April 8, 2025 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

In attendance: Krzysztof Slowinski, Kelly Young, Jesse Dillon, Lijuan Li, Lora Stevens, Will Murray, Prashanth Jaikumar, Jim Kisiel, Babette Benken (via Zoom), Jeanine Pociask (via Zoom), Christina Hall, Margaret Karteron, Lindsay Aymar, Eric Palma (11:00am via Zoom), Huy Pham (11:00am)

  1. Approve agenda (10:30am) - Approved
  2. Approve minutes from 3/18/25 - Approved as amended
  3. Announcements
    1. Operations
      1. Scholarship and SRAs
        1. Scholarships in progress
        2. SRAs close to completing download
      2. Spring Elections
        1. FYI - Earth Science has the only continuing member on the college RTP committee, the rest of the departments need people
        2. College Council to discuss ensuring staggered appointments
      3. Commencement
        1. May 22, 9:00am - Angel Stadium
        2. We will have the Circle of Banners again by Home Plate gate
        3. We can bring packaged refreshments to Circle of Banners
        4. Faculty/Lecturers can still get tickets day-of at registration (will need ID)
      4. DEIA
        1. Working with student council to host a student town hall on April 30, HSCI 105 (more information TBD)
    2. Communications
      1. Science in the Hall
        1. Officially moved to Fall semester, date TBD
    3. Development
      1. Spring Day of Giving 4/9-4/10
        1. CNSM initiatives being supported
          1. Dean's Excellence Fund
          2. Student Research
          3. Tutoring and Mentoring
  4. Associate Deans
    1. Academic Programs
      1. Information on potential new GWAR policy has been sent out
      2. SOAR
        1. Still working through procedures - more information to follow the meeting on Thursday (4/10)
    2. Research
      1. Facilities
        1. Construction on Friendship Walk stairs will require taking out a lot of trees - there are plans to replace them
    3. Graduate Programs
      1. Both nominees for the University level Graduate Fellowship were awarded
      2. Departments need to finalize the rotation for the D. Green Fellowships
  5. 2025-26 SEF (Time Certain: 11:00am) Students will be coming
    1. Competitive
      1. Chemistry: service contracts - autoclaves
      2. Biology: service contracts - autoclaves
      3. CNSM: service contracts - confocal microscope
      4. Physics: pulse tube for closed cycle cryostat
      5. Chemistry: replacement probe for 400 MHz NMR
      6. Physics: X-ray tube for X-ray diffractometer
      7. Chemistry: -80 freezer, Eppendorf
      8. Biology: Fluorescence imaging microscope
      9. Chemistry: Temperature-variable NMR system upgrade for physical chemistry
      10. Chemistry: Bruker FTIR System
      11. Chemistry: Lucidity H2 based GC-FID system
      12. Earth Science: Suburban
      13. Chemistry: Bruker benchtop EPR system
    2. Designated
      1. Biology
        1. Equipment replacements for Bio 212 440L
        2. Lab room replacement chairs
        3. Cadavers
        4. Dataloggers for field biology
        5. Ice machine
        6. Audiometers
        7. Refrigerated incubator
        8. Biosafety cabinet
      2. Chemistry and Biochemistry
        1. Injector system for GC and GC/MS
        2. UV-VIS Lamps
        3. Service contract for X-ray diffractometer
        4. Chromatography Refrigerator
        5. PCR unit
        6. Small freezer
        7. Subcell GT cell
        8. Centrifuge rotor
        9. UV polarizer
        10. OsmoTECH Osmometer
      3. Physics and Astronomy
        1. Equipment for lower division labs
        2. Physical property measurement system AC transport upgrade
      4. Earth Science
        1. Classroom renovations
        2. Friendship Walk educational boulders
      5. Science Education
        1. Replacement seating
        2. Science lab equipment
        3. Science demonstration materials
        4. Video equipment for student teachers (microphones/tripods, etc.)
  6. Adjournment - 11:45am

Upcoming Dates

  • April 7: Library deadline for thesis
  • April 12: CNSM Showcase 9:00am-1:00pm (plan for 8:00am-3:00pm)
  • May 9: (Friday) Last Day of Classes
  • May 12-17: Final Examinations
  • May 20-23: (Tuesday-Friday) Commencement (Angel Stadium)

Meeting minutes were APPROVED Tuesday, April 15, 2024.

Note: The minutes above reflect 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.