreamed via links on the University Commencement website.
          6. Ceremonies will not be broadcast on any jumbotrons outside of the stadium; guests should bring their own devices to watch the livestream from the parking lot.
      2. College Elections
        1. We have successfully filled out vacancies in the Academic Senate
        2. RTP Committee
          1. Let Margaret know who is and is not available to serve this year.
        3. CEPC
          1. Need nominees; lots of hours and a multi-year commitment
    3. Academic Senate Update
      1. The GE Policy passed at the last meeting.
        1. Compromised to allow students to take the History and American Ideas requirements as an upper division course.
    4. Dean’s Updates
      1. University-wide campaign is in the silent phase; large lead gifts.
        1. Send Curt your needs; give enough information so that we can advertise.
      2. There is new, required safety training.
        1. A reminder will go out this week from the safety office.
  4. Associate Deans
    1. Academic Programs
      1. Course Seats
        1. The number of incoming transfer students is roughly the same as last year.
        2. Monitor whether you have enough seats when Spring grades come out.
      2. Summer Advisor Compensation for Faculty
        1. Proposal for enhanced summer advising compensation for major advisors.
        2. Some Issues to Discuss:
          1. If there is no campus wide funding for this, the departments will need to cover the costs of summer advising in the future.
          2. No formalized mechanism for compensating faculty for advising over the summer.
    2. Research
      1. Tentatively on the verge of another major occupancy increase for research, pending state, county, and university guidelines.
      2. Brent Scheiwe will be out from 6/7 to 6/11
        1. Mohammad will still be there but the shop will be at half staff during that week.
      3. Beach Building Services solicitation for carpeting, painting, and other small jobs.
        1. Ask Brent Scheiwe or Department Coordinators to submit a work request if there’s anything you’d like to have done.
        2. Keep in mind, B.B.S. has about a one-year lead time for all projects.
  5. HEERF Funding
    1. There will soon be a Hydration Station in both HSCI and MLSC.
    2. The timeframe for spending this money has been reduced.
      1. Presenting requests in priority ranked order per department.
      2. Get priority ranked list to Henry by 5/12 at 5 pm; Henry must submit the list by 5/15 at 5 pm.
    3. HEERF Funding cannot be used for construction.
      1. Be careful with wording for funding requests.
    4.  
  6. New Business
    1. Programs that have “Project” as an option:
      1. Projects will not have to go through the Thesis & Dissertation Office.
      2. Scholar Works Pilot Program Summer 2021
        1. Students who did a project but did not go through the Thesis & Dissertation Office can still be published through Scholar Works.

 

Upcoming Dates:

May 14 – Proposal for New CARES Due from College
May 31 – Commencement in Regional Stadium

 

Meeting Minutes were APPROVED on Tuesday, May 18, 2021

*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.