Computer Science | Grinnell College

The computer science faculty actively engage in activities and projects within Grinnell College, the Science Division, the department, and other areas. This page serves as a reference and contact list for many of these activities. Since all faculty are actively engaged in teaching, this page does not include specific activities related to classes, course development, or other aspects of teaching.

• Contact the relevant faculty member if you have questions or comments regarding any of these activities.
• Contact the department chair if you have questions about the department, organizational matters, or other areas not covered in this listing.

College Level

• Committees that require a representative from Computer Science
  • Chair, Department of Computer Science: Samuel A. Rebelsky
  • Representative, Carver Data Science Project: Charlie Curtsinger
• Other activities
  • Admission and Student Financial Aid Charlie Curtsinger
  • Wilson Program in Enterprise and Leadership: Samuel Rebelsky
  • Faulconer Gallery Advisory Board: Samuel Rebelsky
  • Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Advisory Board: Samuel Rebelsky
  • Innovation Fund committee: Samuel Rebelsky

Science Division Level

• General Science Major: Samuel A. Rebelsky
• Hendrixson Fund: Charlie Curtsinger
• HHMI: Peter-Michael Osera
• Noyce Visiting Professor Committee: Samuel Rebelsky
• Science Division Personnel Committee: Samuel Rebelsky

Department Level

• Department Chair: Samuel A. Rebelsky
  • Supervision of departmental assistant(s) and ASAs
  • Development of faculty-staff teaching assignment
  • Creation of class schedules
  • Supervision of graduation breakfast (with Science Secretaries)
  • Faculty recruiting
  • Promotion, tenure, contract renewal reviews
  • Merit reviews
  • Regular meetings with Student Educational Policy Committee (SEPC)
  • Paperwork from Dean's office
  • Faculty mentoring
  • College catalog entry
  • Review transfer credit requests
  • Budget
• Assessment Coordinator: Peter-Michael Osera
  • Reminders regarding exit interviews
  • Identification, posting of learning outcomes
  • Coordination with the College's Office of Analytic Support and Institutional Research (OASIR) and Center for Teaching Learning and Assessment (CTLA)
• Communications Liaison: Charlie Curtsinger
• Computer Science Museum: Henry M. Walker
• Computer Science Commons: John Stone and Henry M. Walker
  • Make sure there's water in the coffee pot.
  • Straighten.
  • Contact SEPC when the dishes are not being washed.
• Computer Science Table: Charlie Curtsinger and Peter-Michael Osera
  • Pick readings
  • Advertise (coordinate with ASA)
  • Lead discussions
• Diversity Initiatives:
  • Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing: Samuel A. Rebelsky and Ursula Wolz, many faculty contribute
  • Richard Tapia Celebration of of Diversity in Computing: Samuel A. Rebelsky and Peter-Michael Osera, many faculty contribute
• Picnic (coordinated with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics): Peter-Michael Osera
• Placement of Incoming Students: Samuel Rebelsky
• Pledge of the Computing Professional: John David Stone
• Senior Lunch: Samuel Rebelsky
• Social Media Liaisons: varies according to activity
• Study Abroad in CS: Samuel Rebelsky
  • Maintain list of study-abroad programs relevant to CS
  • Maintain list of course equivalents in those programs
  • Advise students on study-abroad options
  • Advise students on courses in study-abroad programs
  • Coordinate with Off-campus Study office
  • Coordinate with programs, particularly AIT Program in Budapest
• Supervision of Peer Educators (Mentors, Lab Assistants, Tutors): TBD
  • Train mentors, lab assistants, individual tutors
  • Prepare lists of responsibilities for peer educators
  • Prepare picture list of peer educators
  • Recruit students for peer-educator positions
  • Interview prospective peer educators
  • Work with faculty to assign peer mentors to classes
  • Prepare schedule of evening tutors
  • Assign individual and small-group tutors to students
  • Read and respond to reports from individual tutors, evening tutors, and mentor sessions
  • Gather data on usage of peer educators
• Thursday Extras John David Stone
• Web Site: John David Stone leads, all CS faculty contribute

Special Tasks

• Joint program with UIowa: Henry M. Walker
• Host Noyce Visitor Ursula Wolz: Samuel A. Rebelsky
• UIowa, Iowa State, and/or Nebraska Visitors: Henry M. Walker

Previous Versions

• 2015-16
• 2013-14