May 7, 2019 Minutes

Council of Department Chairs

Present: A. Bill, R. Behl, B. Benken, C. Bennett, C. Brazier, T. Gao, M. Horton, M. Karteron, L. Martin­ Hansen, K. Slowinski, B. Taylor, D. Underwood, C. Whitcraft, H. Wu.

  1. Approve agenda (10:00)
    Approved unanimously after adding announcement (10:05)
  2. Approve minutes
    Approved unanimously after a few changes (10:08)
  3. Announcements
    University Logos: Allie Puz and Margaret K. about approved CNSM logo. (see Brand Central - Visual Identity Marks)
    Allie will request formats for departments and provide access to the images.
    Biology and Biochemistry graduates received Graduate Research Fellowship from NSF.
    Please submit to College office the assigned time that the department needs, even if incomplete.
    1. Operations updates
      1. Commencement (M. Karteron)
        Summary of this year's process. Discussion on parents' seating (requesting ok from administration for them to be seated closer). Line up starts at noon (12pm). End department celebrations at 11:45am at the latest. Note that there will be a bag check. Facilities Management ask we request additional trash cans in the hallways. Do not leave trash in departments.
      2. CNSM Open House (M. Karteron) July 20. (see attachment)
        It was very successful last year and people stayed longer than expected.
        Inform Margaret by end of semester who and what will your department undertake that day.
    2. Development Officer update (M. Horton)
      Maryanne Horton reported that a microbiology alumna, who confirmed her bequest intention over a decade ago and updated it in 2017, has passed away. The Biological Sciences Department can expect to receive over $250,000 to establish the D.E. Gress Endowed Summer Research Fellowship in Microbiology.
  4. Associate Deans
    1. Undergraduate/Programs (K. Slowinski)

      Admissions: We have about 80 CNSM incoming freshman students who will be in math co-requisite courses.

      Fall 2019 course waitlist: Check the current waitlists. Pay attention to the fact that unlike in the past students cannot add more than 5 units of waitlists. The waitlists are underestimates. Check EAB.

      Freshman/transfer enrollments are under/over the expectation. In particular in Biology. Engineering have become twice our size and that affects Math classes.

    2. Research (B. Taylor)

      1. BEACH2030 planning papers
        Email was sent out for the end of semester celebration/planning meeting (May 10, 2pm-3:30pm, HSCI-102). Please remind faculty to participate and encourage attendance.

      2. Microbiology Building haul-away of obsolete and non-functional items
        Departments can still submit material to discard. Material needs to be brought to the Microbiology bldg. and property survey forms to B. Taylor by Thursday, May 9. Careful about use of vehicles between May 9 - May 12. See upcoming email from B. Taylor.

        HVAC replacement starts in the Fall 2019 with the top 2 floors of the building, followed by the 2 lower floors in Spring 2020. Planning for relocation is underway. All departments are asked to be flexible with space as with withstand the inconveniences of this essential replacement of the HVAC system.

        Brent is on vacation from June 17 - 25, inclusive.

        Chairs are asked to inform the dean's office of planned vacations and professional travel over the summer.

  5. Budgets (H. Wu)
    We are projected to have $60k short (for FY 2019/20 allocation) from CPIE compared to last year for open university enrollment decrease. Department budgets will be tight for FY 2019/20. This is a significant percentage decrease of budget.
    Lecturer salaries were discussed. The dean will bring the issue to the attention of the dean's council.

  6. AED question (D. Underwood)
    2 weeks ago 8 persons got certified. May 31 is full, but sometimes they have drop outs. Contact D. Underwood.

    The closest AED is in the Student Union. To have one at the college it would cost $1,900 for the first three years then a few hundred dollars. D. Underwood will talk with J. Klaus about potential support. The chairs gave positive feedback about having one in HSCI.

    Side comment: Issue about bottle filling station in HSCI. C. Whitcraft will look into it.

  7. Adjourn (11:50am)

Submitted by Andreas Bill, Chair of Physics & Astronomy.

Minutes approved on 06/25/2019.

Upcoming Dates

  • May 9, morning. Submission to B. Taylor of requests to discard material
  • May 10, Beach 2030 CNSM Planning Meeting from 2pm to 3:30pm in HSCI-156 May 20: Commencement rehearsal, meeting at 10am in HSCI-156
  • May 21: Commencement
  • June 7: Course development proposals due
  • June 14: First draft of faculty workload due to Dean's Office July 20: CNSM Open House featuring Sharks @ The Beach Aug 20-21: New Tenure-Track faculty events
  • Aug 22: New lecturer faculty events (8-12)