October 29, 2019 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

Attendees: Behl, Bennett, Bill, Brazier, Gao, Henriques, Horton, Karteron, Slowinski, Taylor, Underwood, Whitcraft, Wu

Guest attendees: Valerie Bagley, Paul Buonora, Vanessa Hernandez, Theresa Exum-Lucas

Approved Agenda (10:00)

  1. Tabled minutes (approved via email)
  2. Announcements
    1. Operations updates
      1. College IT techs are working on security compliance implementation (e.g. timeout setting at 15 minutes of no activity) on all university devices. Required by state. Example of need is in the credible threat from October. Exemptions available for computers only used for presentations without student information.
    2. Development
      1. Pledge from alums (Microbiology alums) endowed microbiology scholarship for microbiology first generation undergraduate students
      2. Pledge from Google for two APS Bridge graduate fellowships
      3. Pledge from alums (HHS and CNSM alums) for CNSM curriculum support, next generation of media training, pairing with film class and conservation biology class
      4. Keep Maryanne in the loop if you have off-campus people coming in. It helps develop relationships with businesses and others.
      5. Biology met with Toyota about department potential participation in Challenge 2050 (sustainability, working with Wildlife Habitat Council)
      6. Reach out to Dean with thoughts about entrepreneurship for scientists and ways that could interface with your department (beyond classes). Potential link with internships, modules with business skills. 
    3. Academic Senate Report
  3. Associate Deans (minimal reports)
    1. No research report
    2. Note – Look at RFP on data from the Provost.
  4. Block Scheduling for F'2020
    1. Possibility of decreasing the number of student on campus at peak times. Estimated 8500 students as the max number at any time. At peak times, this number is exceeded.
    2. Ideas
      1. Use Fridays in a more effective way. Difficult for CNSM.
      2. Block schedule – ask for ones that include GE courses (e.g. link to Algebra, Chemistry, Biology). Could help with guaranteed GE components.
        1. Department Request: Look carefully at the tables and think about pedagogically viable scenarios (e.g. what are populations of students for whom that would be viable or beneficial beyond learning communities).  Deadline to Kris next Thursday (November 7).
  5. UNIV 150 – possible inclusion in block schedules (Paul Buonora, Time Certain: 10:30)
    1. UNIV 150 - GE Cat E, three units (2.5 hours per week meeting time), potentially two sections
    2. Trialing software called "My Major" (used at UCLA). Exploring how it can be used within CNSM.  Reduce the "waste of units" by students taking courses they don’t end up using for their majors.
    3. Who should be the target audience for this class? Who are the students who could benefit from thinking about doing research with faculty?
    4. Discussion next week (November 5) – paideia seminar, sections for UNIV 150, SCED 100, etc.
  6. RSCH 496 – development of modules/inclusion in curricula (Paul Buonora)
    1. Created under BUILD to be the last of the courses in the research curriculum to develop an original research proposal
    2. Think about the future of this – part of the curriculum of the college, break into modules that are attached to other elements in the curriculum? Increased emphasis on soft skill development at the university level
    3. Share with faculty and talk with Paul Buonora to think about how this links with regular 496 classes within departments (assessment, etc.). Link S factor with SLOs?
  7. General Education Area Specific Learning Outcomes
    1. Based on revisions from all departments, Kris handed out clean document which was discussed and revised.
  8. Adjourn at 12:11pm
  9. Moved to next meeting
    1. Computer Research Lab(s)
    2. SATO Academy – do we want to try and do something as a college?
    3. Active Shooter Response Training – do we want to sponsor one here?
    4. Staff training (Assistants and training)

Submitted by Dr. Christine Whitcraft, Biological Sciences and Director, ES&P Programs

Meeting Minutes were APPROVED on Tuesday, November 12, 2019.

Upcoming Dates

  • Thursday, November 14 – Fellows' Colloquium
  • Tuesday, November 19 – Graduate Research Conference 4-7 PM