April 12, 2022 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

In attendance: Curtis Bennett, Margaret Karteron, Andreas Bill, Dessie Underwood, Maryanne Horton, Allie Puz, Lijuan Li, Will Murray, Lora Stevens, Lisa Martin, Kris Slowinski, Henry Wu, Lane Olsen-Cooper, Millie Nguyen (student), Blake Koford (student). 

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. SEF Discussion with Students (Time Certain 10:05)
    1. Designated Proposal by Department
      1. Biology:
        1. Replacement of two -80 freezers in MLSC as backup freezer options.
        2. Handheld 3D scanner to be used by organismal faculty.
      2. Chemistry/Biochemistry:
        1. Nanodrop for section Chem 443.
        2. Fluorescence Sub-Micro Cuvettes for chemistry and biochemistry lab classes.
        3. Balance, Digimelts for chemistry and biochemistry lab courses
        4. Mini clinical centrifuge, UV lamp for TLC, vacuum pressure gauge, crystallization dishes
        5. Conductance measurement instrument replacement for old instrument.
        6. Electrophoresis DNA Gel Kit to be used in biochemistry labs.
      3. Geology:
        1. Ion Chromatograph Replacement Parts.
      4. Physics/Astronomy:
        1. Probes for AFM and Magnetometer
        2. Equipment for Physics laboratories
        3. Multimeters for the electronic labs
        4. Roof Top Piers
        5. 3D Printer to replace Ultimaker 3 that fell into disrepair during the pandemic.
      5. Science Education:
        1. Classroom technology update: new wall ports, AV station, new connections for projector for instruction.
        2. Removal and replacement of non-functioning dishwasher for washing science teaching equipment.
    2. Competitive Proposal by Department and Rank Order
      1. Chemistry:
        1. ALFA II IR Instrument (Rank #1) used for inorganic classes.
        2. Stacked Incubators (Rank #5) used for Biochemistry labs.
        3. Service Contracts (Rank #7)
        4. Projector for small conference room MLSC-317A (Rank #12)
        5. Benchtop NMR (Rank #13)
      2. Biology:
        1. Seahorse HS Mini Cell Metabolism Analyzer (Rank #4)
        2. Service Contracts (Rank #6)
        3. Amaxa 4D Nucleofector Core + X Unit (Rank #11)
        4. UnipicK – Universal Cell and Tissue Acquisition System (Rank #15)
        5. (Biology and Chemistry) Service Contract for SONY SH800 (Rank #9)
      3. Geology:
        1. Ford AWD Van to replace aging field van (Rank #2)
        2. (Geology and IIRMES) Dionex ASE 350 (Rank #14) for students whose work includes sampling.
      4. Physics:
        1. In-plane option to upgrade X-ray diffraction XRD system (Rank #3)
        2. PPMS Maintenance service (Rank #8)
        3. SmartLab X-ray Diffractometer Service Visit (Rank #10)
        4. Magnetometer (Rank #16) to replace current AGM that is over 25 years old.
        5. New Computer and MCCB, PLCB cards for scanning electron microscope (SEM) XL30 (Rank #17).
  3. Approve Minutes from March 22.
  4. Announcements
    1. ASM
      1. Please send Henry final SEF report by tomorrow, April 13.
      2. Faculty retroactive pay has been processing “batch-by-batch”. Not everyone will get paid at the same time, but those payments are being processed.
      3. Effective July 1, 2022, CALPERS has reinstated the 960-hour/year limit and 180-day wait period to be rehired annuitant after retirement. (FERP is exempt from this requirement).
      4. All hires who signed into payroll remotely will receive email from Payroll to show and sign I-9 document.
    2. Operations Update
      1. Nominations for Elections
        1. Need nominations for positions for the following:
          1. Academic Senate
          2. Curriculum and Educational Policy Council (CEPC)
          3. Faculty Personnel Policies Council (FPPC)
          4. University Mini Grants & Summer Stipends Committee (UMGSS)
          5. University Resource Council (URC)
            1. Must be nominated by Council of Department Chairs
        2. Graduate Studies Advisory Committee (GSAC)
        3. CNSM Professional Leave Committee
        4. CNSM RTP Committee
    3. Commencement
      1. There is no university-wide hooding in the stadium.
        1. Please continue to plan departmentally.
        2. Let Lane know if you need times/room/spaces for hoodings.
      2. April 18 is the last day that they can create their Marching Order slide.
      3. Dean’s Invitation to Graduates will go out soon.
        1. Will include tentative layout and current specifics about ceremony.
      4. College/Departmental Banners
        1. Used in processional and then posted at individual stages outside of the stadium for identification and gathering.
  5. Communications Update
    1. Fellows Colloquium on Wednesday, April 20, at 7:00 PM; Free, In-Person/Zoom Hybrid Event.
  6. Dean’s Report
    1. GSI Issues
      1. Meetings for discussion pending.
  7. Associate Deans
    1. Academic Programs
      1. Student Showcase
        1. Planning information and preliminary program is available; review and let Kris know if any names are missing by EOB today.
        2. 308 participants registered as of today; 600 total projected.
      2. SOAR Updates
        1. Student Affairs has updated links to summer SOAR guidances for CNSM.
      3. F’22 Schedule Updates
        1. Reserved Seat Capacity for Fall 2022 is still pending; more information will be forthcoming.
    2. Research
      1. Request for KURE Proposals was sent out last Thursday; please mention it to faculty because the deadline is coming up quickly.
        1. This is a collegewide effort to get more authentic research experiences into lower-division courses.
      2. Viewsonic carts, which are akin to a mobile “hyflex” classroom, have been working well in interactive classrooms.
        1. We can ask for a Viewsonic Cart training from ATS.
        2. Need places to store the 10 carts that have been ordered.
    3. Graduate Programs
      1. N/A
  8. New Business
    1. N/A

Upcoming Dates:

Apr. 18-22: Week of RSCA
April 20th: Fellows Colloquium (7:00pm Hybrid)
Apr. 23rd 9-1: CNSM Showcase
May 17: College Commencement (1pm, between COTA (9am) and COB (5pm)) at the stadium

Meeting Minutes were APPROVED on Tuesday, April 19, 2022

*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.