May 31, 2022 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

In attendance: Curtis Bennett, Margaret Karteron,  Andreas Bill, Maryanne Horton, Allie Puz, Lijuan Li, Will Murray, Lora Stevens, Jim Kisiel, Henry Wu, Babette Benken, Dessie Underwood, Barbara Taylor, Krzysztof Slowinski.

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 (11:00)
  2. Approve Minutes from May 3
  3. Announcements
    1. ASM
      1. Staff Evaluation period ends July 1, 2022.
      2. Staff remote day changes must be for approved reasons.
    2. Operations Update
      1. Wrapping up scholarship postings; payment will be (tentatively) disbursed by Enrollment Services near the end of August.
      2. Evaluations are ongoing.
      3. Commencement Debrief is forthcoming; meeting is not yet scheduled.
    3. Development Update
      1. Cash receipts are $4.8 million this year.
      2. $2.26 million in pledges this year.
    4. Communications Update
      1. N/A
    5. Dean’s Report
      1. Refer to Summer COVID questions below.
  4. Associate Deans
    1. Academic Programs
      1. Intents to Matriculate
        1. Roughly the same number of incoming transfer students as last year.
        2. Significantly higher number of freshmen this year.
          1. Consider seats/enrollment that may be impacted by this increase.
      2. SOAR
        1. Review materials:
          1. SOAR Website
          2. Summer Guidances Website
          3. Chemistry Placement Website
          4. Math Placement Website
        2. Send student questions to the Department Coordinator so that they can direct the students to the right place.
      3. Completion Rates
        1. Discussion postponed until a later date.
        2. EAB Office Hours/Workshops will be available for all advisors and chairs.
      4. Lecturer Professional Development
        1. Information coming out this week.
          1. Expanding Beach Mentor
          2. Freshmen Learning Communities
    2. Research & Graduate Programs
      1. Building and lab keys for students.
        1. Don’t issue automatically; ask only for keys that are absolutely necessary.
    3. Graduate Programs
      1. N/A
  5. Summer Meetings
    1. Chair Calendar (Late July)
      1. Proposed date: July 28th.
    2. Chair’s Retreat (Aug. 11)
      1. Please send items to include in the Retreat to the Dean.
  6. Summer Covid Questions
    1. Per Executive Committee Meeting:
      1. Current masking policy extended until further notice.
        1. Masking is required in classrooms, labs, childcare facilities.
        2. Masking is recommended when sharing small offices/spaces.
      2. Prescreen no longer required after June 1.
  7. New Business
    1. Space Discussion
      1. Labs/Lab Classes are difficult to find useful space for across Departments.
      2. Suggestions:
        1. Dedicated classroom space.
        2. Locked storage space outside of HSCI/MLSC.
        3. Classrooms nearer to HSCI.
        4. Classroom allotment for other colleges.
        5. Consider any additional necessary staff that may be required.

Upcoming Dates:

June 1: SOAR Sign-Up Deadline
June 22: Ascend Zoom Showcase (1:00-2:30 PT)
July 29:  Chair's Calendar
Aug. 11: CDC Retreat

Meeting Minutes were APPROVED on Tuesday, May 31, 2022

*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.