COSMWEEKLY
THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
COSM SPRING 2026 ELECTIONS
DearColleagues-
Ihopeeveryoneishavingagreatspringsemester. Itisthattimeofyearwhenweneedtoselectsenatorsand committeememberstorepresentourcollegeontheFacultySenate,SenateCommittees,andUniversity Committees FacultySenatorsservefor3-yeartermsandAlternatesservefor1-yearterms Committee representativesserve2-yearterms CommitteeAlternatesserve2-yearterms Pleaseseetheattacheddocument foradescriptionofcommitteeresponsibilities/purposes
Asafirststepinthisprocess,nominationsarebeingacceptedforthefollowingpositions Pleasekeepinmindyou maynominatemorethanonepersonforanyposition Nominationsareopenthrough11:59onTuesday,February 17th Forthiselectionweareseeking:
6Senatorsandupto7Alternates (NotethatthecampusrepresentationpolicyforSenatorshasbeenchangedby theFacultySenate(September24,2025FacultySenateAgendaandMinutes) Thepolicynowreads:“Eachunit, wheneverpossible,shouldprovidemulti-campusrepresentation(withourcampusesbeingStatesboro,Armstrong, EastGeorgia,andLiberty).Forthepurposesofthispolicy,EastGeorgiaisconsideredone“campus”.Eachcollege withfacultybasedonourmultiplecampusesshouldseektofillatleastoneoftheirallottedSenateseatswith facultymembersbasedoneachcampus(otherthanLiberty,whichhasoneallottedsenaterepresentativedueto itsuniquestructure),asinterestandstaffinglevelsallow”)
Nominationsareopenthroughmidnight,TuesdayFebruary17.Pleasesubmityournominationsbyclickinghere. Forthe2026-2027academicyear,thevacanciesatCOSMare:
5senatorpositionsending2029
1senatorpositionending2027(toreplaceavacancy)
7alternates
1electedmembertoFacultyDevelopmentCommittee,termending2028
1electedmembertoFacultyServiceCommittee,termending2028
1electedmembertoFacultyWelfareCommittee,termending2028
2electedmemberstoGeneralEducationandCoreCurriculumCommittee(GECC),termsending2028
1electedmembertoGraduateCommittee,termending2028
1electedmembertoLeadershipDevelopmentandEngagementCommittee,termending2027
1electedmembertotheStudentSuccessCommittee,termending2028
1electedmembertothePlanning,Budget,FacilitiesCommittee,termending2028
2electedmembers,1alternatetotheUndergraduateCommittee,termsending2028
1electedmembertotheUniversityCalendarCommittee,termending2028
5electedmemberstotheFacultyGrievanceCommitteetermsending2027and2028 (membersmusthave completedaminimumofthreeyearsasafull-timefacultymemberattheUniversity)*
*TheGrievanceCommitteebylawscurrentlyhavespecificrequirementsformembershipwhichdonotyetinclude EastGeorgiarepresentation.Howeverthesebylawswillberevisedthissemester.EastGeorgiarepresentationwill absolutelybenecessary.So,pleasedonominate(orself-nominate)EastGAfacultysothatwecanproceedwith selectingthoserepresentativesonceweknowhowmanywillberequired.
Oncenominationsarecomplete,Iwillsendaformtoallthosenominatedaskingthemtoacceptorrejectthe nominationandprovideacandidatestatement,ifdesired. ThedeadlineforthiswillbeMonday,March2at11:59 pm. TheelectionwillopenonMonday,March9andremainopenuntil11:59onMonday,March23.
Thankyouforyourattention Ifyouhavequestions,pleasecontactmdurach@georgiasouthern.edu Haveagreatweek!
UPCOMING EVENTS
COSMandtheFacultyCenterarehostingaspeakeronAIthisMarch
Title:PracticalStrategiesforMeetingtheAIMomentinTeachingandLearning
ByLyndsayB.Munro,PhD(TeachingProfessor,Biochemistry,MolecularBiology&Biotechnology
FacultyLiaisonforAcademicStandards,OfficeoftheProvost,UniversityofNevada,Reno)
Background:Artificialintelligenceisnolongeronthehorizon.It’shere,influencinghowstudentslearn, howfacultyteach,andhowinstitutionsoperate.Ratherthanapproachingthisshiftwitheither uncheckedenthusiasmorhesitation,thispresentationapproachesitasamomentwecanmeetwith curiosity,intentionality,andafocusonwhatmattersmostinteachingandlearning
Registerforthisin-persononlyeventontheStatesboroor Armstrongcampus.
StatesboroCampus
Registerhere:PracticalStrategiesforMeetingtheAIMomentin TeachingandLearning
Date:Monday,March9
Time:12-1PM
Location:Nursing/ChemistryRoom1008
ArmstrongCampus
Registerhere:PracticalStrategiesforMeetingtheAIMomentin TeachingandLearning
Date:Tuesday,March10
Time:12-1PM
Location:ScienceCenterRoom1503B
COSMLUNCHANDLEARN:LARGELECTURELOGISTICS
ThesesessionsaredesignedforCOSMfacultytocometogethertoshareteachingstrategiesthatare workingwell,gethelptroubleshootingteachingrelatedissues,andgainnewperspectivesonteaching pedagogy Thesesessionsarebeingco-leadbyMrs.EricaHillsnipe(Physics)andDr.LorenMathews (Biology) TheserieswasfundedbytheHowardHughesMedicalInstitute(HHMI)InclusiveExcellence3 LearningCommunity(IE3LC)Grantandisco-sponsoredbytheFacultyCenter
OurfirstsessionofthespringsemesterwillbeonThursday,February19thfrom11:15amto12:15pm. Thissessionwillbefocusedonlargelecturelogistics.Facultyareinvitedtobringtheirlunchand contributetothediscussion.Participationwillcountaspartofthe'EvidenceBasedTeaching'badge trackforthosethatareworkingonit,butitisopentoallCOSMfaculty(andother programs/departmentsthatmaybeinterested,sopleaseinviteothercolleagues!).
Facultythatareabletojoinusforthesessionshouldsignupusingthelink: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=e3cc095bb6404e92981ca2a2ed086219.
REIMAGINING ALERTS
Helpsupportyourstudents! GShasreimaginedthestudentalertsystemtobeastudent-centered, equity-minded framework designed to connect students with timely support. Faculty, staff, and students all play a role in creating an environment where alerts are not punitive, but part of a coordinatedcarenetwork" Creatinganalertiseasyandfast,andcanbemadeatanytimeduring thesemester
The imagined alert system at Georgia Southern University is a student-centered, equity-minded framework designed to connect students with timely support. Faculty, staff, and students all play a roleincreatinganenvironmentwherealertsarenotpunitive,butpartofacoordinatedcarenetwork.
Thisyear,facultywillrecognizethefamiliarprocessofraisingalertsandstudentswillreceiveamore coordinatedresponsefromstudentsuccesspartners.
TYPES
Academicalertscentersupport aroundstudyskills,grade improvement,coursematerials,etc.
Structure
Positivealertsrewardand encouragestudentsand acknowledgesuccess
Wellnessalertscentersupport aroundbasicneeds,mentalhealth, andclassroomengagement
Attheendofeachterm,the CoreTeamwillreviewcourse outcomes,alertresolutions, andstudent/facultyfeedback toproduceanassessment report Thisinformationwillbe usedtocontinuallyimprove theprogram
SUBMISSION
3 methods: Through the Progress Report
Through your student roster inNavigate
From a student’s profile in Navigate
StudentBehavior AlertYou MightSubmit RespondingOffice
Studentwasactively engagedindiscussions buthasbeensilentforthe lastfewclasses
Studenthasbeen completelyunresponsiveto allcommunication
Studentisperforming poorlyinclass
There’sbeenanoticeable changeinyourbehavior orengagement,andI wanttocheckin
Youhaven’trespondedto messagesorengagedin classactivities canwetalk aboutwhat’sgoingon?
YourcurrentgradeisaDor F,andI’dliketoconnectyou withsupportresources.(for IMPACTScourses)ORYou’re currentlyearningaC,which couldaffectyoureligibility forsecondaryadmission intoyourprogram (for secondaryadmit programs)
Student’sgradeshave greatlyimprovedover thesemester
Studentsharedthatthey havepersonalthings goingon,affectingtheir abilitytogetworkdone
I’venoticedreal improvementinyour coursework keepup thegreatwork!
You’vesharedthatoutside responsibilitiesare affectingclass let’stalk options
StudentSuccessstaff (eg AcademicAdvisor)
IMPORTANTNOTE:
The reimagined process was designed with our new student success platform, Slate, in mind. In 2026, alerts will be addressed faster and by a wider range of campus partners Multiple alerts will trigger escalation While we are still in Navigate, some concessions to the process had to be made.
However, little will change from the faculty perspective. The primary changes are on the response side The Alert Core Team will assess the impact of Alerts on student retention and progression to provide feedback to our faculty partners.
COSM IN ACTION
OnFriday,January30th,studentsIndiaFleming,NicoleNance,andKaylinHortonattendedthe GeorgiaEducationalResearchAssociationconferencealongsideDr.HeidiEisenreich,professorinthe DepartmentofMathematicalSciences.Eachstudentpresentedaresearchposter,andtwostudents alsogaveoralpresentationshighlightingtheirresearch.Weareincrediblyproudofourstudentsand theimportantresearchtheyarepursuing
TEACHING EXCELLENCE
Asyouputtogetherandreviewyourannualevaluations,considercompletingthisshortsurveybyMarch 1sttoberecognizedforteachingexcellenceandinnovation.
https://docsgooglecom/forms/d/1kWoMibmoCFSWAJTAksp yes3 pbFv 6F4FyfczMV2Aw/edit
LAB SAFETY WEEK WEBINARS
CelebrateLabSafetyWeekwithCampusOptics!
JoinCampusOpticsduringLabSafetyWeekforaseriesofshort,focusedwebinarsshowcasinghow institutionsaresimplifyingEH&Soperations fromchemicalinventoryandlabinspectionsto hazardouswaste,protocolmanagement,radiationsafety,training,andmore.
Seehowoneintegratedplatformcanhelpenhancecollaboration,improvecompliance,reducerisk, andstreamlineEH&Sprogramsacrossyourcampus.
ContactustoSignUpfortheentireseries,orregisterforindividualsessionsusingthelinksbelow:
ChemicalInventory
Monday,February9that1:00CST
LearnhowCampusOpticshelpsinstitutionsquicklycategorizehazardouschemicalsandproducts, linksafetydatasheets,generatecompliantlabels,streamlineinventoryreconciliation,anddeliver comprehensivereportinganddashboards.
Registerforthissession
LabInspections
Tuesday,February10that1:00CST
DiscoverhowyoucanstreamlinelabinspectionsandcorrectiveactionswithCampusOptics’ comprehensivemobileapplication.Generateinspectionreports,assigncriticalfindingsfor remediation,andtrackcompletionthroughintuitivereportsanddashboards.
Registerforthissession
HazardousWasteManagement
Wednesday,February11that1:00CST
SimplifythewastepickupprocesswithCampusOptics’convenienttemplatesandsuggestedwaste codes Convertinventoryintowaste,generatecompliantwastelabels,managebulkingactivities, andtrackdisposals—allwithinoneintuitivesolution
Registerforthissession
Protocol&CommitteeManagement
Thursday,February12that10:30CST
LeverageCampusOptics’flexibleprotocolmanagementcapabilitiestosupportprotocol submissions,committeereviews,amendments,andrenewals,whiletrackingbiosafetyinspections andensuringcompliancewithtrainingrequirements.
Registerforthissession
Training
Friday,February13that10:30CST
LearnhowCampusOpticscentralizesallofyourEH&Strainingprogramsintooneintuitiveplatform. Easilyassignscheduledandon-demandtrainingusingflexible,user-definedcriteria Upload SCORM-compliantcoursesdirectlyintoCampusOpticsorseamlesslyrouteuserstoyourcampus LMSfortrainingcompletion allwhilemaintainingfullvisibilityandcompliancetrackinginone system
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