September 12, 2017 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

Attendees: C. Bennett, K. Slowinski, B. Taylor, B. Benken, H. Wu, M. Karteron, M. Horton, B. Livingston, C. Brazier, R. Behl, T. Gao, A. Bill, L. Martin-Hansen, and L. Olsen-Cooper.

Minutes: Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, August 29, 2017 were approved with a few changes.

  1. Updates from Chairs:
    • Dr. Andreas Bill (Physics & Astronomy)
      • Dr. Bill distributed a flyer for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) for Wednesday, September 13, 2017.
      • Faculty in Physics and Astronomy started a Women's Physics Group. The Astronomy Club had their first meeting (25 students attended).
      • Discussed how Dr. Claudia Ojeda-Aristizabal got the textbook price for her class reduced from $90 to $50 by talking with the distributor.
    • Dr. Richard Behl (Geological Sciences)
      • Geology is working on a search to replace Bruce Perry (Lecturer).
    • Dr. Lisa Martin-Hansen (Science Education)
      • There is a meeting today for the Advisory Board for STEM-X Women’s Group. Melissa Norrbom (Coordinator, Student Life & Development) and Sonia Santos (Academic Advisor) are managing this group.
    • Dr. Brian Livingston (Biological Sciences)
      • Dr. Livingston is the CNSM representative to the Chair Advisory Council to the Provost. The board meets with Mark Wiley monthly. The Board was basically created to advise the Administration of CSULB on policy decisions and to provide input from chairs. If the CNSM department chairs have issues that they would like brought forward, please let Dr. Livingston know.
      • The timing of RSCA was mentioned as an item to go forward. Dr. Livingston mentioned it has been discussed by this Council.
      • Dr. Terre Allen has developed a website for chairs. Dr. Livingston will send the "link" to the Chairs.
    • Dr. Chris Brazier (Chemistry/Biochemistry)
      • Chemistry has a search for a Biochemistry Professor.
      • Chemistry enrollment numbers are down in Chem 90, 311A and 111A.
    • Dr. Tangan Gao (Mathematics & Statistics)
      • The math department is working on the changes for the Executive Orders 1100 (General Education) and EO1110 (Placement exams and remedial courses).
  2. Associate Dean Reports:
    1. Dr. Babette Benken
      • Dr. Benken is working with Donna Green (Enrollment) regarding the Degree Planner. She is meeting with each department’s ITs and getting their Graduate pages updated.
    2. Dr. Barbara Taylor (Research)
      • Dr. Taylor led a discussion regarding topic suggestions, moderators, format, etc. for the 2017 Faculty Research Summit. Please email additional ideas for discussion topics and moderators to Dr. Taylor.
      • Dr. Taylor is collaborating with Dr. Angela Locks (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program) on A UROP-CNSM partnership that would provide research opportunities for 1st- and 2nd-year students, as well as a funding opportunity for a CNSM graduate student. The 1st- and 2nd-year students would enroll in the UROP program and its research preparation seminar, then, upon completing the course, they would join a CNSM lab for their research opportunity. The partnership requires that at least 10 new CNSM faculty register their projects in the UROP catalog (8 have already done so). This should provide opportunities for 20 – 30 UROP students. It was suggested that non-biomedical faculty be targeted as new participants in UROP, since multiple programs supporting student biomedical research already exist in the College.
    3. Dr. Kris Slowinski
      Dr. Kris Slowinski discussed the following:
      • ADVISING
        1. Major changes in CHEM 111A placement (with expanded ALEKS/AP credit use) did not affect the distribution of pretest grades – planned changes in chemistry placement were discussed
        2. Pre-test in calculus, email / data shared with COE
        3. Mandatory Major Advising, Mandatory Transfer Advising, and Mandatory Freshman Advising campaigns were discussed. Feedback on the mandatory freshman advising presentation, was requested by 9/19 please
        4. Beach Pledge (CA Promise), University website: Beach Pledge, Preliminary plan from Duan Jackson was shared, CNSM requirements were discussed.
      • STUDENT SUCCESS
        1. Information on Freshman Scholars Learning Community was shared.
        2. CNSM Tutoring started last week:
        3. Targeted Tutoring (flyer attached, limited to CHEM 111A/B and advisor-initiated requests)
        4. Lisa Martin-Hansen, Jen-Mei Chang, Jason Schwans, Suzan Gomez-Zwiep, and Kris attended growth mindset lunch with the President on 9/11
        5. CNSM Data Fellows for AY 17-18 focused on math B2 redesign (Gao, Chang, Newberger, Zhou, Suaray, Dana Hooten)
        6. AAC/SAS will have planning retreat on Dec 14, details TBA
        7. Math redesign updates (QR Draft and updates on GEB2 committee work were shared)
  3. Dean's notes – Curtis Bennett
    • Faculty may use RS funds to buy out courses when receiving GRIF, but the buyout must be at the full rate.
    • Led a discussion regarding PH2 renovation issues. It was felt that this would cause minimal disruption to the college, although there might be difficulties with our vehicles entering and exiting at times.
  4. Science Learning Center
    Dr. Martin-Hansen. The SLC is creating a Faculty Working Group to foster collaboration between the SLC and CNSM to engage faculty in different forms of science outreach. Department Chairs are asked to provide suggestions for faculty to Dr. Jim Kisiel at j.kisiel@csulb.edu by Monday, October 2, 2017.

Meeting was adjourned at 11:50am.

Respectfully submitted by Lane Olsen-Cooper, Assistant to the Richard D. Green Dean

Meeting Minutes were APPROVED on Tuesday, October 3, 2017