September 21, 2021 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

In attendance: Curtis Bennett, Barbara Taylor, Margaret Karteron, Henry Wu, Andreas Bill, Dessie Underwood, Kris Slowinski, Will Murray, Allie Puz, Lijuan Li, Lisa Martin, Lora Stevens, Christine Whitcraft, Maryanne Horton, Babette Benken, Vanessa Hernandez.

     

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 September 7.
  3. Announcements
    1. ASM
      1. HEERF Spending
        1. Use these funds now or in October because we are approaching the May 15 deadline.
          1. These funds do not carry over, as far as we know.
      2. Faculty Summer WTU
        1. Ready to process additional funding for summer. Send a document explaining what the employee has done to Henry.
        2. Please be very clear what rate the employee will be paid.
      3. CPIE Money Update
        1. This year a 3% carryover will be enforced.
        2. If we don’t spend the money, we may lose it.
      4. Prescreen Issues
        1. Those who are coming to campus must fill out the COVID-19 prescreen.
        2. Chairs will be notified of those faculty and staff members who have not completed the prescreen.
      5. Staff Schedules
        1. For Fall 2021, staff are expected to be on campus 3 days per week; this schedule cannot be changed without going through the approval process and 21 days notice.
      6. Payroll
        1. As of November 1, 2021, those not on direct deposit must come into the department office to pick up their paycheck.
      7. Emergency Pay
        1. CSU has been challenged on not paying emergency pay after the initial 3-month period.
          1. We don’t know the outcome of this yet.
    2. Operations Update
      1. Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion RSCA Competition
        1. Limited competition with 1 guaranteed award made in our college ($15,000; possibly extendable to a second year).
        2. Must now solicit applications; Deadline is October 15, 2021.
        3. Remaining details will be distributed soon.
        4. Need diverse review committee members.
        5. Decisions must be made on applications by October 31, 2021.
      2. Minigrants/Summer Stipend/Faculty Small Grants/RSCA (WTU)
        1. Application for Minigrants and Summer Stipends is already available.
        2. Application for RSCA & FSG will be available sometime next week following discussion of guidelines at the 9/24/21 College Council meeting.
          1. Deadline is early November.
      3. PDG Professor Award
        1. Announcement soliciting nominations went out Monday, 9/20/21.
      4. RTP Updates
        1. September 27: the last day for candidate undergoing reappointment, tenure & promotion, or promotion to submit their materials on InterFolio.
        2. September 28th: access will be provided to department chairs.
        3. November 1: Department review ends for reappointments and combined tenure & promotions.
        4. November 15: Department review ends for promotion-only folders.
    3. Dean’s Report
      1. Budget Carryforward
        1. Likely only a 3% carryforward this year.
      2. Department Priorities for Fundraising
        1. Come up with a list of your department “cash opportunity” priorities for fundraising and send to Curt so that the administration has these on hand if the need arises.
          1. Think “big idea” as far as how these cash opportunities will impact the students and make a difference.
      3. Build Back Better Inventory Invitation
        1. Recommendations to Mayor Garcetti in the context of a local economy that remains in crisis in LA County.
          1. Send a paragraph to Curt so he can send on to the Provost.
  4. Associate Deans
    1. Academic Programs (Time Certain 10:30: Vanessa Hernandez)
      1. Spring Schedule
        1. Most of our schedule stayed the same when it comes to instruction mode.
          1. Most of our classes are face-to-face with very few hybrid of asynchronous courses.
            1. Online options can be added later, if necessary.
            2. Modality for the Spring should not be based on COVID concerns, it should be based on pedagogical justification.
          2. The last day for departments to make direct edits in PeopleSoft is September 23.
            1. The next time we will have access to make changes is when the scheduling portal opens on October 11; these changes must be processed by Enrollment Services.
      2. Assignable Spaces
        1. Waiting for Enrollment Services to coordinate with Facilities to assign spaces.
          1. If for some reason they do not make the deadline:
            1. We can send a list with supervision courses later (preferred) or assign the department office for supervision courses.
        2. If you’re unsure of the need to add a space, please send it to Vanessa so that she can keep track of them and later submit them.
      3. Supplemental Instruction Sections for Spring 2022
        1. Per HVDI proposal, we requested 6 SI sections (CHEM 111B).
        2. If you need any additional SI sections, please let Kris know by end-of-day today.
    2. Research
      1. N/A
    3. Grad Programs
      1. Call is open for new graduate student scholarship ($3,500 scholarship for those affected or delayed by COVID).
        1. Potentially hundreds of awards with appropriate cause and while funding lasts.
      2. According to Thesis & Dissertation Office, there are no delays.
        1. Students may not understand that the process of revision can extend into the following semester.
  5. COVID Updates
    1. CNSM Process (One-pager)
      1. Discussion:
        1. Challenges coordinating different protocols across campus.
        2. Consider prioritizing graduate students who also lead classes.
        3. Directives from campus are still slightly unclear when it comes to prescreen and testing protocols.
        4. Clearance feedback is confusing; Curt is addressing this with the repopulation committee.
    2. Dean’s Office Email
      1. Send edits/suggestions to Curt by the end of the day.
    3. Other Updates
  6. Provost Meeting with College
    1. Presenting points of distinction and initiatives by department to the Provost.
    2. Questions must be submitted by October 8, 2021.
  7. New Business
    1. N/A

 

Upcoming Dates:

Oct. 8th: Questions Due for Provost Meeting with College
Oct. 15th: Provost Meeting with College (9 am - 10 am)
Oct. 15th: Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion RSCA Competition Applications Due
Nov. 5th: 2021 MGSS Application Deadline
Feb. 21st: 2022 Summer Student Research Assistantship Application Deadline
Feb. 25th: 2022 ORED Multidisciplinary Grant Application Deadline

Meeting Minutes were APPROVED on Tuesday, September 28, 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.