Spring
2002 GEMS Board Meeting
April
5, 2002
Minutes
Attendees: B. Arnold, R. Ban, J. Cowen, J. DeCooman, F. Franklin, T. Kleeb, C. Koval, A. Lamke, R. Landis, R. Landon, D. Michel, J. Nese, C. Swetland
Absent: J. Beckman, C. Demark, M. Starsinic
The winter conference call minutes were approved with R. Ban motioning and D. Michel seconding.
Outgoing board members, Barb Arnold and Jon Nese were presented gifts. It was noted that J. Nese will still be invited to attend board meetings as the representative of the Meteorology APG-MAPS. Barb Arnold presented agate bases to all board members.
Alumni
Council Report (Barb Arnold)
Next meeting scheduled for April 19/20. It was reported
that alumni are very much interested in diversity issues
and acting in an advisory capacity to the university.
This will be a topic of discussion at the next meeting.
Department Reports
Energy, Environmental, and Mineral Economics (A. Lamke) - Mineral Economics will disappear as a major on June 30.
Energy & Geo-Environmental Engineering (B. Arnold) - Three new Mining faculty hired. Enrollment is down in Mining, but up in Industrial Health and Safety. Semih Eser was named as new Associate Chair of Department. They have decided to make recruiting a major focus for the moment-trying to bolster recruiting on Commonwealth Campuses through one-on-one contact with faculty and have hired a part-time person in charge of recruiting.
Geography (J. Cowan) - Trying to get more alumni support into the department. Geography wants to try to maintain contact with alumni after they leave and have started using an outgoing student questionnaire for feedback. There is not a lot of student involvement in EMEX.
Geosciences (C. Koval) - Department is publishing a newsletter. Dr. Slingerland is stepping down and a replacement is being sought from outside the department. Several new faculty members hired. Enrollment is down and the need to market the department is being recognized. The department feels that the administrative requirements of Department Heads are overwhelming compared to research and teaching responsibilities.
Materials Science and Engineering (Starsinic/Michel/Kleeb) - The department is building a new undergraduate lab on the third floor of Steidle Building. Although it will be used for metals, ceramics and polymers, this will be the first time that a polymer synthesis capability will be present in the college. The present undergraduate enrollment is about 100, which is about 2/3 of what it was four years ago. There is a recognition that when the three disciplines were combined, the responsibility for recruiting fell through the cracks. An effort is being made to promote materials sciences in high schools within 60 miles of PSU and the commonwealth campuses. There will be open houses scheduled for Spring and Fall every year. The goal is to get enrollment to 200 in three years.
Meteorology (J. Nese) - Two new faculty members (severe weather specialists) were added. There is a possibility of creating a meso-net to coordinate weather observations in PA. There are 180 undergraduates with many paid internships available. They've had a successful career day. A new e-education course, Meteo 101, has 260 registrants. The department is having a reunion the last week in June.
Committee Reports
Campus (J. Nese) - Jon needs someone to chair the committee in the future. The McKeesport program was disappointing in that only two students and five faculty attended. The EMS faculty advisor has suggested that we consider addressing the physics classes, which is a preferable venue. The program at Abington had 10-12 students and about double that number of staff. Four campus associates attended. On the whole, the event was successful. It was suggested that making presentations in classes may be more effective and the committee should speak to Associate Dean for Education, Robert Crane, to address the CES staff about doing presentations in their classes regarding the EMS majors. Amy Lamke has joined this committee.Old Business
Career (D. Michel) - Will be sponsoring GEMS student contact event in Room 8 during EMEX to try to address students' career concerns. Want to have greater visibility in career fairs sponsored by Career Services. Want to increase interest in EMS careers to high school science clubs or statewide science organizations. It was mentioned that the state science competition is held at PSU and that we should try to get EMS major information to those final participants.
Program (A. Lamke) - Weather in Business Seminar (tentative March 28) intended to be less of an external seminar and more focused on students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Networking and marketing opportunities will be de-emphasized from the earlier concept. Want to impart a broad sense of what's going on in the college and how it relates to the private/public sector. Program to include representative of traditional weather industry, someone to address newer aspects of weather services, and someone from user sector. Program will include a panel discussion on the value of weather information. Also to include a discussion by the presenters. College is considering a major endeavor to address Environmental Risk Management with Smeal College executive program. Gemstone globe gift for Dean Dutton will require a donation of $50 each payable to Amy Lamke.
Resource (R. Ban) - This committee needs some newer board members and also needs a new chair with R. Ban taking over presidency. Resource Committee recommended the appointment of new Geosciences candidate for board membership-Cynthia Kramer in Pittsburgh area. Also, a Geography candidate has been identified for appointment from Arlington, VA-Tony Hutchinson. R. Ban moved to appoint both candidates, D. Michel seconded, board approved both appointments. A questionnaire was adopted to assess the opinions of departing board members regarding the effectiveness of GEMS. Recommendations for the Alumni Achievement Award are being sought. Decision should be made by the end of May. New Chair and new members for Resource Committee being sought. Amy Lamke elected as Chairman-Elect and Tom Kleeb re-appointed as Secretary.
National Service Week - Does participation in EMEX count as service to college?New Business
Diversity - Cyndi Fail has a bus coming in from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Girls Utilizing Technology and Sciences (GUTS) is a new summer program in July. PSU Black Alumni Reunion scheduled. Under-represented students being brought to campus for summer research program. EMS will sponsor 6-9 students in the program. University Provost issued seven challenges. EMS response submitted by Dean Dutton and will be posted on the web. The college will write a diversity plan. Cindy attending the Chicano and Native American Conference and other minority events. Also, she is recruiting throughout the state. PSU's standards for getting into University Park are adversely affecting the diversity.
Strategic Plan Review - Plan is dated and the Executive Committee needs to update it before Fall. The Executive Committee will conference by phone in June. The goal is to present an updated Plan to the new Dean.
Fall Meeting - September 19, 20, and 21.
Winter Conference Call - January 25, 2003, 10:00 a.m.
