Category: 2022-2023

Time:  9:30am
Location: Zoom invite sent to committee members. If anyone else would like to attend, please email Jen for details.
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 11/18/2022.

When available, the meeting minutes will be indicated within bold brackets [ ] and are in draft form until they are approved by the committee.

Relevant Links: Undergraduate Council Meeting Minutes/ Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

[Attendees: Nathan Burtch, Fernando Camelli, Elisabeth Epstein, Geoff Gilleaudeau, Ramin Hakami, Dale Scott Rothman, Wendy Lewis, Carlos Rautenberg, Dale Scott Rothman, Pritha Roy, Kimberly Rule, Jennifer Bazaz Gettys]

I. Call to Order [9:32am]

II. Approval of the November 18, 2022 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• A COSCC Microsoft Team has been created for the COSCC’s members. Please find the “Zombie Courses” spreadsheet under “Files” and provide rationale for your department’s listed undergraduate courses by the end of the fall 2022 semester.
• Spring 2023 meeting days and times. [Fridays at 9:30am. Jen will post the dates in the COSCC Team.]
• Various rationales behind crosslisting in your departments.* [The committee provided Jen with their insights and perspectives on crosslisting. This insight will educate the college’s next steps in finding an amenable approach toward the practice.]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• RENE 131: Introduction to Renewable Energy* [Approved]
• RENE 411: Renewable Energy Internship* [Approved]

Modified Course

• MATH 111: Linear Mathematical Modeling [Approved]
  • This change will impact many COS programs, Jen will work on updating them in time for January’s meeting.

Inactivated Course

• FRSC 420: Forensic Toxicology* [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Astronomy Minor [Approved]
• Renewable Energy Interdisciplinary Minor* [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

Modified Programs

• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Certificate [Approved]
• Biology, MS [Approved]

VII. Adjournment [10:16am]

*Item added after the agenda was announced.

• *The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

Time:  9:30am
Location: Zoom invite sent to committee members. If anyone else would like to attend, please email Jen for details.
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 11/4/2022.

When available, the meeting minutes will be indicated within bold brackets [ ] and are in draft form until they are approved by the committee.

[Attendees: Nathan Burtch, Fernando Camelli, Elisabeth Epstein, Geoff Gilleaudeau, Ramin Hakami, Dale Scott Rothman, Wendy Lewis, Carlos Rautenberg, Dale Scott Rothman, Pritha Roy, Kimberly Rule, Gregory Craft, Jennifer Bazaz Gettys]

I. Call to Order [9:35am]

II. Approval of the October 28, 2022 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• INTO Mason Science Graduate Pathways [Approved]
• Last Offered Graduate Courses* [This list of “Zombie Courses” will be added to a new Teams group. COSCC Members will be asked to provide rationale for any courses that are not going to be inactivated.]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

New Courses

• GEOL 120: The Changing Ocean* [Approved with one abstention (ESP) and a correction of the max repeatable calculation.]
• GEOL 121: The Changing Ocean Laboratory* [Approved with one abstention (ESP) and a correction of the max repeatable calculation.]

Modified Courses

• PHYS 251: Introduction to Computer Techniques in Physics* [Approved]
• PHYS 325: Intermediate Methods of Experimental Physics* [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Environmental Science, BS [Approved pending updates: “Wildlife Conservation and Management” and a correction to BIOL 437’s title.]

VI. New Business – Graduate

New Courses

• BIMR 510: Creativity and Innovation [Tabled per department.]
• BIOL 671: Fundamental Concepts in Evolution [Approved]
• GEOL 508: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology* [Approved, pending updated syllabus.]

Modified Courses

• BIOL 527: Disease Ecology and Conservation [Approved]

Course Deactivation

• BIOL 509: DNA Analysis of Biological Evidence [Approved]
• BIOL 510: Forensic DNA Analysis Laboratory [Approved]
• BIOL 555: Lab in Waterscape Ecology [Tabled per ESP department request.]
• BIOL 556:Advanced Topics in Microbial Physiology and Metabolism [Approved]
• BIOL 572: Human Genetics [Tabled per BIOL department request.]
• BIOL 573: Developmental Genetics [Tabled per BIOL department request.]
• BIOL 577: Biogeochemistry: A Global Perspective [Approved]
• BIOL 578: Mutation, DNA Repair, and Environmental Contamination [Approved]
• BIOL 610: Bioremediation Theory and Applications [Approved]
• BIOL 611: Techniques in Environmental Microbiology [Approved]
• BIOL 719: Extremophiles [Approved]
• BIOS 760: Seminar in Molecular Systematics [Approved]
• BIOS 762: Phylogentic Analysis [Approved]
• BIOS 765: Molecular Systematics [Approved]
• BIOS 782: Interdisciplinary Issues in Bioethics Law and Policy [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Climate Dynamics, PhD [Approved]
• Computational Science, MS [Approved pending the “why” explanation for the applicant background change, and adding the correct link to the English proficiency requirements.]

VII. Adjournment [10:52am]

* Item was placed after the agenda announcement.

• *The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

Time:  9:30am
Location: Zoom invite sent to committee members. If anyone else would like to attend, please email Jen for details.
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 10/14/2022

When available, the meeting minutes will be indicated within bold brackets [ ] and are in draft form until they are approved by the committee.

Relevant Links: Undergraduate Council Meeting Minutes/ Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

I. Call to Order [9:33 AM]

II. Approval of the September 30, 2022 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• “Zombie Courses” [Please let Jennifer or your department schedulers know if you want to remove any courses on this list.]
• Blackboard Replacement Faculty Survey[The University’s contract with Blackboard is expiring and they want to hear feedback about a replacement LMS.]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

Modified Courses

• MATH 108: Introductory Calculus with Business Applications [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Environmental Science, BS [Approved]
• Neuroscience Minor [Approved]

VI. New Business – Graduate

Modified Programs

• Computational Science, MS* [Tabled, awaiting clarification on the English requirement.]

VII. Adjournment[10:03 AM]

• *The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

Time:  10:00am
Location: Exploratory Hall, Room 3301
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 9/16/2022

When available, the meeting minutes will be indicated within bold brackets [ ] and are in draft form until they are approved by the committee.

Relevant Links: Undergraduate Council Meeting Minutes/ Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

I. Call to Order [10:10 AM]

II. Approval of the August 26, 2022 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• Blackboard Replacement [Blackboard is scheduled to be replaced in the near future; faculty input regarding its replacement will be extremely important.]

IV. Old Business

V. New Business – Undergraduate

• College of Science: Requirements for the BA [Approved.]

New Courses

• MATH 103T: Precalculus  [Approved pending an update of the title to Precalculus Part I.]

Modified Courses

• BIOL 106: Introductory Biology II Laboratory [Approved.]
• BIOL 308: Foundations of Ecology and Evolution [Approved.]
• BIOL 311: General Genetics [Approved.]
• BIOL 405: Microbial Genetics [Approved.]
• BIOL 407: Microbial Diversity [Approved.]
• BIOL 430: Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I [Approved.]
• BIOL 433: Selected Topics in Plant Biology [Approved.]
• BIOL 452: Immunology [Approved.]
• BIOL 484: Cell Signaling and Disease [Approved.]
• MATH 104: Trigonometry and Transcendental Functions [Approved.]
• MATH 105: Precalculus Mathematics [Approved.]
• MATH 108: Introductory Calculus with Business Applications [Tabled for further discussion.]
• MATH 125: Discrete Mathematics I [Approved.]

Deactivated Courses

•  BIOL 455: Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation Field Course[Approved.]
  • affected programs: Environmental Science, BS; Biology, BS; Ocean and Estuarine Sciences Minor (electives)
•  BIOL 470: Dinosaur Biology [Approved.]
  • affected programs: Geology, BS; Paleontology Minor (electives)

Modified Programs

• Biology, BA [Approved.]

VI. New Business – Graduate

Modified Courses

• NEUR 612: Neuroethics [Approved.]

Modified Programs

• Computational Science, MS [Tabled for further discussion.]
• Computational Social Science, PhD [Approved.]
• Neuroscience, PhD [Approved.]

VII. Adjournment [11:05 AM]

• *The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

Time:  10:00am
Location: Zoom invite sent to committee members. If anyone else would like to attend, please email Jen for details.
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 8/12/2022

When available, the meeting minutes will be indicated within bold brackets [ ] and are in draft form until they are approved by the committee.

Relevant Links: Undergraduate Council Meeting Minutes/ Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

I. Call to Order [10:05am]

II. Approval of the April 29, 2022 Meeting Minutes and the May 6, 2022 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• [The committee welcomed its newest member, Dr. Younsung Kim from Environmental Science and Policy.]
• COSCC Chair for the 2022-2023 Academic Year [Dr. Hakami was voted to continue as chair for the 2022-2023 academic year. His past contributions to the committee were lauded, and we greatly appreciate his service.]
• Confirmation of the July 2022 e-mail vote of approval for the Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Certificate modification

IV. New Business – Undergraduate

Modified Courses

• BIOL 106: Introductory Biology II Laboratory [Tabled per department request.]

V. New Business – Graduate

Modified Program

• Biology, MS [Approved]

VI. Adjournment [10:27am]

• *The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.