January 17, 2012

Minutes for the SoE Executive Committee Meeting

Jan 17, 2012 , 3:00pm

Led by: John Rueter

Attending:

Linda George

Dar Crammond

Christina Hulbe

Joseph Poracsky

James Kagan

Ember Stevens

Agenda

1.     Introduce Ember Stevens

2.     Update on PhD Applications

3.     Upcoming Research Meetings

1. Ember introduced as new Office Specialist for SoE

2. PhD Applications

·      Ember provided list of complete or near complete PhD student applications

o   This list will be refined and finalized in the next week

o   USGS would like a copy of finalized list

·      Decided that folders with application materials will be made available to faculty via the I: drive, rather than via Google Docs

·      General timeline:

o   Ember and John will check that applicants meet minimum university requirements

o   In approximately one week, Ember will email faculty a finalized list of applicants, including their areas of interest and desired advisors.

o   Application materials will be made available on the I: drive

o   Applications will then be considered by the Joint Application Committee

§  Meanwhile, departmental committees, IGERT, GK12 and advisors desiring PhD students should be reviewing applications. Advisors should notify departmental committees of specific students they’d like to take on.

3. Upcoming Research Meetings

·      USGS/PSU Meeting in March

o   No date has yet been chosen for USGS/PSU meeting

§  Will likely take place on a Thursday or Friday in March at Simon-Benson house

o   Goal: to highlight collaborative research between PSU and USGS

·      Winter Symposium

o   Considered strategies for impact at afternoon meeting

§  Seating arrangement may be important

§  Need to focus on main SoE message: to strengthen the department and continue partnerships

§  May be helpful to have statistics on hand:

·      Amount of research money brought in

·      Number of Faculty

§  Need to be able to answer the question “Why should the SoE be invested in?”