COS Strategic Plan Implementation

Connections to the Future
Northeastern University College of Science
2023-2028

Implementation Spotlight!

The COS Peer Advising Program

The COS Peer Advising program connects undergraduate students with Peer Advisors, who have diverse global campus, research, extracurricular, and co-op experience, for guidance on topics like exploring minors, changing majors, time management, and the college experience as a whole. It also offers leadership and employment opportunities for COS students as Peer Advisors. Since its launch, the program has quickly expanded, proving to be a valuable resource for our students.

SP Implementation Spotlights

Recruit a Brilliant and Diverse College of Science Community

RATIONALE:
The “Good Power of Science” will be fully elicited by a College of Science whose outstanding membership reflects the diversity of society. Coordinated efforts to recruit this membership must address forces that work against it, including those that perpetuate bias and exclusion.

Cultivate a Culture of Respect and Inclusion for Every College of Science Member

RATIONALE:
A culture of respect and inclusion builds a positive, productive work environment, where each person is valued, where exclusionary interactions are addressed, and where equitable support strategies are in place.

Promote a Strong, Supported, Collaborative College of Science Community

RATIONALE:
A successful College of Science is one where there is a strong Community, where a network of collaborations and connections makes everyone feel they belong, are supported, and empowered to contribute most vitally.

PROGRESS TO GOALS

  • New inclusion and belonging program Onboarding Buddies fosters community and support among new COS staff by pairing them with COS mentors, who help new staff acclimate to NU and COS culture, answer questions, and ensure a smooth transition into their roles.
  • Community Care workshops educate and build support amongst COS staff, creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and cohesive community.
  • The Equity Action Fund supported the Indian Cultural Association, Science is a Drag!, REALTIME Program, BIMODAL workshops, and Psychology DEI Seminars — promoting belonging & increasing access to science.
  • The Advancing Women in Science Scholars hosted an insightful panel of experts from various scientific disciplines who discussed their personal journeys, research specialties, and career pathways with interested students. Moderator: AWS Scholars Diana Turrieta and Aissata Cisse. Panelists: Toyoko Orimoto, PhD; Cindy Rivera, MPH; Jocelyn Haversat, PhD; and Sumita Khatri, MD MSCR.
  • New COS process Mediation through Restorative Justice guides faculty and staff to address conflict or inferior treatment arising between members of COS. Updated posters of discrimination and harassment policies, reporting mechanisms, and resources throughout the college were distributed to increase awareness of this important information.

Updated October 2024

Implement Powerful, Consistent, Experiential Science Education at Every Level, for Everyone, Everywhere

RATIONALE:
Every student receiving a College of Science degree should emerge as a confident, entrepreneurial, creative problem-solver—one who loves to learn and has an ethical and respectful mindset.

Devise Top-Quality MS Programs That Educate with Crucial Skills

RATIONALE:
Educational programs leading to the MS degree are an integral part of the College of Science mission and commitment. Educating with skills to meet expertise needed in multiple areas of science and industry benefits students from every background, across the network and throughout the world.

Increase Undergraduate Research Opportunities

RATIONALE:
Undergraduate students want to be immersed in the exciting discoveries being made in the College of Science, while experiencing research as part of a future career. For every student, research cultivates a problem-solving mindset and can help students step along the pathway toward a PhD.

Cultivate an Entrepreneurial Ethos

RATIONALE:
Entrepreneurship includes skills that promote confidence through being enterprising and opportunistic, while embracing failure and a growth mindset. Hands-on opportunities develop resilient skills and an understanding of the ways that discoveries may lead to knowledge, products, processes, or policies that find application in the larger world.

Open Science to Everyone!

RATIONALE:
Engaging in the wonder and usefulness of science benefits everyone—be they members of the public with no science background, K-12 students, non-science majors, or science professionals.

PROGRESS TO GOALS

  • Launched “Science Connects to Innovation” – an exciting program to promote undergraduate entrepreneurship in the College of Science. Includes a workshop, talk series and scholarship award to COS undergraduate students.
  • Created three new, interdisciplinary, combined majors in collaboration with other colleges connect science programs with two of the fastest-growing majors on campus – Design and Bioengineering: Design and Mathematics (CAMD), Bioengineering and Behavioral Neuroscience (COE), and Speech-Language Pathology and Behavioral Neuroscience (Bouvé)
  • Piloted new COS Research Scholars program that provided early research opportunities to a diverse group of 18 COS freshmen with COS faculty. Their work is funded by federal work/study (student financial aid). A new Research Club has been co-founded by one of our COS undergrads.
  • The Marine and Environmental Sciences Department hosted10 participants from groups minoritized in STEM in the 3-day BEACHES workshop to demystify the process of applying to graduate school.
  • Successful launch new MS programs – MS in Climate Science and Engineering (jointly with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering), MS in Nanomedicine, MS in Statistics, and MS in Statistics Connect.
  • The award-winning Bridge to Calculus Summer Program, now part of the Bridge to Science program, is a long-standing partnership with the Boston Public Schools targeting high school students from underserved populations. This year, the program expanded to include physics, biology, chemistry, statistics, and welcomed 120 high school students.
  • To continue to refine our curriculum to provide an education appropriate for the talented students joining Northeastern, we developed a new course (PHYS 1191) designed for well-prepared students, allowing them to learn physics at a higher mathematical level and keeping their interest.

Updated October 2024

Recruit a Diverse, Inclusive PhD Community

RATIONALE:
The highest-impact research will be performed with a diverse group of talented PhD trainees who are (1) representative of society, (2) recruited with equitable opportunities, and (3) bring varied backgrounds, experiences, and interest to answer key fundamental and translational research questions. These students will form a cadre of important PhD graduates.

Build Support and Skills Through the Cross-College Connected Science Community PhD

RATIONALE:
PhD training should empower every student to succeed in research or another top career. The College-wide Connected Science Community PhD program will develop a collaborative, supported community that is uniquely equipped with core skills, career skills, and cross-disciplinary research acumen.

Build Flexible, Cross-disciplinary Combined PhD Programs

RATIONALE:
Since high-impact research frequently extends across disciplines, many of our new faculty are cross-disciplinary. Combined PhD programs allow for flexible training, attract a new set of students, and promote success of cross-disciplinary research programs.

Promote PhD Trainee Success Through Clear Expectations, Robust Mentoring, and Strong, Equitable Support

RATIONALE:
PhD candidates thrive in a training environment that combines clear expectations with consistent and supportive mentoring within the research group and in other formats.

Incorporate Campus Network Sites and Global Partners into COS PhD Training

RATIONALE:
Northeastern Global Network sites allow locally unique research opportunities with regional or global relevance to be leveraged through PhD training, while connections with global partners can promote access to innovative research through PhD training.

PROGRESS TO GOALS

  • Connected Science Community Summer Skills Session launched in 2023 with enthusiastic participation of 50% of the incoming PhD cohort
  • Groundbreaking Cross-Disciplinary Science PhD umbrella accepted, a means to streamline launching new Combined PhD programs

Updated October 2024

Develop Strategic Areas in Fundamental and Applied Research

RATIONALE:
The highest-impact scientific research comes from addressing both fundamental questions and those with applied outcomes, particularly those emerging from disciplinary expertise, powered by convergence across disciplines.

Build Unique Research in the Network and with Global Partners

RATIONALE:
The Northeastern Global University and other global partners offer an unprecedented opportunity to expand scientific research by leveraging local opportunities and addressing global challenges.

Promote Research Funding and Award Success

RATIONALE:
Expanded and novel funding sources are the cornerstones of productive research, enabling new and cross-disciplinary research areas, while enhancing faculty success, student recruitment, and Northeastern impact.

Build a Leading Science Postdoctoral Training Program

RATIONALE:
Postdoctoral investigators are pivotal for vibrant research programs. We will expand the cadre and diversity of COS postdoctoral trainees through innovative mechanisms that promote their careers.

Build a Landscape of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

RATIONALE:
Exciting discoveries can often extend beyond the academic research milieu and be developed into products and solutions that address societal needs. Promoting acumen in entrepreneurial approaches leads to this success!

PROGRESS TO GOALS

  • New Research Consortia that are groupings of Northeastern faculty with research interests that overlap to form collaborative bridges between departments and across colleges. These include Mental Health, Healthy Aging, Mechanobiology, Mathematical Modeling, Metabolism, Plant-Human Interface,and Quantum.
  • Hosted a transatlantic networking event focused on the theme of mental health in collaboration with Bouvé and the University College Dublin – 20 researchers gave flash talks showcasing their research programs to an international audience, already sparking several new collaborations!
  • Invested in fully-staffed Pre-Award and Post-Award teams to fully support principal investigators in COS and working on research productivity analysis to understand PIs growth and department support needs.

Updated October 2024

Build a Supportive, Collaborative Faculty Community

RATIONALE:
A strong community provides a network of connections, information, and collaborations that help address challenges and build highest-quality research and teaching. Developing close intellectual connections, supportive relationships, and opportunities for collaboration promotes well-being, belonging, and success.

Invest in Brilliant and Diverse Faculty to Meet Research Goals and Teaching Needs

RATIONALE:
The brightest future of the College and university depends on investing in our existing and hiring outstanding tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty to build our important, cross disciplinary research portfolios and provide the highest quality, innovative education.

Mentor Faculty for Success Across Every Position and Level

RATIONALE:
Development and success of all faculty members, at every stage of their careers, is enhanced by mentoring that provides emotional support, well-being, skills development, and career advancement.

Promote Transparency in Faculty Expectations and Obligations

RATIONALE:
Service by faculty is an integral and important aspect of the academic appointment. Clarity in service expectations, allocation, and evaluation will ensure equity in service and avoid disproportionate burdens.

PROGRESS TO GOALS

  • Organized small faculty mentoring groups where junior faculty get additional mentoring from senior faculty in the College outside of their home department and share advice with other junior faculty.
  • The Physics Department hired new faculty in the area of quantum science and technology, increasing the ability to probe important problems in this area through our Burlington Campus-based Quantum Materials and Sensing Institute.
  • The Math Department expanded into the Oakland campus with three excellent Math faculty members, one hired in AY23-24, are teaching Northeastern undergraduate students in Oakland.
  • The Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department adopted a multiple-mentor peer and near-peer mentoring model to support junior faculty. Participation of CCB faculty in the COS Faculty mentoring groups this Spring 2024.

Updated in October 2024

Increase and Diversify Revenue Streams

RATIONALE:
To support our work effectively in the years ahead, the College needs a healthy and sustainable business model, including diverse sources of revenue, and the mechanisms necessary to engage these sources.

Invest in a Diverse, Talented, Supported Staff

RATIONALE:
Recruiting talented and diverse staff who are representative of society, and empowering each person to thrive and grow, is intertwined with the university’s mission of education and research, while addressing operational needs.

Develop an Effective, Equitable Workplace Community Across the Global Network

RATIONALE:
As a large and complex organization with hundreds of staff members, the College works best with impeccable organization, a collaborative community of people whose work is valued, and positions that benefit our mission across the global network.

Innovate in Space and Facilities to Support World-Class Education and Research

RATIONALE:
To fulfill our development as a top research university, and support our complex research and education portfolios, the College of Science needs flexible and effective space, equipment, systems, and processes.

Organize Effective Communications that Share Information and Celebrate Accomplishments

RATIONALE:
Strategic, effective communications are crucial for sharing both accurate information and the College vision for prospective and enrolled students, faculty, and staff across the global network. Key to building recognition are communications that celebrate exciting and groundbreaking College of Science accomplishments across the university, to our supporters, and to the world.

PROGRESS TO GOALS

  • Organized and participated in community events open to all, including, the COS Week of Service, re-launching the COS Onboarding Buddies Program, and fielding COS teams for the university kickball tournaments in 2023 and 2024! Go Science Huskies!
  • Supported the re-organization of several SRFs (formerly known as cores) and has also worked to launch three new SRF and DRF (department research facilities) with organizational and financial support.
  • The Physics Department converted offices into shared space for faculty who do not have individual offices, allowing them to hold office hours or have lunch in the shared space, and making overall space utilization much more efficient.
  • The Bridge to Calculus/Bridge to Science program is receiving significantly more attention in the news and in the Boston Public Schools. External funding by the Boston Public Schools and the City of Boston (Mayor’s SuccessLink Youth Employment Program) have helped expand the program, and along with internal funding has inspired private donors to support the program as well.
  • Created a Marketing Toolkit that consists of tools for promoting events that includes design templates for flyers and graphics, a COS photo repository, and a guide for getting started on social media.
  • Established the NUin and Pathways Advisor Working Group to provide space for cross-departmental collaboration and streamlining support of students in the Global Network, which transitioned to be GEO and Networking Advising meetings.
  • The Undergraduate Advising team incorporates “Best Practice sharing” in their staff meeting to provide opportunities for staff to learn from each other and cultivate an environment of continuous learning and engagement.

Updated October 2024

Connections to the Future: A Strategic Plan for the Northeastern University College of Science 2023-2028

Read the Plan