UPDATES FROM THE DEAN
COSMFacultyandStaff
WheredidJanuarygo?!!Idon’tknowaboutyou,butitseemslikeJanuaryjustflewby.Forme,this islikelyduetothe“extra”projectsthatIhaveonmyplatethissemester.Thedutiesasco-chairof the Provost Search Committee have been in full swing the past few weeks I am also leading an effortwithRobMans,MarkdelaCerna,andCarlReibertosubmitaninstitutionallevelNIHgrantto support expansion of biomedical research at Georgia Southern And finally, I am serving as the tournamentdirectorfortheGeorgiaSouthernRegionalScienceOlympiadtournamentonMarch1
There are a number of other significant initiatives underway at Georgia Southern as well. We are nearing completion of the process to complete the 2030 Georgia Southern Strategic Plan. I hope everyone has completed the survey requesting your feedback. For COSM, we are also about to launch the effort to update our COSM Strategic Plan. We will use the “People. Purpose. Action. Growing ourselves to grow others.” framework from the GS Strategic Plan to update our plan over the coming weeks and months. A small team of faculty have been assembled to assist with this process.Youwillhearmoreaboutthissoon,andtherewillbeopportunitiesforfacultyandstaffto engageinthecreationofthenewCOSMStrategicPlan.
WorkingcloselywiththeFacultyGovernanceCommittee,theCOSMBylawsandManualarenearly readyforreviewandfeedback.Thenewdocumentupdatessomelanguagetomatchthecurrent GS Faculty Handbook, changes in USG policies, and combines the two documents into one document The Governance Committee meets this week for one last review Once that has been completed,thedocumentwillbesentoutforreview
After discussion with the COSM Leadership Team, I have decided to launch an internal search for an interim associate dean for research for the 2024-2025 academic year This process will start with an open call for applications or nominations next week. The interim associate dean for researchwillstartJuly1,2025.
We continue refining processes and workflows with the COSM Administrative Pool to best support the College. If you have any questions about the process, please work with your respective department chair or department administrative staff. The full team is committed to providing the bestpossiblesupportforourentirecollege!
Wecontinuetomonitortheincomingstudentsforfall2025.AsofFridayafternoon,therehavebeen 2,895 applicants to COSM undergraduate degree programs. The full report is included below and shows the inquiries, applications, and admits as compared to the same time for the past three years (One note: Admission has been making admissions decisions much faster than last year, which means the comparison to last year for admits may not be very accurate) COSM applications are up by about 2% and admits are up 27% At this stage, most of the efforts are focusedonincreasingtheyieldthroughthenextstagesoftheadmissionsprocess-registeringfor SOAR, completing a housing application, etc Department chairs are also working to deploy some additionalstrategiestoassistwithincreasingthenumberofthesestudentswhobeginclasseswith usinthefall!!
Inclosing,theUniversitycontinuestogainmomentumonanumberofsignificantfrontsthanksto thehardworkoffacultyandstaffacrossthecollegeanduniversity.So,thankyouandkeepitup!!
Sincerely, Mike
COLLABORATIVE GRANT
2025COSMCollaborativeGrantInitiative
Goals:TheCOSMCollaborativeGrantInitiative(CGI)isdesignedtopromoteinterdisciplinary researchinvolvingfacultyintheCollegeofScienceandMathematics.TheCGIprogram providesupto$7,500perinterdisciplinaryteamtosupportcollaborativeresearchefforts.Funds canbeusedforavarietyofresearch-relatedexpenses,includingstudentsalaries,equipment, labsupplies,researchtravel,corelabusage,etc.However,facultysalariesarenotallowed. SuccessfulapplicationstotheCollaborativeGrantInitiativemust:
Consistofafacultyteamthatincludesatleastonefacultymemberfromatleasttwo differentdepartments
Committosubmittinganexternalgrantproposalduringthe2025-2026academicyear tosupportthecollaborativeresearchefforts
Provide6-and12-monthreportsonthedisbursementoffunds,preliminaryresults, conferencepresentationsand/ormanuscripts,andexternalgrantsubmissions.
ProposalDueDate:February28by11:59PMEastern
Eligibility:InterdisciplinaryCOSMFacultyTeams
MaximumBudgetRequest:upto$7,500perproject
ApplicationandSubmission:Eachteammustsubmitanapplicationto cosm@georgiasouthern.edubythedeadline.
DueFebruary28by11:59Eastern
a.
b.
Titleandprojectsummaryofproposedinterdisciplinaryresearchidea–2page maximum.
NSForNIHbiographicalsketchforeachteammemberincludingdegreesearned,recent presentationsandpublications,andgrantsawardedfrominternalandexternalsources fromthepast5years
SOCIAL MEDIA/COUR
Ifyouhavephotographsfromarecentevent,class,orlabthatyou’dliketoshare,orifyouhave aflyerpromotinganupcomingevent,we’dlovetofeaturethem!PleasecompletetheGoogle Formtosubmityourmaterials,andwewillensuretheyaresharedononeormoreofthe CollegeofScienceandMathematics(COSM)socialmediaplatforms.Yourcontributionshelpus highlighttheexcitingactivitieshappeningwithinCOSMandkeepourcommunityengaged!
Facebook:gsucosm
Instagram:gscosm
Linkedin:georgia-southern-college-of-science-and-mathematics
GeorgiaSouthernMidweekMemo/otherGSoutlets
Areyouplanningtorecruitundergraduateresearchstudentsfor Summerand/orFall2025?LetCOURhelp!
Undergraduatestudentsareofteninterestedinresearchbutdon'tknowhowtogoabout findingaresearchmentor Tothisend,COURwouldliketoprovidestudentsalistoffaculty currentlyrecruitingundergraduateresearchstudentsonourwebsitetofacilitatethesearchfor researchexperiences
IfyouareinterestedinrecruitingundergraduateresearchstudentsinSummerand/orFall2025, pleasecompletetheUndergraduateResearchRecruitmentForm.Ifyouhavemultipleprojects youarerecruitingstudentsfor,pleasesubmitmultipleforms.
Theinformationfromthisformwillbeusedtocreatealistofpotentialfacultymembersand researchareas/projectsavailableontheCOURwebsiteavailabletostudentspriorto registrationinMarch.
PleasedirectanyquestionstoHeatherJoesting(hjoesting@georgiasouthern.edu).
TRAINING OPPORTUNITES
TrainingopportunitiesinHighImpactPractices(HIPS):
UnderstandingandFosteringHIPSinyourClassroom(Option2)
WednesdayFebruary12,4:00pm-5:00pm,zoom.
Register:https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?
EQBCT=b0ab6c74104f4e4181a1bcbc55e42230
Discovery,Innovation,andSTEMCreationforUndergraduateScholarsandtheirSuccess (DISCUSS)
WednesdayFebruary19,1:00om-2:00pm,sitesync.
Register:https://appsmartsheetcom/b/publish?
EQBCT=b0ab6c74104f4e4181a1bcbc55e42230
COSMLunch&LearnSeries
We’reexcitedtoannouncethattheCOSMLunch&LearnSeriesisback!Thesesessionsprovidea spaceforCOSMfacultytocometogethertoshareeffectiveteachingstrategies,troubleshoot challenges,andexplorenewperspectivesonteachingpedagogy.
Co-ledbyMrs.EricaHillsnipe(Physics)andDr.LorenMathews(Biology),thisseriesispartofthe HowardHughesMedicalInstitute(HHMI)InclusiveExcellence3LearningCommunity(IE3LC) Grantandisco-sponsoredbytheFacultyCenter.
Spring2025Lunch&LearnDates:
Tuesday,February11
11:30-12:30pm
Statesboro:ConeHall,Room2029
Armstrong:SolmsHall,Room207
Friday,March28
LocationTBD
Monday,May12
LocationTBD
Weencouragefacultyto:
RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
RequestforNominations:GeorgiaSouthernPresidentialResearchDoctoral Fellowship Program
GeorgiaSouthernUniversityispleasedtoinvitenominationsforthePresidentialResearchDoctoral Fellowship Program,aninitiativedesignedtoattractandsupportexceptionaldoctoralstudents, bothnewandcurrent,who demonstratethepotentialforleadershipandexcellenceintheir respectivefieldsofstudy
Thisfellowshipoffersapremiumgraduatestipend($32Kannually);comprehensivebenefits includingtuition coverage;healthinsurance;andupto$3,500infundingfortravel,research,or publicationexpensesannually.The awardisrenewableforuptothreeconsecutiveyears, contingentuponmeetingtheprogram'sacademicand researchperformancerequirements.
KeyGoalsofthePresidentialDoctoralFellowship
1. RewardingExcellenceinCurrentGraduateStudents:Recognizeandsupportoutstanding graduate studentscurrentlyenrolledindoctoralprograms,furtherfosteringtheiracademic andprofessional development.
RecruitmentofExceptionalNewGraduateStudents:Attracthigh-caliberdoctoralcandidates toGeorgia Southern.
2. EligibilityCriteria
TobeeligibleforthePresidentialDoctoralFellowship,applicantsmustmeetthefollowingcriteria: Beafull-timedoctoralstudentingoodstandingatGeorgiaSouthernoranewlyadmitted doctoralstudent (note:fullyonlinestudentsarenoteligible).
Havestrongpotentialforresearchexcellenceanddemonstratedrecordofacademic achievement
FellowshipBenefits
PresidentialDoctoralFellowswillreceive: Apremiumgraduatestipend($32K/annually)tosupporttheirstudiesandresearch Fulltuitioncoverageforthedurationofthefellowship. Healthinsurancebenefits.
Upto$3,500fortravel,research,orpublicationexpenseseachyear.
FellowshipRequirements
Toremainingoodstandingandretainthefellowship,PresidentialDoctoralFellowsmust:
1. Co-authoranexternalresearchgrantinthesecondyearofthefellowship. 2. MaintainaGPAof35orhigherthroughoutthefellowshipperiod 3 Bewillingtoallowtheuniversitytopublicizethefellowshipawardandanyresearchfunded throughit. 4.
PublishinaQ1/Q2researchjournalasfirstauthoreachyearofthefellowship.(Forfirstyear graduatestudentsapublicationisnotrequired,butthestudentmustdemonstratethatthey areontracktomeet thisrequirementinyeartwo)
AttendeventstorepresentthePresidentialDoctoralFellowsandtheuniversity,asneeded. 5.
NominationProcess
ForNewStudents:1.
Apersonalstatement(limittwopages)detailingthestudents’researchinterests, academicbackground,andgoalsforthefuture.
Acopyoftheiracademictranscripts
Evidenceofresearchproductivity(eg,publications,conferencepresentations,research projects)
AletterofnominationfromaGeorgiaSouthernfacultymember.Thefacultymember shouldexplainwhytheybelievethestudentiswell-suitedforthisfellowshipanddiscuss thementor'sroleinensuringthestudent'ssuccessinmeetingtheprogram'srigorous academicandresearchstandards.
2.ForCurrentStudents:
AcurrentacademictranscriptshowingacumulativeGPAof3.5orhigher.
Astatementofpurpose(limittwopages)outliningtheirresearchachievementstodateand futuregoals
Evidenceofresearchproductivity(eg,publications,conferencepresentations,research projects).
AletterofnominationfromaGeorgiaSouthernfacultymember.Thefacultymembershould explainwhytheybelievethestudentiswell-suitedforthisfellowshipanddiscussthementor's roleinensuringthestudent'ssuccessinmeetingtheprogram'srigorousacademicand research standards.
ApplicationsforthePresidentialDoctoralFellowshipmustbesubmittedelectronicallythroughthe InfoReady platform APPLYHERE!
Deadline
AllnominationandsupportingmaterialsmustbereceivedbyMarch1st.
Foradditionalinformationorquestions,pleasecontactresdev@georgiasouthern.edu
BlackHistoryMonthSpotlight:St.ElmoBrady
St.ElmoBrady,thefirstAfricanAmericantoearnaPh.D.inchemistry, is being honored by the AmericanChemicalSocietywithaNationalHistoricChemicalLandmark Beyondhisgroundbreaking achievementin1916attheUniversityofIllinois,Urbana-Champaign,Bradymadelastingcontributions tothefieldbydevelopingchemistryprograms,faculty,andfacilitiesatfourmajorhistoricallyBlack colleges and universities (HBCUs): Tuskegee University, Howard University, Fisk University, and TougalooCollege.HismentorshipshapedmultiplegenerationsofBlackchemists,leavingaprofound legacyinscienceeducation.
Evenafterretiringin1952,Bradycontinuedtosupportchemistryeducation,workingwitheducatorsat TougalooCollegetostrengthenitsprogram.HelatersettledinWashington,D.C.,wherehepassed awayin1966.Hisenduringinfluenceisnowcommemoratedthroughthislandmarkdesignationatthe institutionswherehemadehisgreatestimpact.
LearnmoreaboutSt.ElmoBrady
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS