Director's Office

Director's Report & Announcements

This page is updated approximately every two weeks with reports from the Director's Office to Science Planning Committee and the Science Center community. For additional clarification or guidance, please contact Al Curran Acurran@email.smith.edu during Tom Litwin's Research Leave.

April 21, 2008

Chemistry Lab incident
At 11 pm on April 14, a waste bottle used for disposal of a nitric acid cleaning solution exploded in SR 328. There were no injuries and no fire, but a part of the lab was contaminated. A student studying in the lab immediately exited the lab and called x800 – Public Safety, using the hall phone. This was precisely the right response. Public Safety personnel initiated evacuation of Sabin-Reed and Burton halls and called the Northampton Fire Department, which responded quickly. Ultimately, the regional HazMat team was called in, the contaminants were neutralized, and the college’s contractual hazmat cleanup team cleaned the lab in time for Burton and Sabin-Reed to open for normal morning activities.

Smith College issued a press release early in the morning of April 15 describing the event, and the story was widely carried by the local media. Dr. Margaret Rakas, the Chemical Hygiene Officer for Smith College, prepared a detailed report on the incident. Copies are on file in the Director’s Office. A debriefing meeting to discuss all aspects of the incident will be held on April 22nd. Dr. Rakas and the Director’s Office will continue to work closely with all of the college’s science departments to ensure that maximum levels of safety in the use of chemicals are met throughout the Clark Science Center complex.

Security – reminder
All students, faculty, and staff are reminded that the general rule is to call Public Safety at x800 whenever suspicious activities or circumstances are observed within the Clark Science Center complex. During the normal working hours for the complex, personnel in the Science Center main office (Burton 115) and/or the Director’s Office (Burton 117) should also be notified.

Miscellaneous
The activities of committees and the various planning projects outlined in earlier director reports as below remain active.

April 7, 2008

Summer Research – Smith SURF Program
Today, Christian Lagier sent out formal award letters to all students funded for 2008 SURF awards. The letters include stipend terms and conditions and an acceptance form to be completed and returned to the Science Center main office by May 1, 2008.

REMINDER: the SURF kick-off event will be held this Friday, April 11, at noon in the McConnell Foyer. There will be a free luncheon, and all SURF students and their faculty advisers are invited. More information will be given about the SURF program, and students will have the opportunity to ask questions and will be invited to participate in organizing a SURF-sponsored summer events program, to be coordinated by Heather McQueen (Science Center main office, Burton 115). Ideas for events and/or speakers are welcome from both students and sponsoring faculty members and can be submitted to Heather in person or via phone (x3803) or email (hmcqueen@email.smith.edu).

Space requests update
We have received several space needs requests for AY 2008-09. Christian Lagier and I are working now to fill space requirements to the fullest extent possible. We would greatly appreciate receiving information from department and program chairs and directors about space vacancies that could be made available for short-term use by others during AY 2008-09. Any outstanding space requests for next year should be forwarded to the Director’s Office asap.

Goldwater awards
I am pleased to announce that two Smith students have received Goldwater Scholar awards: Emma Louise Schlatter, Mathematics major, Class of 2010, sponsored by Chris Gole, Jim Henle, Elizabeth Denne, and David Cohen and Kristin M. Tyler, double major in Mathematics and Psychology, Class of 2009, sponsored by Mary Harrington and Nick Horton. Congratulations to Emma and Kristin!

Admission Tours
Christian Lagier will be leading admissions tours of the Clark Science Center on Thursday and Friday, April 10 and 11, for high school students admitted to Smith College. This is an important event for both the Admissions Office and Clark Science Center.

The activities of committees and the various planning projects outlined in earlier director reports as below remain active.

March 25, 2008

Summer Research-Smith SURF Program

A total of 104 students have been offered summer-stipend support from the Smith College 2008 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. This total includes 8 grad students, 8 graduating seniors, and 2 Beckman Scholars: Susy Ramos, 2009 Chemistry major & Neuroscience minor, sponsored by Michael Barresi and Sarah Anne Kam, 2009 Biological Sciences major & Mathematics minor, sponsored by Adam Hall. Christian Lagier managed the applications process, and award notifications were sent by email to all applicants and their faculty sponsors on March 13 and 14. Before April 11th, the applicants will receive a formal award letter with stipend terms and conditions and an acceptance form to be completed and returned to the Science Center main office.

A SURF kick-off event will be held at noon on Friday, April 11, in the McConnell Foyer. There will be a free luncheon, and all SURF students and their faculty advisers are invited. At this gathering, more information will be given about the SURF program, and students will have the opportunity to ask questions and will be invited to participate in organizing a SURF-sponsored summer events program, to be coordinated by Heather McQueen (Science Center main office, Burton 115). Ideas for events and/or speakers are welcome and can be submitted to Heather in person or via phone (x3803) or email (hmcqueen@email.smith.edu).

Space requests

At the March 6th Science Planning meeting, it was recommended that the deadline for department chairs and program directors to make space requests for academic year 2008-09 to the Director’s Office be moved up from May 1st to April 1st. Accordingly, chairs and program directors are urged to make their requests as early as possible to Christian Lagier. We also would greatly appreciate receiving information about space vacancies that could be made available for use by others during AY 2008-09.

Miscellaneous

Spring break week was generally quiet, but expect activity to pick up considerably with the end of the semester push. Christian Lagier has been away to Denmark on personal leave, and he is expected to return on Friday, March 28. The activities of committees and various planning projects outlined in previous director reports as below remain active.

March 4, 2008

As of March 1, Al Curran is Interim Director of the Clark Science Center. Past activities outlined below remain active.

February 20, 2008

T. Litwin Research Leave

After two years of planning, I am pleased to report that I will begin a two-part research leave, March 1 - August 31, 2008 and February 1-August 31, 2009. The two part approach is to accommodate two Bering Sea pack ice seasons. With support from the Natalie Peters-Webster Trust and North Pacific Research Board, I will undertake the International Polar Year sponsored project, Thin Ice: An Exploration of the Bering Sea at the Dawn of Global Warming. The project will begin in earnest this March when I join an international research team aboard the US Coast Guard Ice Breaker Healy bound for the Bering Strait.

Al Curran and Peter deVilliers have graciously agree to serve as acting Science Center Directors in my absence (Al -- March 1-June 30, 2008; Peter – June 30-August 31, 2008 and February 1-August 31, 2009). While Al and Peter will manage daily activities, I will remain involved in the Ford Hall construction project and renovation planning initiative.

Goldwater Scholarships

The applications of Goldwater candidates Aileen Novero ‘09, Kristin Tyler ‘09, Lela Schlenker ‘09, and Emma Schlatter ’10 were submitted in January 2008.

Summer Research - Smith SURF!

At the time of the Summer Research Fellow application deadline, 93 applications had been submitted. This number is in line with previous years at this stage of the process. We have one applicant for a NIST fellowship in the Gaithersburg, MD Lab and one applicant for an international HHMI summer research position.

Sightlines Smith College Building Survey

Tom Litwin and Christian Lagier met with Sightlines representatives to discuss Clark Science Center building and deferred maintenance issues. Infrastructure, Facelift, and renovation needs were presented for incorporation into the campus-wide report. The final Sightlines report is intended to provide the College with a comprehensive picture of building repair and deferred maintenance issues to aid in establishing priorities and budgeting timelines. .

New & Improved! QUICK ADMIN

The Administrative Office Administrative Assistant cluster is now offering QuickAdmin on a trial basis. A team of work-study students selected for their clerical skills will offer faculty and staff additional clerical support. A work study student will be stationed at the QuickAdmin desk in the Administrative Office. For assistance, visit the office or contact QuickAdmin at QuickAdmin@email.smith.edu. See the link www.science.smith.edu/departments/director/index.html ( the Director’s web page) for further details and times. QuickAdmin assistants are prepared to help you with:

Photocopying
Bulletin boards postings
Mailings (labels, mail merge, stuffing envelopes)
Scanning files to PDF or other electronic formats
Sending faxes
Delivering UPS/FedEx items to Central Services
Other similar tasks and clerical jobs

Building 2 Planning Committee

John Davis, Associate Provost and chair has convened the first meeting of the Building 2 Planning Committee. The firm of William Wilson Associated Architects has been retained to assist the committee in evaluating new construction and renovation options. The committee membership includes:

John Davis, Associate Provost and Dean for Academic Development (Chair)
Don Baumer, Professor of Government
Jim Callahan, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics
Bosiljka Glumac, Associate Professor of Geology
Mary Harrington, Tippit Professor in Life Sciences
Virginia Hayssen, Professor of Biological Sciences
Tom Litwin, Director of the Clark Science Center (Al Curran, Acting Director, when Tom is unavailable)
Margaret Rakas, Manager of Inventory & Regulatory Affairs, Clark Science Center
John Robinson, Manager of Capital Projects Kevin Shea, Associate Professor of Chemistry John Shenette, Executive Director of Facilities

December 17, 2007 - Science Center Administration Omnibus Budget Proposal

Download this report as Word Memo

Total onetime funding request: $92,700
Total ongoing budget request: $142,800

As background to what follows, a few basic points will help explain the scale and size of the CSC budget needs.

In 1997-98 the CSC operating budget was $174,606.
10 years later (2007-08), the budget is $196,992.
Taking inflation into account, the equipment maintenance budget (see below) has been essentially flat funded during this period, while 4-6% annual vendor increases has been the norm.
Taking inflation into account, the remainder of the budget has eroded by 39%.
In the same time period, we have found great success in both the sophistication of our student-faculty teaching/research efforts and academic program growth, while the underlying academic support budgets have eroded or have been static. The budget depicted below funds core academic support activities (excluding CATS, IRA, ACF) within 5 buildings, housing 9 academic departments, 4 programs, and approximately 85 faculty and 32% of the college majors.

CSC Main (Org 3571)

As depicted, equipment maintenance & repair budgets are about 80% of the CSC Main Base Budget. A number of factors contribute to this situation, including expanding faculty research, more students conducting increasingly more sophisticated research, an influx of grant-funded equipment, and expensive-to-maintain computerized equipment .

Equipment maintenance (service contracts)
Multiple expensive equipment pieces acquired based on grant funding in recent years are coming off warranty and requires service contracts. Example:

In 2006, the Center for Proteomics acquired a Liquid Chromatography-Couples Mass Spectrometer (LCMS) at an approximate cost of $175,000. This was based on a grant award from NSF to Stan Scordilis (“Acquisition of Proteomics Facilities”). The award (page 11) commits the College to assuming the service contract in February 2008. The cost of the required service contract is $23,000.

Additional needs include:

• Axio Imager and Stereo Lumar, Michael Barresi, $9k
• ABI 310 and 3100 Genetic Analyzers, Center for Molecular Bio-Sciences, $20k
• Spectramax M5, Center for Molecular Bio-Sciences, $7k
• Differential Scanning calorimeter, Center for Molecular Bio-Sciences, $4k
• Real-time PCR system, Center for Molecular Bio-Sciences, $5k (2009)
• Preventative maintenance service for multiple equipment items (e.g. centrifuges), most not serviced for many years, 20k

Request: For FY 08-09, a $88,000 increase over FY 2007-08. We anticipate 4-6% annual expense increases in subsequent years.

Equipment repair

As of November 2007, we have already overspent the annual repair budget after urgent equipment repairs of autoclave ($18k), cold room compressor & 3 freezers ($7k), geology microscopes ($9k) and deionized water system ($5k). Repairs to an aging equipment inventory are increasing.

Request: A $10,000 increase to this line on a recurring basis.

Equipment
The Science Center has more than 45 standard refrigerators and freezers (-4c and -20c). To avoid investment of scarce repair funds and inefficient energy consumption, it is time to replace the oldest units, some of which are more than 30 years old. An energy survey has proven that replacement of many of these fridges/freezers will have a positive pay-back in energy savings in less than 5 years. In addition, the risk of losing expensive supplies and irreplaceable research results due to equipment break-down is now a critical issue. Our goal is to replace the 12 oldest refrigerators and freezers over the next 3 years.

Request: For FY 08-09, one time increase of $10,000, allowing for replacement of approximately 5-6 of the oldest units

Furniture
The scope of the Science Center budget does not include furniture. However, on annual basis we are creating new offices that need outfitting and replacing worn-out/ergonomically sub-standard furniture. We also have a back-log of departmental requests for notice boards and blackboards. These needs are currently handled on an as hoc basis through piecemeal requests to the Provost’s Office.

Request: The creation of a CSC furniture line funded annually at $7,500

Laboratory Supplies: The recently NSF funded Center for Aqueous Geochemistry Research has acquired funding that will require an annual increase in gas supplies, which the College has agreed to assume.

Request: A $5,000 increase to the Laboratory Supplies line, on an annual basis.

INVENTORY & REGULATORY AFFAIRS (Org 3572)

Tissue Culture Suite

Modified biosafety cabinet which would allow the use of a microscope while protective features of the cabinet are operating. This is a critical item for proposed work with Brugia malayi L3 stage larvae (Gates Project).

Request: Onetime 20,000.

Hazardous/biohazardous waste handling

Although we are taking advantage of new Massachusetts waste regulations that permit neutralization of elementary corrosive wastes (essentially acids and bases only) followed by drain disposal, so far we have already spent 90% of the FY07-08 budget amount on hazardous waste containers. Also, proposed new regulations for handling of biomedical waste are expected to go into effect sometime in 2008, with one expected result being that more animal waste (tissues, bodies) will be required to be disposed of via commercial incineration.

Request: A $2,500 increase to this line on an annual basis.

Hazardous waste inspections and laboratory pickup

Time spent on weekly routine lab waste pickups and accumulation inspections is preventing the Chemical Hygiene Officer (0.57fte for the Sciences, Art, Theatre)) from performing detailed laboratory safety inspections, biosafety protocol audits, laser safety inspections, and general safety evaluations work-study students are used for required weekly waste inspections but cannot perform tasks that require annual RCRA training since this is an inappropriate task and risk.

To address this situation, we prose contacting with Clean Harbors who can provide trained chemical technicians through an annual contract based on 4 hrs/week of service.

Request: The creation of a $20,800 line, funded on an annual basis.

Outside benchmarking and updating of the Clark Science Center/Smith College Chemical Hygiene Plan (required by OSHA)

The Chemical Hygiene Plan, last reviewed in 1997, is the cornerstone of a successful safety program and a major revision (plus associated training) is needed to ensure safety in the labs and minimize Smith’s liability. Since 1997 and post 9/11, the chemical hygiene landscape has changed dramatically. With the creation of the Picker Engineering Program, and significant the increase in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Neuroscience Departments faculty and student research, both policy updating and training protocols are required to address the handling of acute toxins, reproductive toxins, and physical hazards. This is a fundamental Health & Safety Program need.

Request: Onetime funding of $10,000 that could be distributed over FY 08-09 and FY 09-10.

Consultant Services for Biosafety, Radiation Safety, and Recombinant DNA protocol development

We anticipate another 3-4 reviews involving the NIH Guidelines during Spring – Fall 2008. In addition we recommend the initiation of a laser safety inspection and laser occupational health review program. To undertake these initiatives, specialized consulting services are required. In addition, the ongoing compliance initiative regarding NIH Recombinant DNA Guidelines requires a Certified Biosafety Professional to review protocols and advise the College’s Biosafety Officer. We anticipate reviews needed of three additional biologists in addition to evaluating and supporting the ongoing programming needs of the Williams Lab/Gates initiative. It is our assessment that theses initiatives are emblematic of what will be an ongoing process of regulatory compliance needs and the programs that provide compliance support.

Request: The creation of a $7,500 line, funded on an annual basis.

ACF – ANIMAL CARE FACILITY (Org 3574)

Update security system

It is essential that the animal facility be secure in the face of changing societal attitudes regarding the use of animals in teaching. The current system was installed in 1997 and is in need of replacement.

Request: Onetime $5,000

Supplies

Since 2002, the annual feed allocation has been $6,200. Concomitantly, annual animal usage has risen from ~900 animals in 2002 to ~4500 in 2006. The 2006 figures do not include the significant additions of the Zebra Fish research initiative, or ongoing amphibian use. Annual use figures are expected to continue rising. The single biggest cost in running an animal care program is “room and board” or per diem costs. The cost of supplies for the program is 5 times the cost from 4 years ago, with no corresponding adjustment in the animal care budget. At the expense of other ACF line items, we transfer funds to the feed line, since the animals must be fed.

Request: Onetime $2,000 to stabilize the line item, with subsequent annual increases of 2-3%.

Animal care use training

To meet and document researcher and IACUC training requirements, institutional animal care programs typically utilize on-line training programs. For the past seven years, the Smith program has been able to use a training system that was free of charge. This service is no longer available and must be replaced right away in order to remain compliant. To meet this need we must now subscribe to a fee-based service.

Request: The creation of a $3,000 line, funded on an annual basis.

Memberships & Accreditation

Memberships and accreditation fees have increased annually. For example AAALAC accreditation has gone from $2300 in 2001, to $3275 in the current year. There has not been a concomitant budget increase to address fee increases.

Request: Onetime funding of $1200, bringing the line item to an annual $4,475.

Equipment (microisolators and changing station)

The equipment line in the animal care budget has not been sufficient to upgrade caging materials as needed. Although a small amount of static microisolator caging has been purchased on an annual basis, there is currently only enough equipment available to house approximately 10% of our animal population under microisolator protection. Microisolator housing requires the use of a portable changing stations or biosafety cabinets which make it possible to open the cages without exposing the animals to unfiltered air. The Smith ACF has no changing stations to support microisolator use.

Request: Onetime funding for additional microisolator caging ($8000) and required changing station ($10,000) for a total of $18,000.

CATS – COMPUTING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES (Org 3579)

Computer classroom support

As the number of computer classrooms has grown in the Science Center, so has the unmet budgetary increases associated with supporting those classrooms. In 2000, CATS was of supporting 75 computers in classrooms and teaching labs. Today, that number has grown to approximately 250 computers. In, addition, funding for Laser printers still reflects the 75 computer number. Since 2000, we have added support of the entire Picker Engineering program and its classroom/lab space, EVS&P’s Spatial Analysis Lab, assumed responsibility for an ITS resource center, increased the number of computers in the Math classrooms, and been called upon to provide printers in all of the spaces CATS now supports. The computers are now used by virtually every department in the Sciences and hence, every student. We now have 152 computers and 10 printers in the public spaces, plus 15 servers.

With each new initiative, the Dean has generously supported the purchase of the new equipment. However, our base budget for replacement and software support has not changed. The only reason we have been able to support this growth has been the steady decline in the cost of computing power. What once cost us $3500 per workstation can now be purchased for under $2000. “Old” computers are cycled around into other uses, including the research labs and chem/bio teaching labs. Still, we are steadily falling behind in the replacement cycle and have no budget whatsoever to replace aging printers.

Request: A onetime increase of $6,000, and a subsequent annual increase of $4,000.

Tape Library Upgrade
The Science Center CATS group regularly backs up data on research computers to guard against catastrophic losses to ongoing research and scholarship. This goes beyond the typical server backup, since the size of data sets can significantly surpass network quotas. As hard disks have grown and research needs have increased, the capacity to back up all that data has not kept up with demand. Equally important, the dated network infrastructure throughout the Science Center can only stream the data from each computer at a very limited rate. Since we are currently limited to backing up only one computer at a time (the current library has only one tape drive), the total amount of time required to rotate through all the workstations has now become untenable for a reliable backup. To address this important, fundamental need, we propose to upgrade the current Spectra Logic 2000 tape library with two new Sony AIT-3 tape drives. We would also purchase an Adic Scalar 100 library (equivalent to the library we now use for server backups) to replace the Spectra Logic.

Request: Onetime funding of $14,460.

Center for Design & Fabrication (Org 3583)

Teaching Lab Materials & Supplies Inventory

With the rapid transformation of the “machine shop” from largely a repair service to an active and busy teaching lab (i.e. the Center for Design & Fabrication, CfDF), these is an acute need for an inventory of raw materials and fasteners. This need is analogous to the teaching supplies inventory that would be required to support any other teaching lab. The current supply inventory reflects that of the “machine shop” era. As the CfDF, the facility now supports:

EGR 100 - Engineering for Everyone
EGR 270 - Continuum Mechanics
EGR 410D - Engineering Design Clinic
PHY 224 - Electronics
PHY 107 - Musical Sound
PHY 100 - Solar Energy and Sustainability
HSC 211 - Perspectives in the History of Science: Ancient Inventions
MTH 227 - Topics in Modern Mathematics

CfDF consumables will be used to serve all of our teaching and research user’s projects. Users come from most every department in the science center, with projects ranging from building research apparatus to supporting class instruction. Stocking an adequate inventory of supplies is the most efficient approach and the one used in any other teaching lab.

Request: Onetime funding of $6,000 to establish a baseline inventory, with subsequent annual funding of $2,000 to replenish inventory.

December 13, 2007

Informal Learning/Common Space Proposals

The proposals to develop McConnell Foyer into an informal learning space and to convert Clark Corner into a student common space have been forwarded from the Provost’s Office to the Senior Administrators, the step before ACRA.

Science Faculty/Science Center ACRA Requests

John Davis, Jim Callahan and Tom Litwin will meet on Wednesday, December 12, to coordinate funding request to ACRA. These requests will be the subject of the December 18th SPC meeting.

Goldwater Scholarships

The SPC has endorsed the Awards Management Committee Goldwater nominees, who are Aileen Novero ‘09, Kristin Tyler ‘09, Lela Schlenker ‘09, and Emma Schlatter ‘10. All four candidates have accepted the nomination.

Science Center Security

College funding has been provided for Blue Light security technology (hand-held direct contact communications units) which the vendor has confirmed is suitable for use by student monitors. Public Safety is moving forward on implementation which will include CSC door monitors. The proposal to install card swipe technology on selected CSC doors has been tabled pending the security technology decisions for Ford Hall. Insuring compatible technologies for all science buildings is the goal.

Report of the Inreach/Outreach Committee

Maria Bickar and Shizuka Hsieh are assuming some of the committee’s leadership responsibilities from Kate Queeney and Laura Katz.
The committee has agreed to change the committee’s name form SCIO to SCCD (Science Center Committee for Diversity) to reflect better the committee’s activities.
Laura Katz and Kate Queeney will be meeting with John Davis to discuss funding for AEMES, peer mentoring, and US2.
This semester's weekly teas and US2 pizza lunch (12/3) were successful, with
faculty and administrative support from Chemistry, Biology, Math, Physics.
Next Diversity Committee meeting to be scheduled in January.

November 29, 2007

Summer Student Research Fellowships

Summer research opportunities and applications will be available prior to the holiday break, the week of 17 December 2007.

Science Center Server Room Grand Opening and Tropical Surprise

What happens when you hit send on your email? Come find out. Please join the CATS for the grand opening of the Science Center Server Room, first floor Bass Hall, at 12:00 noon, Friday, 7 December. Pizza will be served and tours of this state-of –the-art cyber space will be conducted.

As an added bonus, you will be treated to a tropical surprise!

Schalk Lounge Exhibit Project

Working collaboratively with the Advancement Office and members of the Geology Department, the bookcase area of the Schalk Lounge will be renovated and enhanced due to the generosity of an anonymous donor. In addition to more photos of Marshall, a commissioned sculpture of a prairie dog will be added to the exhibit. A rededication is tentatively scheduled for late January 2008.

HHMI 2004 Grant Report

The construction and writing of the 2007 HHMI financial report is underway, due 30 November. This significant undertaking is a collaboration of the Corporate & Foundations Relations Office and the Director’s Office.

Academic Support Assessment Ongoing

In collaboration with Smith Human Resources, the Director’s Office is facilitating the Administrative Assistant cluster’s review of workload and work processes. The purpose of the review is to evaluate best practices and assess the need for additional support resources. Jenny Silver and Sheli Senecal of HR are in the process of interviewing department chairs, CSC administrators, and faculty members.

Women In Science Publication

The 2007 Women in Science, Summer Research Fellowship Program abstract publication is complete and copies are available in the Director’s Office.

Animal Care Facility

Following an external review of Animal Care facility staffing levels by the organizational consultant, Mercury Group, and in collaboration with HR on the development of job descriptions, a request is being advanced through HR, College Hall, and Physical Plant for 1.5 FTEs (full-time employees). The hiring process for a temporary 0.5 FTE is underway.

Center for Design & Fabrication Staffing

Working with HR, we have begun the process of filling the vacant 0.5 FTE Technical Support Specialist/Center for Design Fabrication position. The position remained vacant as an institutional match toward the CfDF Keck proposal. The proposal was not funded and we will fill the vacancy at the 0.5 FTE level in Summer 2008.

Science Center Security

The proposal to install card swipe technology on selected CSC doors has been tabled pending the security technology decisions for Ford Hall. Insuring compatible technologies for all science buildings is the goal.

Tom Litwin has met with Paul Ominsky and Scott Graham of Public Safety to review the role and advisability of using student monitors as a component of Science Center security. Feedback from the Blue Light technology vendor is cautiously optimistic that this technology will work for student monitors, and that a hand-held communications unit may be possible. Public Safety is awaiting approval from the College to proceed with the larger campus initiative.

eProcurement

In the week of 26 November, the eProcurement committee is meeting with two focus groups that will include 12 purchasing systems users representing a cross section of the CSC user community. The goal is to identify issues and needs associated with the purchasing process. Feedback from any member of the community regarding purchasing process needs/issues is welcomed.

Goldwater Scholarship

Five nominees have been submitted, two from Chemistry, two from Mathematics & Statistics, and one from Computer Science. The Awards Management will review the nominee applications and advance the process.

Project Proposal Deadline

The deadline for submitting project proposal outlines emanating from departments is 16 November 2007. Projects in this category typically involve coordination/estimating by Physical Plant and supplemental funding from sources external to the Science Center. This would include projects involving construction/renovation in response to a change in programming or use. For a further explanation of the planning and budgeting timeline, please see the Science Center Sigma Xi presentation (2 October 2007) link Science Center Sigma Xi presentation link on the Director’s Office Homepage. Please understand that a proposed project is not an approved/funded project. Projects that do not meet the 16 November deadline are at a planning and funding disadvantage.

The following three documents represent the work of the Classroom Committee as presented to Science Planning February 2007:

November 5, 2007

HHMI Summer Research Assessment Project

The final report of the qualitative assessment phase of our HHMI sponsored Summer Student Research Program is complete and available on the Director's Office web site under "Academic Assessment". The report, Qualitative Evaluation of the Summer Research Program at Smith College, is intended to inform the development and implementation of a broader survey that will be distributed shortly to 1400 science majors distributed over 14 classes of Smith graduates. The project plan was developed in collaboration with Elaine Seymour, Center to Advance Research & Teaching in the Social Sciences, UC Boulder, and David Lapatto, Department of Psychology, Grinnell College. Along with Smith College, both are heavily involved with HHMI in undergraduate science education assessment. With Dr. Seymour’s retirement, the qualitative project was taken over by Liane Pederson-Gallegos.
With completion of the qualitative phase, the project’s center of gravity will move to Smith (Science Center and Institutional Reach) and David Lapatto’s program. Our results will be an anonymous element of Lapatto’s national initiative.

Biosafety Review

An external review of the Clark Science Center Biosafety Program has been recently completed by Ben Fontes, MPH, CBSP, Biosafety Officer and Manager of Yale’s Safety Advisory Program. The report has helped us identify improvements in lab safety management, training programming, and Biosafety Committee processes.

Regulatory Compliance

The College regulatory compliance committee has been meeting since September to review the College’s oversight responsibilities relating primarily to the management, regulatory compliance, and auditing of extramural grants. The committee is comprised of Georgia Yuan (General Counsel), John Davis (Associate Provost), Rick Myers (Director of Finance), Emily Robinson (Sponsored Research) and Tom Litwin (Science Center). In response to the review, the Grant Processing Form is being revised and will be reviewed by the Sponsored Research Advisory Committee.

Science Planning Meeting Preparation

Marc Cammarota, renovation/construction consultant, will attend the 29 November Science Planning meeting. Marc will review drawings that illustrate space vacated in response to Ford Hall construction and the current locations of space usage for those not moving to Ford hall.

HHMI 2004 Grant Report

The construction and writing of the 2007 HHMI financial report is underway, due 19 November. This significant undertaking is a collaboration of the Corporate & Foundations Relations Office and the Director’s Office.

Center for Design & Fabrication Staffing

Working with HR, we have begun the process of filling the vacant 0.05 fte Technical Support Specialist/Center for Design Fabrication position. The position remained vacant as an institutional match toward the CfDF Keck proposal. The proposal was not funded and we will fill the vacancy at the0.5fte level.

Academic Support Assessment Ongoing

In collaboration with Smith Human Resources, the Director’s Office is facilitating the Administrative Assistant cluster’s review of workload and work processes. The purpose of the review is to evaluate best practices and assess the need for additional ftes. Jenny Silver and Sheli Senecal of HR will be interviewing the administrative assistants on November 5, 6, 7.

Women In Science Publication

The 2007 Women in Science, Summer Research Fellowship Program abstract publication is soon ready for press.

Animal Care Facility Staffing

Following an external review of Animal Care facility staffing levels by the organizational consultant, Mercury Group, and in collaboration with HR on the development of job descriptions, a request is being advanced through HR, College Hall, and Physical Plant for 1.5ftes. A temporary 0.5 fte will be requested to bridge the permanent hiring discussion.

Science Center Security

eProcurement

The eProcurement committee has selected a systems consultant who will act as a staff person to the committee, assisting in elements of the development and implementation of an electronic stockroom purchasing system. Jeremy Dunn, systems consultant, has been retained and has begun meeting with the committee to review software products. Bill Sheehan (co-chair), Christian Lagier (co-chair), Margaret Rakas, Eric Brewer, Heather Garbacik comprise the committee. The committee is preparing further plans and notifications for publication and invitation of feedback.

Goldwater Scholarship

Four nominees have been submitted, two from Chemistry, one from Mathematics & Statistics, and one from Computer Science. The Awards Management will review the nominee applications and advance the process.

Project Proposal Deadline

The following three documents represent the work of the Classroom Committee as presented to Science Planning February 2007:

For additional clarification or guidance regarding administrative processes, please contact Tom Litwin, Tlitwin@smith.edu

October 23, 2007

Science Center Holiday Party - Hold the date!

The Science Center Holiday Party for staff and faculty will be held on 17 December 2007, at the College Club, 2:30-4:30PM. Please join us in celebrating the season and the semester’s accomplishments.

Academic Support Assessment
In collaboration with Smith Human Resources, the Director’s Office is facilitating a review of workload and requirements related to the Administrative Assistant cluster of the Science Center. The purpose of the review is to clarify extent of workload relative to resources and gain understanding of unmet departmental support needs. In the coming weeks Jenny Silver and Sheli Senecal of HR will be discussing job descriptions with the Administrative Assistants and seeking their input and impressions regarding workload. In addition, we will be conducting interviews with current and past department chairs and a selection of staff and faculty members. Any one wishing to be included in the interviews should contact me.

Staffing Increase in the Animal Care Facility
Following an external review of Animal Care facility staffing levels by the organizational consultant, Mercury Group, and in collaboration with HR on the development of job descriptions, a request is being advanced through HR, College Hall, and Physical Plant for 1.5ftes (0.5fte for administrative/compliance assistance, 1.0fte for a 3rd Animal care Technologist).

HHMI 2008 Application Submitted
The HHMI 2008 Undergraduate Science Program proposal has been submitted, complete and on time. Congratulations to all who helped bring to fruition this complicated and complex initiative. We will learn the outcome in May 2008.

NSF Large Equipment Applications
Two active NSF MRI proposals are moving forward (one from Biology, one from Chemistry). A query was made regarding a 3rd proposal, but it will not move forward at this time. Since we can submit two proposals, and we have two proposals, the selection issue has resolved itself and Alan Bloomgarden will begin working with the applicants on proposal development.

Door Monitor Safety
Tom Litwin has met with Paul Ominsky and Scott Graham of Public Safety to review the role and advisability of using student monitors as a component of Science Center security. To provide on duty students with immediate Public Safety contact, we are researching the application of existing Simplex alarm system technology and/or the application of new Blue Light technology at the monitoring stations. We are also investigating the feasibility of instituting a “buddy” system, i.e. two door monitors on duty, which is contingent on student availability and work study funding.

eProcurement Project Continues
The College has funded a continuation of the eProcurement project. The e-Procurement committee is developing a plan and budget for implementation of a software solution and process improvements. The plan and other progress will be posted on the Director’s Office web site. Faculty and staff will be invited to participate in a focus group to help validate key decisions made and ultimately hands-on trials of selected solution options.

Goldwater Reminder
Department nominations are due in the Director’s Office 2 November 2007. Details and process are available through a link on the Director’s page, see: http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/director , Goldwater Page. GPA lists have been provided to Science Planning reps and department chairs. Please keep in mind that the GPA cut-off list provided may not list a student who is demonstrating progress in the current semester.

Project Proposal Deadline
The deadline for submitting project proposal outlines (funding requests) emanating from departments is 16 November 2007. Projects in this category typically involve infrastructure or coordination/estimating by Physical Plant and supplemental funding from sources external to the Science Center. This would include projects involving construction/renovation in response to a change in programming, or equipment purchases (new or replacement). For a further explanation of the planning and budgeting timeline, please see the Science Center Sigma Xi presentation (2 October 2007) link Science Center Sigma Xi presentation link on the Director’s Office Homepage. Please understand that a proposed project is not an approved/funded project. Projects that do not meet the 16 November deadline are at a planning and funding disadvantage.

The following three documents represent the work of the Classroom Committee as presented to Science Planning February 2007:

Sub-committee reports

Sponsored Research

Bob Merritt (chair), Laura Katz, and Phil Peak have held their first meeting. The committee’s first goal is to review how sponsored research at the divisional level is administrated at peer institutions.

Awards Management

Mary Harrington has agreed to join Jim Callahan and Tom Litwin (chair) on the committee. The first effort will be to review and select Goldwater nominees for presentation to Science Planning.

Inreach/Outreach

The committee will meet Monday, 29 October to organize the 2007-08 agenda. Current committee members include, Biology - Laura Katz, Chemistry - Kate Queeny (chair), Maria Bickar, Computer Science - Nicholas Howe, Engineering - Donna Riley, Math – Jim Henle, Physics - Doreen Weinberger, Joyce Fortune, Geology - Amy Rhodes, Bosiljka Glumac, Psychology - Benita Jackson, on sabbatical, Student - Lizmarie Lopez, Student - Isha Mahamud, Jaynie Barnes- Inreach/Outreach Coordinator, Christian Lagier-Director’s Office representative.

The chair requests that each department re-appoints or appoints a representative to the committee and that the representative attend the Monday meeting.

Facelift II
The building Facelift initiative continues; please celebrate with us the installation of window lights in the Burton doors and the replacement tiles that are spreading throughout our buildings!

CUR Announcement

The announcement includes a number of upcoming deadlines including deadlines related to 2008 CUR National Conference. Click here for the announcement text ...

October 11, 2007

Goldwater Reminder

Department nominations are due in the Director’s Office November 2, 2007. Details and process are available through a link on the Director’s page, see the Goldwater page.

Historically, Goldwater has never awarded a scholarship to a Smith student with a GPA of less than 3.83. Based on a suggestion from Mary Harrington, the Director’s Office will provide SPC reps and Department chairs with a list of students in their departments whose GPA is 3.8 or higher. Please keep in mind that this cut-off point reflects GPAs of the previous semester and that a student’s mid-term fall GPA may show improvement since the previous semester. Please take this into account as you review your candidates. The GPA cut-off list provided may not list a student who is demonstrating progress in the current semester.

Project Proposal Deadline

The deadline for submitting project proposal outlines emanating from departments is 16 November 2007. Projects in this category typically involve coordination/estimating by Physical Plant and supplemental funding from sources external to the Science Center. This would include projects involving construction/renovation in response to a change in programming or use. For a further explanation of the planning and budgeting timeline, please see the Science Center Sigma Xi presentation (2 October 2007). Please understand that a proposed project is not an approved/funded project. Projects that do not meet the 16 November deadline are at a planning and funding disadvantage.

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