January 28, 2020 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

Attendees: Curt Bennett, Kris Slowinski, Barbara Taylor, Margaret Karteron, Christine Whitcraft, Babette Benken, Chris Brazier, Lisa Martin, Dessie Underwood, Andreas Bill, Tangan Gao, Henry Wu

  1. Approve agenda (10:05am)
  2. Approve minutes
  3. Announcements
    1. Operations updates
      1. Nobel Laureate, David Baltimore, April 13
      2. Open House - April 25, all university rooms of HSCI are reserved. Margaret needs feedback on commitments, what we want to do, what sorts of events and activities, etc.
      3. Commencement, Tuesday, May 19, 1 PM. Alumni Affairs is no longer naming an outstanding alumni nor an outstanding student. We need to decide what sort of student awards we will recognize (all degrees and programs? one per department?). In particular, we need to decide how we will recognize student excellence in our College ceremony?
      4. Professor Emeritus, William Ritz in (science education) recently passed away. He was a national leader in science education. Dr. Ritz established the Science Education department at CSULB and he began the National Center for Childhood Education that continues with work with professional development for Head Start and preschool teachers to this day.
    2. Communications Announcements
    3. Dean's updates
      1. CDC Photo - Feb 4
      2. Workload reporting (RSCA, etc.) - Kathy will send reports to departments summarizing what was entered into the system.
      3. Summer 697/698 (Is CPIE acceptable?) - Students can enroll in 697 and 698 over the summer if they are enrolled in the department chair's section. 
      4. Spring chairs retreat - May 21 or 22?
      5. Dean would like to be at one department meeting for faculty to have a chance to ask questions.
  4. Associate Deans
    1. Research
      1. RS policy - We need to decide, and clarify in the policy, when to "count" the RS balance (when assigning IDC return to PIs) and whether an assessment is made once at the start of an award period or if IDC return to PIs will change if RS balance crosses a threshold named in the policy. CNSM will receive account balances and award spending information each quarter. Chairs will get input from faculty. Item will be revisited in CDC in two weeks.
      2. Micro project - The switch will occur Feb 21-24 (Top two floors will be reoccupied; bottom two will move out.).  Completion of the bottom two floors should occur by mid-July.

    2. Academic Programs

      1. Update on block scheduling and learning communities for F’20 (time certain, 10:30 Vanessa)
        1. Many scheduling changes will begin in fall.  Financial aid will also change. Big push to better use Fridays.
      2. March 7 and 21 workshops for admitted CNSM freshman (discussion), 2/4 deadline for commitments from departments (panels, workshops, tours) - Kris needs specific commitments from faculty who want to participate. Need titles and names by Tuesday, Feb 4.  We need a name for the event.
      3. Advising updates:
        1. AAC self-study and assessment - Kris needs updated department advising plans by Feb 15.
        2. CNSM freshman vs. EO 1110
      4. Reminders/short updates:
        1. Lecturer evaluations - Please get files to Kris on time.
        2. Financial aid vs. enrollment management update
        3. Freshman SOAR additional staffing request - Horn Center will not be available. Let Kris know the number of laptops that are available in the departments.
        4. Summer session issues - There is a lag between posting of grades of prerequisite classes and the start of CPIE sessions.
        5. Wireless microphones are no longer provided for large lecture halls. They can be rented on a weekly basis from AV.
  5. HVAC shutdown over break (Christine Whitcraft) - We were given no advance notification on the HVAC shutdown of HSCI on Dec 24. The rooms with biology freezers went to over 100 degrees and the freezers all overheated. We need better communication.
  6. Adjourn (12:08pm)

Submitted by Dessie Underwood.

Meeting Minutes APPROVED on February 4, 2020.

Upcoming Dates

  • Monday, February 24 - Summer Student Research Assistantships Proposals due (from faculty mentor).
  • Monday, March 2 - Final Decisions on Sabbatical Leaves
  • Saturday, March 7 - Admitted students session
  • Saturday, March 14 - Math Day at the Beach (James Holzhauer is lunchtime speaker)
  • Wednesday, Mar 11 - Applications due for GRF/D Green Fellowships
  • Saturday, March 21 - Admitted students session?
  • Monday, April 13 - David Baltimore, Nobel Laureate
  • Thursday, April 16 - Fellows Colloquium featuring Michael Peterson on Quantum Computing
  • Saturday, April 25 - Open House
  • Tuesday, May 19 - Commencement