August 20, 2019 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

Present: Tangan Gao, Rick Behl, Kris Slowinski, Dessie Underwood, Laura Henriques, Andreas Bill, Henry Wu, Barbara Taylor, Chris Brazier, Curt Bennett, Maryanne Horton, Margaret Karteron, Babette Benken

  1. Approve agenda (10:00)
  2. Approve minutes of June 25. Deferred to next meeting.
  3. Announcements
    1. Volunteer opportunities for students in Science Learning Center – please post in departments.
    2. Operations updates
      1. Distributed Chairs deadlines
      2. RTP deadlines updated (due on Mondays). Anyone considering Early Promotion should meet with Dean first. External reviews of EP candidates highly recommended. Not yet released, but Lecturer Evaluations have been revised and will move to Interfolio over next few years. If Lecturers only teach in the Fall, they could be evaluated then, but if they are reappointed in the Spring, they will have to be re-evaluated. Professors undergoing ETF should feel free to discuss evaluations with the Dean.
      3. Administrative Calendar
      4. Open House follow-up. Great College involvement from all Departments. Some problems with PR and significantly fewer visitors to basement.
    3. Budget Updates
      Clearly distinguish 49er Foundation from Research Foundation regarding administration and pay levels for student employees.
      Will hold CPIE operating funds approximately the same.
    4. Dean updates
      1. Safety Issues. We anticipate a 49er article on an online petition regarding a faculty resignation and safety of demonstrations. If faculty are concerned, please let them know that we always follow our safety review procedure. Strategic communications will handle all questions regarding this issue. RSS inventory has been largely completed.
      2. Lecturer in-range progression. Some change in procedure or range elevation vs. in-range progressions. The college will consider adjusting lecturer salaries at the following times:
        1. When a lecturer receives a new degree increasing their job qualifications
        2. At the time the lecturer receives their first 3-year appointment contract after the enactment of this policy, or
        3. When the lecturer becomes eligible for a range elevation.
      3. Green lecture series. Please review draft of proposed process for department application. Qualtrics application form will be developed
      4. Staffing updates. Allie Puz will become our full-time communications person. This is not immediate. We anticipate the transition will happen sometime this fall.
  4. College Equity Advisor (time certain 10:30). Margy Merryfield has been appointed College Equity Advisor. In this role she will meet with all search committees and has the authority to tell the Dean that there are problems that could lead to the search being shut down. Some CNSM people will attend SACNAS, HAACU meetings and can distribute flyers, etc. Margy shared with the CDC that 1/3 of the faculty have joined the CSU System in the last ~5 years.
  5. Associate Deans
    1. Undergraduate/Programs
      1. Safari feedback. Good! More students with a better schedule next time.
      2. Update on admissions and enrollment. Data presented on large number of enrollments and that first-time-freshmen enrolled in 15 units (mode), but transfers only 12 (mode).
      3. Student success 2019-20, preview of convocation message. Our progress in retention and graduation is positive, but slower than other colleges (25% 6-year graduation rate). Almost ½ of students who declare majors in CNSM end up leaving the college - How to address this? Sequences? Alternative majors? Better integration between courses in sequences? Better communication between different departments' expectations or needs from courses in other departments?
    2. Research
      1. Microbiology Move. Possibly delayed from the 9/20/2019 start date while air handlers and roof-top stacks heights are re-evaluated.
  6. BEACH2030 – The college needs to have a draft strategic plan by November. The college council will be overseeing the production of the draft.
  7. Convocation
  8. Adjourn

Minutes respectfully submitted by Dr. Richard Behl.

CDC Meeting Minutes were APPROVED on Tuesday, September 10, 2019.

Upcoming Dates

  • Aug 20-21: New Tenure-Track faculty events
  • Aug 22: New lecturer faculty events (8-12)
  • Aug 23: Convocation/College Annual Meeting
  • Sept. 20: Student Research Symposium