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Faculty Meeting

Tuesday, October 13, 2020 - 3:30pm to 4:30pm
via Zoom

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order
  2. Chair's Remarks
  3. Announcements
    • Planning Committee - Thomas
  4. Committee Reports
  5. New Business
  6. Executive Session
  7. Adjournment

MINUTES

The regular meeting of the faculty of the Department of Mathematics was held via Zoom at 3:30pm PST, October 13, 2020. John Palmieri, Chair, presided at the meeting. Rose Choi was recording secretary.

The meeting began with approval of the previous meeting’s minutes.

Chair's Remarks

Professor Palmieri introduced the new Graduate Student Representatives, Martin Bishop and Jessie Loucks. Both are in their third year of the grad program.

Enrollment numbers in MATH 124 have grown by 300, a sharp increase from the previous year, and MATH 126 has dropped by 300. It is uncertain how these changes will impact winter quarter enrollments and whether any adjustments will be needed for class assignments. Hopefully, no major changes will be necessary.

Votes were held for the following policy issues:

  • Merit and merit salary increases for full professors – Per the bylaws, the Personnel Committee would advise the chair on recommendations for salary increases for professors, other than the members of the Personnel Committee. The chair will determine merit and salary increases for members of the Personnel Committee. The Executive Committee recommends renewing. All were in favor of retaining this policy.
  • Retention offers – As of 2000, the chair, in consultation with the Personnel Committee (and additional colleagues as deemed suitable), shall act on behalf of the department when making decisions of counter and pre-emptive offers. The Executive Committee recommends renewing. All were in favor of retaining this policy.
  • The 2021 Faculty Meeting schedule was reviewed and approved.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, all postdocs whose terms end this year are now eligible to receive an additional year of funding. This may affect future postdoc hiring since funding is contingent on how many leave the department in a given year. Currently, there are four postdocs who qualify with one slated to leave next year for a position elsewhere.

Under the new Postdoc Contract, annual collegial reviews are no longer mandatory. However, their respective mentors will be required to observe them at least once in their first year, ideally during the first quarter of instruction. Additionally, postdocs who anticipate pursuing academic careers are advised to obtain a teaching letter from someone other than their mentor, perhaps in their second year of instruction once more experience has built up. The department is considering the formation of a committee to help aid this process with the possible addition of a diversity mentorship in the future.

Announcements

Speaking on behalf of the Planning Committee, Professor Thomas has requested faculty to contact her by October 20th with suggestions for big picture issues not already being addressed by the current committees. The scope for these ideas should be broad extending to the next five years or beyond.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no new business, the meeting passed into executive session at 3:47pm.

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