College MeetingMay 7, 2014

College of Engineering, Forestry & Natural Sciences

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Tenure and/or Promotions

Biological Sciences• Neil Cobb – Research Professor• Brett Dickson – Associate Research Professor• Pauline Entin – Professor

Civil Engineering, Construction Management & Environmental Engineering• John Tingerthal – Associate Professor with tenure

2

Tenure and/or Promotions

Electrical Engineering & Computer Science• John Georgas – Associate Professor with tenure

Earth Sciences & Environmental Sustainability• Erik Nielsen – Associate Professor with tenure

Mathematics & Statistics• Elise Kennedy – Senior Lecturer• Nándor Sieben - Professor

3

Tenure and/or Promotions

Mechanical Engineering• Bryan Coopperrider – Associate Professor of Practice• Heidi Feigenbaum – Associate Professor with tenure• Brent Nelson – Associate Professor with tenure

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Retirements

Sally Evans25 years

Center for Ecosystem Science & Society

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Retirements

Dr. Michael Ketterer15 years

Chemistry & Biochemistry

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Retirements

Dr. John Wettaw47 years

Chemistry & Biochemistry

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Retirements

Dr. Craig A. Roberts15 years

Civil & Environmental Engineering

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Retirements

Cynthia Lee Rose11 years

Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals

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Retirements

Dr. Stephen E. Wilson34 years

Mathematics & Statistics

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Chair Transitions

Chemistry & Biochemistry• Marin Robinson (2009- 2014)• Ed Civitello (begins July 1, 2014)

Mathematics & Statistics• Terry Blows (2011-2014)• Mike Falk (begins July 1, 2014)

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Some RecognitionsPresident’s Award• Bruce Fox – Forestry

CEFNS Teacher of the Year• Tad Theimer – Biological Sciences

Goldwater Scholars• River Black – Biomedical Science• Cedar Mitchell - Microbiology

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The only constant is change!

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Student Services Expansion and Changes• Program Coordinator Sr. – Kathryn Sherer• Additional Advisors: Provost authorized two new

advisors summer 2013– Lourdes Giovani – full time Biology– Barbara Mendez – full time Engineering (EE/CS)

• Advisor CHM/P&A/Math – Tomantha Horseherder• New Position: Scholarships and Development -

Kelley Horn• Program Coordinator for Recruitment and

Retention (75%) – Jennifer Johnson14

Departmental Staff Expansion

CEFNS funded three new part-time Administrative Assistants • Chem. & Biochem. (Jeannette Thompson)• Physics and Astronomy (Vanessa Bowden)• Engineering Programs (Kimberly Coyle-Pohs)

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Tenured/Tenure-Track Searches

Searches during the upcoming academic year:

• Biological Sciences (physiology)• Chemistry & Biochemistry (analytical)• Civil Engineering (transportation)• Earth Science & Environmental Sustainability (water &

food; 0.49FTE in SESES and 0.51 FTE in SBS Sustainable Communities)

• Electrical Engineering (tbd)• Mathematics & Statistics (statistics; big data)

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Increase Research Expenditures

Carnegie High Research status

VP for Research• Senior Hires• Informatics• Research Centers

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Senior Faculty Hires Update

Michelle Mack, ProfessorDepartment of BiologyUniversity of Florida

Ted Schuur, ProfessorDepartment of BiologyUniversity of Florida

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Informatics Update

Goals:• Develop a productive research program in

informatics that supports NAU’s High Research status.

• Develop academic programs in the future after the research program is secure.

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Informatics Update

Original plan• Hire two senior faculty (both external)

one of whom would serve as Director of the Informatics Program

• Hire a few junior faculty/research faculty• Program and associated faculty would

report directly to the Dean of CEFNS

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A University program; not associated with a department.

Informatics Update

Original plan• Establish a computer cluster to support

informatics/big data research• Hire a cluster operator• Provide funds for administrative support

and operations

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Informatics Update

Current plan• Appoint a Director and an Associate Director

(both internal) of the Informatics & Computing Program (Director search underway)

• Tenure-track Assistant Professor Slava Fofanov hired March 2014 (bio-statistician)

• Hire two 0.5FTE tenure-track & 0.5FTE soft money Assistant Professors

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Informatics Update

Current plan• Program and associated faculty would report

directly to the Dean of CEFNS but have a department affiliation• A computer cluster (Monsoon) to support

informatics/big data research has been established• Cluster operator in place (Chris Coffey)• Provide funds for administrative support and

operations 23

New Centers

Landscape Conservation Initiative• Tom Sisk, SESES

Institute for Sustainable Energy Solutions• Tom Acker, Mechanical Engineering

Center for Ecosystem Science & Society• Bruce Hungate, Biological Sciences

Center for Bioengineering Innovation• Kiisa Nishikawa, Biological Sciences

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CEFNS Grant Programs Updates

Travel Grants AY14Spring ’14 $23,720.50 awarded, 30 applications, 25 fundedFall ’13 $15,919.00 awarded, 17 applications, 13 funded

Grant Writing Awards (new)AY 13/14 $20,974 awarded, 3 applications, 2 awards of one month (21 days) summer salary each

Lucking Family Faculty Awards May 2013 $8,174 awarded, 10 applications, 2 awards for education enhancementsMay 2014 $10,926 awarded, 11 applications, 2 awards for

research enhancements25

Performance Metrics

Those that apply to CEFNS . . .

• Student course completion• Number of students graduated• Research Expenditures

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Performance MetricsNumber of CEFNS students graduated

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2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

440 458519

661

905

1191Graduation numbers (unofficial)

Approximately 900 students set to

graduate this Friday

Performance Metrics

The quality of the education we provide is important to all of us.

Remain dedicated to our students and the excellence of the NAU experience.

This is NAU’s Grand Challenge!

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Performance Metrics

Research Funding Awarded

July 1, 2013 – Jan. 31, 2014 (previous equiv. period)

• Direct Costs: $8,433,342 ($8,714,280; -3.2%)• Indirect Costs: $2,064,549 ($2,266,537; -8.9%)

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Fundraising Update

Gifts and pledges received

July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013 (12 mo.)$2,643,991.28

July 1, 2013-March 31, 2014 (9 mo.)$3,345,256.54

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Health and Science Building Update• On schedule for move in mid-summer 2015

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Student & Academic Services Building

• New home for Lumberjack Math Center• Location on central transit spine near San

Francisco Parking Garage• Open January 2016 (tentative)

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CEFNS Rebranding Project

Goal• Establish a national identity for CEFNS

based on its externally recognized strengths

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CEFNS Rebranding Project

• University AdvancementoMarketing Department (Sandra Kowalski)

Move rebranding from University level to College level

CEFNS approached as first College to participate

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CEFNS Rebranding Project

Progress to date• Consulting firms have submitted bids

and selection process is underway• Work will begin this summer

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