[phas-faculty_staff_others] News and Notes from the Interim Department Head

[Kurtis Williams]

Dear everyone,

I trust this email finds you well as we approach the end of the semester. As we gear up for the holiday season and the start of the spring semester, I wanted to bring your attention to several important updates and upcoming events:


1.    Welcome Lydia Dale: Once again, I am delighted to announce that Lydia Dale has joined our department as the new Administrative Associate. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Lydia as she becomes an integral part of our team.


2.    Department Head Search: The internal department head search will be going live soon, as soon as the pre-search paperwork completes the routing process.  I will let you all know as soon as the position is posted.



3.    Physics Education Faculty Position: Routing for this position is almost complete as well. I will let you know when this position goes live.  The deadline for applications will be January 1.


4.    Undergrad Advisor Transition: I regret to inform you that, as per her email, Hannah Stotts will be leaving her role as the undergraduate advisor for CoSE effective Monday. We extend our deepest gratitude to Hannah for her valuable contributions, and she will be greatly missed. Going forward, please direct emails regarding advising to COSE.Advising at tamuc.edu.


5.    Semester-End Important Dates & Details:


*         The last day of classes for the fall semester is Friday, December 8.

*         Grades are due at the close of business on Monday, December 18.

*         Early Start for Spring Semester: Spring semester starts early this year, on Wednesday, January 10.

o   Please note that spring syllabi are due to Lydia before the holiday break, specifically by Thursday, December 21, at the end of the day.  I am trying to find out if any changes need to be made to required syllabus statements regarding non-discrimination or AI.

*         In-person final exams must be given during the assigned time slots.


6.    Holiday Festivities:


*         Departmental Holiday Party: Save the date for our departmental holiday party, scheduled for Saturday, December 9, at 6:00 PM at Matt Wood's house. Official invitations will be sent shortly, and we look forward to celebrating the season together.

*         College of Science Dessert Party: Join us for the College of Science Dessert Party on Monday, December 11, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the Dean's Suite (Ag/ET 116).

*         Consider encouraging your students, family, friends, and frenemies to attend one of the holiday shows in our Planetarium!  Information can be found in recent posts on the Planetarium's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TAMUCPlanetarium


7.    Annual Evaluations: Annual evaluations will take place in mid-January. Faculty, I will be sending you the appropriate forms for self-evaluation and plans for the coming year shortly. I would appreciate it if you could have these to me by the end of the calendar year.

In this season of thankfulness, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your continuing hard work and unwavering support for our department. Your dedication is fundamental to the success of our department, and I am optimistically looking forward to a new year defined by the excellence that defines our community.

Thank you, and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Cheers,
Kurtis

Dr. Kurtis A. Williams (he/him/his)

Assoc. Professor and Interim Department Head

Department of Physics and Astronomy<https://www.tamuc.edu/physics>


P: 903.886.5488


Texas A&M University-Commerce<https://www.tamuc.edu/>



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