November 7, 2023 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

In attendance: Curtis Bennett, Krzysztof Slowinski, Barbara Taylor, Jesse Dillon, Lijuan Li, Lora Stevens, Will Murray, Prashanth Jaikumar, Christine Whitcraft, Babette Benken, Margaret Karteron, Lindsay Aymar, Margy Merryfield (10:30), Miles Nevin (11:00), Cyndi Farrington (11:00), Jordan Eres (11:00)

  1. Approve agenda (10:00) – Approved as amended with addition of Open Discussion
  2. Approve minutes from October 24 – Approved as amended
  3. Announcements
    1. Operations 
      1. Mini Grants and Summer Stipend 
        1. Funding comes from CO
        2. Currently have a total of two applications
        3. Considering a different review process going forward
      2. RSCA update 
        1. Currently 61 applications
        2. We usually have enough to fund 52-55 applications
        3. Meeting date TBD (subject to change)
        4. More information on RSCA applications
      3. Sabbaticals
        1. 11/8/23 is the due date for Sabbatical applications
          1. College is obligated to grant 5 – but could also be limited to 5
          2. We typically receive 12-15 applications
          3. Currently have 70 people eligible to apply
        2. Any advisor who submits an application should have a plan for absence to discuss with Dean’s office
        3. Chairs will be prompted to give impact statement in interfolio
          1. Statement should be about impact departmentally and if the department can still run
        4. Committee is meeting the week of 11/13/23
        5. Once submitted, Margaret will send the list to Dr. Slowinski and Dr. Bennett
      4. New Search Protocols 
        1. Overall change in protocol for this year’s recruitment in effect as of October 25, 2023
        2. Biggest change is an additional reference check and a semifinalist completion
        3. Any questions on recruitment and processes should be directed to Margaret
    2. Dean – No updates
  4. Associate Deans
    1. Academic Programs
      1. Sp 24 schedule/learning communities 
        1. Regarding CNSM and COE
        2. Enrollment sheet discussed
        3. CNSM already has courses with waitlists
        4. Ensure anything with reserve capacity is not very impacted
      2. SOAR/advising updates 
        1. Winter SOAR (December and January) will be done the same way as previous years
        2. Email out on Summer advising updates
        3. Winter SOAR Dates and Information (PDF), per Shannon Durbin
    2. Research
      1. KURE summer program updates 
        1. RS Funded Assigned Time Policy (PDF)
        2. Dean’s office needs more information on where Assigned Time funding is coming from
        3. RS funded Assigned Time is not buyout
          1. If buyout is written into a grant, that money needs to be used before College money
        4. Should be approved by the Dean
        5. Double check Assigned Time funding – everything should match Kathy Vega's spreadsheet
      2. Tech Updates
        1. There's some confusion regarding IT Team emails about updates
        2. All computers must get updated, so they need an inventory
        3. Dr. Taylor can send email to faculty listing the specific needs from IT (OS, serial number, last update, etc.)
    3. Graduate Programs – No updates
  5. NSF ADVANCE Adaptation Grant
    1. Margy Merryfield – Time Certain 10:30
      1. Recruiting 1-2 departments (Biology is currently involved) to participate in NSF ADVANCE project – round two
        1. Discussion around different models on how service is allocated and how committees are assigned
        2. Looking at cultural taxation of faculty with regard to service and workload
      2. Advocating for greater participation by and success of women and faculty of color in STEM
      3. Current iterations in are a faculty survey and meetings with facilitators to determine how faculty currently feel, and breakout groups with that conversation continued through faculty surveys
      4. Any interested departments should contact Margy Merryfield
      5. See the document sent breaking down the project to see what has been completed, and what still needs to be completed
  6. Equitable Textbook Access – www.csulb.edu/eta; Time Certain, 11:00
    1. Miles Nevin, Cyndi Farrington, Rico Ovalles, Jordan Eres
      1. Rollout Timeline:
        1. Spring 2023: University identified EA as a learning materials solution
        2. Spring 2023 – Spring 2024: awareness and consultation
        3. Spring 2024 – Summer 2024: student awareness
        4. Fall 2024: Program launch and ongoing assessment
      2. Price is $250 for full-time students, $150 for part-time students (free materials will also live in Canvas)
      3. Students CAN opt out of the program
      4. Materials will be available to students and faculty about 2 weeks before the start of the semester
      5. Bookstore representatives will be at SOAR to discuss the program with incoming freshmen
      6. Possible faculty training in the future
      7. More information found online at csulb.edu/eta
  7. Open Discussion
    1. Chancellor's report on Advancing Black Student Success
      1. Possibly creating a CNSM-specific EDI committee to examine potential structures of oppression
      2. Committee findings could provide good information for grant applications
      3. Look into possibilities for compensation
    2. Lecturer Evaluations
      1. Make sure email informing lecturers about Spring evaluations is clear that it's just a heads up, not an official employment offer

Upcoming Dates

  • November 10: Veterans Day (campus closed)
  • November 20-22: Fall break (no classes)
  • November 23-24: Thanksgiving Holiday
  • December 11: Last day of classes (MONDAY)
  • December 12-18: Final Examinations (last finals are on a MONDAY)
  • December 22: Last Day of Fall Semester
  • January 2: Winter Session starts

Meeting minutes were APPROVED Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

Note: The minutes above reflect 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.