COSMWEEKLY
THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
UPDATES FROM THE DEAN
COSMFacultyandStaff,
HappyMonday!Iknowthisisabusytimeofyear,withmanyinitiativesandactivitiesunderwayontopofournormal teaching,research,andservicework(e.g.,annualevaluations,departmentstrategicplanning,etc.).AsCOSM continuestoevolveandgrow,weareworkingonanumberofinitiativestobettertellourstory,wherewecan proudlycelebrateoursuccessesandbrightspotswhilealsorecognizingourpeople:faculty,staff,students,and alumni
Thenextstepinstrengtheningourcommunication,especiallywithexternalaudiences,istodevelopamessaging frameworkthatwillshapeourstorytelling Wehaveidentifiedfivethemesthatdefinethecategoriesofcontent withintheCOSMstory Thosethemesare:
DiscoverywithImpact
Description:ShowcaseshowCOSMadvancesscienceandmathematicsfromdiscoverythroughinnovationto real-worldimpact;generatingnewknowledge,practicalsolutions,andmeasurableresults.
Leadership&Influence
Description:PositionsCOSMfaculty,alumni,andpartnersasleadersadvancingknowledge,practice,and discoveryinscienceandmathematics.
Talent&WorkforceDevelopment
Description:CommunicatesCOSM’sroleindevelopingtechnicallyskilledgraduatesreadyforresearch,industry, andadvancedstudy.
Partnership&Collaboration
Description:Emphasizescollaborativeresearchandeducationpartnershipsthatconnectacademicexpertise withindustryandcommunityneeds
EnduringScientificLegacy
Description:Focusesonlong-terminvestmentinpeople,facilities,andresearchcapacitythatstrengthens COSM’sfutureimpact
Inthecomingdaysandweeks,youwillbegintoseethesethemesemergeastheframeworkforoursocialmedia posts(LinkedIn,Instagram,andFacebook),presentations,andotherexternalcommunications Wearealsointhe finalstagesofcompletingthe2026COSMWinterNewsletter,whereallstoriesareorganizedwithinthesethemes Wehopethedigitalversionwillbereadyfordistributioninthenextfewdays
ThecreationofthisnewCOSMmessagingframeworkisanimportantstepaswecontinuetogrowournationaland internationalreputationasanoutstandingCollegeofScienceandMathematics.
Sincerely
Mike
GENERAL UPDATES & INFORMATION
FederalResearchFundingLandscape
Recentfederalappropriationshavecreatedamorestable,thoughstilluncertain,researchfundingoutlookforNIH andNSF.ThefinalFY2026Labor-HHSappropriationsbillpassedlastweekprovidesroughly$47.2billionforNIH,a modestincreaseofabout$415millionoverFY2025,andmaintainsoverallHHSfundingnearpriorlevels,signaling continuedcongressionalsupportforbiomedicalresearchdespiteearlierproposalsfordeepcuts Atthesametime, earlierappropriationsactivityaroundNSFindicatesfundingpressuresremain Thebillseliminatedthe15%F&Acap andshiftedNIHawayfromthe“lumpsumpaymentmodel” Thetraditionalmulit-yearpaymentmodelforawarding researchgrantsshouldprovideanopportunitytosupportmoregrantawards
LegislativeUpdates:
TheGovernor’sBudgetincludes:
Fundingforaone-timesalarysupplementof$2,000forfull-time,regularstateemployees
$325MtoprovideastatematchforUSG’sDREAMSNeed-BasedScholarshipprogram
$42MinHVACupgradesfortheEastGeorgiaSwainsboroCampusofGeorgiaSouthern $40MforMajorRepairandRehabilitation(MRR)fundsinadditiontothe$65.9millionalreadyinthebasebudget. MRRfundsareusedtoinvestintherenewalandupkeepofexistingfacilitiesandinfrastructureacrossthe system.
Newformulafundingforenrollmentgrowthaswellasfundingtosupportincreasestoemployer
EmployeeEngagementSurvey
TheEmploymentEngagementSurveyispartofourperformanceexcellenceandcontinuousimprovementefforts.In partnershipwithStuderEducation,thesurveywillbeadministeredfromMarch2–15.Pleasemakeplansto participateinthesurveyasoneofthemanytoolstoprovidedirectfeedbackthatshapesoureffortstoimproveand dobetter.
UniversityCollege
CentraltotheEastGeorgiaStateCollegetransitionistheestablishmentofUniversityCollege(UC),whichprovides flexibleadmissionoptionsandservesastheacademichomeforassociate’sdegreeprograms,theBachelorof InterdisciplinaryStudies,BS inOrganizationalLeadership,ROTC,anddual-enrollmentstudentsacrossall campuses Ledbyadean,assistantdean,anddirector-levelstaffinadult,online,andcontinuingeducation,UC collaborateswithdepartmentsandEnrollmentManagementtooptimizecoursemodalitiesandstudentsupport
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:BiologicalSciences,Room2250
ArmstrongCampus
Registerhere:PracticalStrategiesforMeetingtheAIMomentin TeachingandLearning
Date:Tuesday,March10
Time:12-1PM
Location:ScienceCenter,Room1503B
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.
COUR SURF APPLICATIONS OPEN
COURSummerUndergraduateResearchFellowship(SURF)
TheCOSMCollegeofUndergraduateResearch(COUR)invitesapplicationsforthe2026Summer UndergraduateResearchFellowship(SURF).Thisfellowshipisdesignedtoenhanceexperiential learningforstudentsbysupportingundergraduateresearchduringtheFullSummerTerm.$4000 awardswillbemadetothebestapplicationsandinclude:
$3000stipendfortheundergraduatestudent,withtheexpectationthatthestudentconducts researchwithaCOSMfacultymentorfor25hours/weekfor10weeksduringtheFullSummerTerm
$500summerstipendforthefacultymentor
$500insuppliesorresearchtravel(fundsmaynotbeusedforconferencetravel)
Weeklyprofessionaldevelopmentmeetings
Toqualify,studentsmustbeaCOSMmajorandmentoredbyaCOSMfacultymember.Formore informationandtoviewapplicationinstructions,visithttps://www.georgiasouthern.edu/cosm/cour/ andlookunderGrantsoremailDr.HeatherJoestingathjoesting@georgiasouthern.edu.
ApplicationsaredueMarch13,2026
CallForApplicationsInformationPDF.
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
Registerforthissession
COSM IN ACTION
Lastweek,Dr.KatySmithfromSEESpresentedherresearchattheInternationalConferenceon MammothsandTheirRelativesinNairobi,Kenya.Standingbesideherpresentationslide,sheshares findingsfromhertalk,“TuskmorphologyandsexualdimorphisminPacificmastodons(Mammut pacificus)fromsouthernCalifornia,USA,withnotesontheSchregerPattern.”TheresearchwascoauthoredbyAlexFurman,arecentSEESalum
TEACHING EXCELLENCE
Asyouputtogetherandreviewyourannualevaluations,considercompletingthisshortsurveybyMarch 1sttoberecognizedforteachingexcellenceandinnovation.
https://docsgooglecom/forms/d/1kWoMibmoCFSWAJTAksp yes3 pbFv 6F4FyfczMV2Aw/edit
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
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