Chair: Kent Baxter
Notes compiled by: Kate Haake
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Announcements
Even though we are, officially, at the end of the term, here are last minute announcements to keep in mind before you take off for a much-deserved winter break.
Grades are due no later than five days after your final exams, with the last day for grade submission being December 21. We encourage you to get your grades in as soon as possible so that you can get help while the campus is open, in case there are any glitches. Please note that many students need their final grades in order to access financial aid and other such crucial endeavors for the next semester. When you do not submit grades in a timely manner, it impacts our students.
Book orders for spring semester are also due (for some of us, long overdue). Please get your orders to Robert at 0150txt@follett.com as soon as you can. And do let Wendy Say know if you need desk copies.
If you will not be teaching in spring, please drop off your office keys before you leave. You will need to keep any student work for one year (fall to fall or spring to spring). The office staff has generously offered to help with that should you need someplace to keep this work.
The 2019-20 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Award competition has officially launched. The CSUN Research and Grants Committee requests applications from faculty members for the annual competition for awards to support faculty research, scholarship, and creative activity, interpreted broadly to mean the disciplined quest for broadening human understanding. This quest includes artistic creation and the study of moral values, as well as logical and empirical inquiry into any field appropriate to the functions of the University. Projects related to curriculum development will not be considered. In concert with the campus-wide effort to support scholarly activity by probationary faculty, those who have been at CSUN for five years or less are strongly encouraged to apply. The deadline is Monday, February 25, 2019, and applications will be submitted online. For any questions regarding the competition or the submission process, please call Charlene Manzueta at x5008 or email at charlene.manzueta@csun.edu.
Here’s an update on the upcoming Spring Composition Orientation, which has been scheduled for Thursday, January 17, from 12:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m., in JR 319. The event provides everyone an opportunity to discuss what has been happening in the Composition program, including the issues of student placement and the status of Directed Self-Placement, so please do your best to attend. A light lunch will be served. The speakers include:
Professor Ryan Skinnell, San Jose State University. His presentation is titled “Teaching Writing in the Age of Fake News.”
Kelli Rowley, MA. Her presentation is titled “Not a Vision in White: Engaging Students By Creating Visually Stimulating Syllabi, Assignments, Webfolios, and Powerpoint Presentations.”
Hillary Kaplowitz and Ava Topjian from the Faculty Technology Center will give a workshop on using Canvas for recording grades.
This year’s Faculty Retreat will be held at the Odyssey. The theme is Celebrating 60! The program will encompass some less formal, active and fun engagement strategies to get everyone involved. While you’re learning and re-energizing at this retreat, you will have time to socialize with friends, meet other faculty and learn about your colleagues’ research and creative activities. The retreat will take place on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For the tentative agenda and to register, please click here. The registration deadline is Friday, December 14, 2018 (which is tomorrow).
Ok, that’s it’s for now. The first day of classes for spring semester is Tuesday, January 22, so between now and then, have a wonderful winter. And don’t blink.