Updates From The Dean - Issue 37

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season. As we get ready for a busy spring semester, below are some additional updates.

Ph.D. Material Science - The proposal to establish the PhD program in material science is on the agenda for the January 14, 2025 meeting. We are very optimistic that the degree will be approved for a Fall, 2026 start. The program will still require final approval by the SACSCOC which will not be completed in time for an earlier start. There is a chance that a “soft” launch in spring, 2026 will be possible, but it depends on the length of time for approval by the SACSCOC.

New Faculty Lines: COSM has received three new faculty lines supported by growth in the incoming freshman students. These lines are funded for the current fiscal year and will support new lecturers in mathematics to ensure we have adequate capacity for the large incoming freshman classes. The target freshman class for Fall 2025 is 5,450 students. The positions will initially be filled as visiting instructors for Fall 2025 as we develop a longer term plan for conversion to permanent lecturers.

Additionally, we have received preliminary approval for a new faculty line in biomedical sciences to support the creation of the Ph.D. program and other strategic initiatives in the biomedical sciences. This line will be funded in fiscal year 2025-2026 with a search expected to start in Fall, 2025.

Enrollment Updates: As of Friday, January 3, COSM’s student credit hour production for the spring semester is up 7.6% as compared to spring 2024 - up more than 4,000 SCH. The headcount of students in COSM majors is up by 8.8% as compared to spring 2024. At the moment, we have slightly over 1,600 COSM majors nearing the level of Spring 2022. This continues the trend of enrollment growth we have seen for the past several semesters - spring will be four consecutive semesters of enrollment growth as measured by student headcount and five consecutive semesters as measured by student credit hours.

Graduate enrollment is down for the spring semester as compared to last spring, but only by a few students. In addition, headcount enrollment in COSM programs on the Armstrong campus is down slightly as compared to last spring semester.

I will have more details on these and other topics at next week’s COSM College Wide meeting at 2 PM on January 9th. If you did not receive the calendar invitation with the Zoom link, please contact Ashley.

See you next week!

Sincerely,

Mike