UPDATES FROM THE DEAN
As we approach Spring Break, I hope everyone is preparing for a restful and rejuvenating break. I personally look forward to some time off to recharge and work on my vintage pickup truck! Here areafewimportantupdates:
COSMStrategicPlanning
The strategic planning committee has convened and initiated preliminary work on the next COSM Strategic Plan. We are considering a unique two-year plan, rather than the traditional five-year model, to enhance our adaptability in the current dynamic environment. The committee aims to finalizeadraftplanbytheendofthissemester.
ResearchExcellenceRecognitions
WehaveupdatedthedatafortheCOSMResearchExcellenceRecognitionprogram,incorporating information from Google Scholar and awaiting final grant data from the Office of Research We anticipateannouncingthisyear’srecipientsinearlyApril Pleasenotethatthelifetimeachievement awards will be presented to a smaller group this year, recognizing only those faculty who have advanced to a higher recognition category. For example, faculty whose citations have exceeded the5,000thresholdwillberecognized.
Fall2025Enrollment
TheUniversity’senrollmenttargetforFall2025is28,000studentsoverall,withatargetof5,450new freshmen The COSM leadership team is actively preparing for this growth We have allocated resourcesforvisitinginstructorsandadditionalGraduateTeachingAssistants(GTAs)aspartofour plan,alongwiththethreenewmathematicspositionstosupportthisexpansion.
For COSM, we are planning to build on the tremendous growth we experienced last fall where the final numbers show more than 10% growth in student headcount in our programs - 1,624 studentsinfall2024ascomparedto1,473infall2023.Atthemoment,thenumberofadmitted freshman students for COSM programs is up by 24.2% for fall 2025. The department chairs are workingonstrategiestohelpincreasethenumberofthesestudentsthatenrollforthefall.AndI knowmanyoftheCOSMfacultyareengagedinavarietyofinitiatives.Pleasekeepupthework and thank you!!! All signs currently point towards a larger COSM freshman class again this comingfall.
COSMBudget
TheleadershipteamandIhavebeenworkingonend-of-yearprojects.Wehaveapprovedseveral purchasesandexpecttoauthorizeanotherroundinthecomingweeks,pendingthefinalsummer instructional budget. We are continuously refining our budget strategies to align with the new budget model. I have requested that department chairs present their needs to the full leadership teamfordiscussionandreviewpriortofinaldecisions.Recently,eachdepartmentchairpresented their priority projects for end-of-year funding and requests for 2024-2025 visiting instructors. Next week,theywillpresenttheirdepartmentalneedsforpermanentfacultylines.Whilewedonothave new lines at this time, we will evaluate existing vacancies to address the College’s most pressing needs. This process will also prepare COSM for the University’s budget request process, which beginsinthefall.
STEAMBasecamp
Our STEAM Basecamp program will expand to include the College of Arts and Humanities, the CollegeofBehavioralandSocialSciences,andthePaulsonCollegeofEngineeringandComputing forFall2025.Thisprogramaimstoprovideadditionalresourcestoincomingfreshmentoimprove retentionandgraduationrates.ThetargetenrollmentforFall2025is125students.Representatives from each COSM department are involved in the program to support the expected 50 incoming COSMfreshmenparticipants.
COSMBylawsandManual
Two listening sessions have been scheduled to discuss the updated COSM Bylaws and ManualMarch 13th at 2 PM and March 14th at 9:30 AM Please make plans to attend one of the sessions Additionally, the Faculty Governance Committee continues to review the Appendix to the Bylaws andManual.Wehopetohaveadraftversionforreviewbytheendofthemonth.
Thank you for your continued focus on student success, academic excellence, and research & discovery.
Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcerns,pleasereachouttomeatanytime.
Sincerely
Mike
PHD FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY
TheCollegeofScienceandMathematicsinvitesstudentsintheEnvironmentalSciencePh.D. programatGeorgiaSouthernUniversitytoapplyforaone-year$30,000graduateresearch fellowshiptosupporttheirdissertationresearchefforts
Onefellowshipwillbeawardedforthe2025-2026academicyearonacompetitivebasisand willconsistofthe$30,000stipendandatuitionwaiver.
Eligibility
StudentsinthePhDEnvironmentalScienceprogramwhoareingoodacademicstandinginthe JackN.AverittCollegeofGraduateStudiesareeligible.
Criteria
ApplicationswillbeevaluatedbytheEnvironmentalScienceGraduateAdmissionsCommittee accordingtothefollowingcriteria:
Feasibilityoftheproject.
Evidencethattheproposedprojectcanbecompletedorasignificantamountofprogress canbemadeduringtheoneyearfellowshipperiod.
Clarityandpersuasivenessoftheproposal(applicantsshouldkeepinmindthatthe proposalswillbeevaluatedbyfacultyfromoutsidetheapplicant’sdiscipline) Plansfordisseminatingtheresultsoftheresearch.
Theimportanceofthesupportfortheapplicant’scompletionoftheirdegree.
DeadlineandSubmissionProcess
Completedapplicationsshouldbesubmittedonlineusingtheformfoundherenolaterthan 11:59p.m.onMarch31,2025.
INTERIM ASSOC DEAN FOR RESEARCH
TheDean'sofficeisconductinganinternalsearchforanInterimAssociateDeanforResearch.This isaone-yearpositionaswedevelopalongtermplanfortherole.Theattacheddocumentoutlines therolesandresponsibilitiesfortheposition.
Role: Provide leadership and administrative support for the research operations in the College of Science and Mathematics; Assist with and lead efforts to expand research productivity, especially externally funded research as part of GSU’s Soaring to Research Excellence plan; serve as an integralpartoftheCOSMleadershipteam
Campus: Must have a sustained and functioning presence on both Armstrong and Statesboro campusestosupportresearchactivefacultyandresearchoperationsintheCollege.
Workload:70%administration,10%research,and20%teaching
ResearchAdministrativeDuties:
RepresentCOSMintheResearchAssociateDean’smeetingswiththeOfficeofResearch. Developandadministerinternalresearchgrantsthatsupportfacultyandstudentresearch.
Serve as the signature authority for grants submissions from COSM faculty – approves Institutional Commitment Forms, reviews & approves grants and contracts, and other associatedduties.
Gather,analyze,andreportdatarelatedtotheCOSMresearchoperations.
OverseetheAdminFellowforUndergraduateResearchandtheCOSMOfficeofUndergraduate Research
Develop and implement initiatives to support and expand faculty and student research operationsinCOSM
Prepare and submit as PI and/or coPI external grant proposals that, when funded, will expand andenhanceresearchinCOSM.
Work closely with the COSM Faculty Research Council and COSM faculty to develop and administeraCOSMResearchStrategicPlan.
OverseetheCOSMCoreResearchLab(s)
Provideguidancetocenterandinstitutedirectorsinresearch-relatedareas.
Otherdutiesasassigned
OtherAdministrativeDuties:
ServeontheCOSMCouncil
Assist with COSM Strategic Planning Committee and data collection related to the strategic plan
Applications are due Friday, March 21st by 5 PM Please submit a letter of application and an updatedCV Inyourletterofapplication,pleasedetailyourexperiencesthathavepreparedyoufor thisinterimAssociateDeanposition
Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecontactDeanHuggins directlyatmhuggins@georgiasouthern.edu.
FACULTY/STAFF SPOTLIGHT
The 2025 Stone Distinguished Lecture was a great success, featuring Dr. Robert Kanigel and his thought-provoking talk, "Beethoven, Darwin, Alexander the Great, and Ramanujan? A Mathematical Genius and What HeMeanstoUsToday. "
Robert Kanigel, an acclaimed biographer, science writer, and historian, has spent his career bringing to life the stories of scientificandintellectualpioneers. His lecture engaged a captivated audience, with over 208 students inattendance.
Congrats to PI Dr. Rocio Perez (BCP) and Co-PIs Dr. Jianzhou He (BCP) and Dr. Stetson Rowles (Civil Engineering & Construction) on securing a U.S. DepartmentofDefensegrant!
This funding supports two PhD and one MS student in developing a greener, costeffective way to separate fluoropolymers (like Viton & Teflon) from metal powders using ionic liquids (ILs). These tough-todispose materials are key in defense applications.
CongratulationstoDr.ShainazLandge(BCP)onreceivingthe 2025 USG Board of Regents Award for Scholarship of TeachingandLearning Thisprestigiousawardisatestament to her hard work, dedication, expertise and impact as an educator,andthecommitmenttoacademicexcellence.
TheRegents’Awardsrepresentthe highestrecognitionforexcellence inteachingandadvisingwithin theUSG.
COSM EXCELLENCE AWARDS
COSMisexcitedtoannouncethatnominationsarenowopenfortheCOSMAwardsofExcellence.
Nominatedeservingcolleagues/teamsherefromMarch3toApril14.
Formultiplenominations,submitoneformpernomination Individuals/Teamsmayself-nominate Nominatedteamsmustconsistof50%ormoreCOSMstaff/faculty
COSMAwardsofExcellenceinclude:
StaffAwardofExcellence(awardedtoanindividual)
ExcellenceinService(awardedtoanindividual)
ExcellenceinTeaching(awardedtoanindividual)
ExcellenceinResearch(awardedtoanindividual)
COSMCollaborationAward(awardedtoateam)
Contactbkoehler@georgiasouthern.eduwithquestions.
COSM COUR ANNOUCEMENTS
AreyouplanningtorecruitundergraduateresearchstudentsforSummer and/orFall2025?LetCOURhelp!
Undergraduatestudentsareofteninterestedinresearchbutdon'tknowhowtogoaboutfindinga researchmentor Tothisend,COURwouldliketoprovidestudentsalistoffacultycurrentlyrecruiting undergraduateresearchstudentsonourwebsitetofacilitatethesearchforresearchexperiences
IfyouareinterestedinrecruitingundergraduateresearchstudentsinSummerand/orFall2025,please completetheUndergraduateResearchRecruitmentForm.Ifyouhavemultipleprojectsyouare recruitingstudentsfor,pleasesubmitmultipleforms.
Theinformationfromthisformwillbeusedtocreatealistofpotentialfacultymembersandresearch areas/projectsavailableontheCOURwebsiteavailabletostudentspriortoregistrationinMarch.
COURSummerUndergraduateResearchFellowship(SURF)
TheCOSMCollegeofUndergraduateResearch(COUR)invitesapplicationsforthe2025Summer UndergraduateResearchFellowship(SURF) Thisfellowshipisdesignedtoenhanceexperiential learning forstudentsbysupportingundergraduateresearchduringtheFullSummerTerm $4000awardswillbe madetothebestapplicationsandinclude:
$3000stipendfortheundergraduatestudent,withtheexpectationthatthestudentconducts researchwithaCOSMfacultymentorfor25hours/weekfor10weeksduringtheFullSummer Term.
$500summerstipendforthefacultymentor
$500insuppliesorresearchtravel(fundsmaynotbeusedforconferencetravel)
Toqualify,studentsmustbeaCOSMmajorandmentoredbyaCOSMfacultymember.Formore informationandtoviewapplicationinstructions,visithttps://ww2.georgiasouthern.edu/cosm/cour/ andselectthe2025-2026GrantstaboremailDr.HeatherJoestingathjoesting@georgiasouthern.edu. ApplicationsaredueApril14,2025.
PleasedirectanyquestionstoHeatherJoesting(hjoesting@georgiasouthernedu)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Date:April5and6
Location:1503BlandAvenue,POBox8039,Statesboro,GA30460
Phone:912-478-1149
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS