2006 - 2007 Accomplishments

Graduate and Post Doc Parental Leave Policy

Associate Dean Karin Foley reported on the Associate Dean's Meeting where the leave issue was a topic on the agenda. Dean Foley is now part of the SAC Committee that is looking into creating a Parental Leave Policy.

 

LGBTQ Awareness Initiative

oSTEM (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

•  The committee provided funding to the head of the Penn State Chapter of oSTEM to attend the National oSTEM conference.

•  Brochures about the organization were distributed to the College Climate and Diversity Committee, and Departmental Climate and Diversity Committees for distribution in common areas of their buildings.

Awareness

•  Eric Patridge from the Penn State LGBTQ Student Resource Center provided a LGBTQ educational presentation to the College Climate and Diversity Committee

•  Continuing awareness projects for the 2007 – 2008 Academic Year Planned.

•  If we can educate the Climate and Diversity Committees, in turn the members of the committee can educate others in their departments.

•  The committee suggested a awareness mailing to go to faculty and staff of the ECOS

•  To schedule a “Straight Talks” presentation for the ECOS Climate and Diversity Committee and Department Climate and Diversity Committee for the Fall 2007 semester.

Committee Representation

- Eric Patridge became a member of the Eberly College of Science Climate and Diversity Committee to represent the LGBTQ community.

 

Retention

Speakers

- Omar Lucas a chemistry major in the ECOS and Julio Gomez a Health and Human Development major spoke to the committee about variety of topics related to student retention. The students also discussed general climate issues within the University.

Collection of Data

•  Graduate students project provided data on the College to use as a benchmark for comparison for setting future retention goals.

Math

- The Math Department in an attempt to improve Math 110, calculus for Business, scores; faculty reviewed test questions, and provided information to students about supplemental instruction. There was a large attendance for the supplemental instruction. The drop rate for Math 110 looked the same as previous years. However, the drop rate did not increase with the increase of the student population.

First Exam Retake

- Richard Cyr facilitated a presentation about the BIO 110 First Exam Retake on February 22, 2007 . The 20 – 30 minute discussion included data and results of the retake option. Afterward there was a round table discussion about the retake option. Richard Cyr presented this to the UEAC and Undergraduate Advising office.

First Year Seminar

•  The Chemistry Department provided a presentation to the Climate and Diversity Committee on First Year Seminar classes.

Student Programs Proposal

•  Composed a first draft proposal for submission to the College with ideas on programs to increase undergraduate retention.

 

 

RA and TA Grading System

- It was brought to the attention of the committee differences of positions and pay between RA's

and TA's and domestic and foreign students. Some difficulties include that salary ranges are different within each department and funding can limit amount of money available for salaries.

Beth Trimble from Human Resources collected data on Graduate Assistant stipends. The committee will decide on a message to suggest to all Departmental Climate and Diversity Committees or Department Heads.

 

Post Doc

The Eberly College of Science has more post docs then Hershey or any other College. There was $5,000 available to use on post doc initiatives.

Socials

•  Faith Lessner the Post Doc representative on the committee organized a reoccurring happy hour for all post docs.

•  Faith Lessner and Beth Trimble from Human Resources joined the Post Doc list serve in order to disseminate information about Post Doc opportunities in the College of Science .

•  Faith Lessner has been representing the College with the organization of a University Post Doc organization.

Workshops

•  Richard Cyr presented a Post Doc workshop titled, “Garnering Respect and Attention in your Classroom” on March 29, 2007 .

•  Holly Dunsworth discussed with other post doc student what workshops topics they would like. Many expressed interest in how to apply for jobs in Industry.

•  The ECOS Web Page has a page specific for Post Doc information.

Travel Stipends

•  A focus on travel awards and creating an application and a committee review process is the focus for the upcoming year.

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

Human Race Machine

•  Was a group effort that was a weeklong activity during MLK week. Dr. Richards and the Race Relations Project provided the personal needed to oversee the machine for the week. The office of Science Diversity Initiatives provided the advertisement, co funding, and banners for the event. This activity was available to everyone during the Martin Luther King Jr. week of activities.

 

Climate Survey

The committee originally discussed developing a Climate Survey to administer to all female students in the ECOS. The survey was suggested after a number of phone calls had been received in the Dean's Office asking for data relating to female student climate in the College. The committee then decided to conduct a College wide survey to be distributed in the Fall 2007 semester.

A sub committee formed and Sue Rankin participated in the sub committee to create a Climate Survey for the ECOS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


This page is maintained by Nicole Wilson: ndw113@psu.edu (814-865-9591) Eberly College of Science, Dean's Office, 517 Thomas Building, University Park, PA 16802

This page was last updated on 22 August 2007

If you would like to communicate with the keepers of the Eberly College of Science Web server, send electronic mail to: science-web@science.psu.edu
Technology Webmaster: Brian Broking < brb10@psu.edu >
Content Webmaster: Barbara Kennedy < science@psu.edu >