October 20, 2020 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

NOTE: These minutes reflect discussions that happened on the date of these minutes. Due to the COVID-19 situation, things are rapidly changing. For offical policy, please wait for documents from the appropriate offices.

Attendees (10/20/2020): Curtis Bennett, Barbara Taylor, Tangan Gao, Chris Brazier, Andreas Bill, Christine Whitcraft, Ted Stankowich, Lisa Martin, Margaret Karteron, Rick Behl, Kris Slowinski, Will Murray, Henry Wu, Maryanne Horton.

 

  1. Approve agenda (10:30)
  2. Approve minutes from Oct. 6; Approved
  3. Announcements
    1. ASM
      1. Department CARES Money
        1. Sample submission template sent by email.
        2. Fill out one form for each faculty (multiple projects for one faculty member can be on one form) or one form for faculty on the same project.
        3. WTU or amount so that Henry can process.
        4. Must comply to the purpose of CARES Act.
      2. Students Working More Than 20 Hours Per Week
        1. We are getting students reporting working more than 20 hours per week.
        2. Remind all of your students, especially those working in multiple colleges, to watch their hours so they do not exceed the 20-hour limit.
    2. Operations
      1. Still need 4 members for RSCA committee from Math, Biology, Chemistry, & Geology.
      2. We will have full senate faculty representation after the next election.
    3. Academic Senate
      1. Graduate student employment.
    4. Dean’s report
      1. MLSC Offices Unlocked Report
        1. BBS sent some students to perform a service-learning project and left offices unlocked.
        2. Safety office quickly walked through and locked all offices once it was reported.
        3. No reports of things missing from offices.
        4. BBS will suspend this project in our buildings.
      2. Grad Programs
        1. Please send emails to the dean with arguments for why undergraduate research contributes to the graduate programs.
          1. Help with recruiting
          2. Others?
        2. Possible Tuition Waivers/Grants
          1. Chairs are asked to discuss ideas about how departments might help fund tuition waivers.  
      3. Faculty Quiet Wi-Fi Rooms
        1. Faculty members must continue to get pre-approval from the Dean or an Associate Dean to come to campus.
        2. Faculty should not be teaching from their offices.
        3. Scheduling is via Outlook Calendar – Chairs and the Dean will have access to the calendar.
          1. Chairs do not need to schedule for now.
      4. WSCUC (Used To Be WASC)
        1. Coming to campus on Wednesday 10/21.
  4. Associate Deans
    1. Academic Programs
      1. Announcements/Deadlines
      2. Ongoing Undergraduate Advising
        1. Mandatory Transfer: 383
        2. Mandatory Declaration: 171
        3. Mandatory Freshmen: 569
        4. Priority Registration for S21 Starts November 2, 2020.
      3. SOAR for Transfer Students Admitted for S21: Early December 2020
        1. CNSM Curriculum Committee (Wed., 10/21), proposals forwarded to Chairs.
      4. Transfer Advising
        1. Compensation for faculty advisors for participation in summer advising for incoming transfers.
          1. Ongoing, CNSM picked up the cost for the last 3 years, this might not be possible for Summer 2021.
          2. Discussion: Formalizing the process.
        2. The rate is 0.5 WTU for 22 students at vacant rate.
    2. Research
      1. Urgent Visits by PIs
        1. Faculty are able to go into their labs when they’re not on the research schedule if they’ve been contacted by a student about an urgent need/request.
        2. Does not need pre-approval.
        3. Short visit to solve a problem; Visit can be up to one hour.
      2. OURS undergraduate research certificate and request from OURS to departments
        1. Piloting an Undergraduate Research Certificate.
        2. Request that we identify some faculty who can take part in the pilot.
      3. ORSP Research Competition – Virtual Event March 19, 2021 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
      4. Chancellor’s Office Proposal Workshop Expanded – Now November 20, 2020, in addition to November 6, 2020.
      5. Key Issue for Students
        1. Chairs get key requests into Barbara in the next two weeks.
        2. BBS Policy Reminder: Without explicit renewal by departments, keys issued to students are due for return at the end of the school year. BBS is now assessing fines when keys are both unreturned and unrenewed.
  5. Research Lab Limits
    1. Research occupancy limits were discussed. At the time of the meeting there were no changes.**
  6. Friday’s Anti-Racism Meeting (Time Certain 11:30)
    1. Intended to be the start of a discussion and some longer conversations that will be valuable for everyone.
    2. Pre-reading/viewing:
      1. Scientific American article: Science is Not Neutral
      2. I am not your Negro video.
    3. This meeting is not a training; it is a discussion group.
    4. Invitation to attend will be resent.
  7. Increasing Scholarship Applications
    1. Discussion:
      1. 3-Slide PowerPoint for faculty to post on their BeachBoard with a link may increase student participation.
      2. Individual meetings with Margaret and Oliver, if necessary.
  8. What Can We Do Less Of?
    1. Would like to alleviate some of the overwhelm and stress for Faculty, Staff, and Students.
    2. Send ideas to Curt.
  9. Other Business
    1. N/A

 

 

Upcoming Dates:
November 6 & 20, 2020 – Co-Grant Writing Workshop
March 19, 2021 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm ORSP Virtual Research Competition
April 5-9, 2021 – CSULB Week of RSCA
Apr. 9(?), 2021 – Nobel Prize Lecture

 

 


​Submitted by Allie Puz (Communications & PR Coordinator, CNSM)

 

Meeting Minutes were APPROVED on Tuesday, November 3, 2020

*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.

** Later in the day, however, an increased limit was approved by the Provost: maximum 12 researchers at a time per floor-wing and 3 students + PI for per lab per day