Physical Sciences Task Force
Meeting Minutes
March 9, 2001
The Physical Sciences Task Force met at 9:30 AM Friday, March 9, 2001 in room 2213 at NRG. Members in attendance: Friedrichsen, Prahovic, Staff, Johns, Becker, Rao, Underwood, Williams, Eways, Heath, Smith, Blodgett, Fegenbush, Pirnia, Pedigo.
1. Approval of Agenda – approved, with breakout sessions to be held first.
2. Approval of Minutes- The Minutes of the February 9 meeting were approved.
3. The following information items were presented: (1) The status of portfolios for full-time faculty was reported. (2) The group was reminded that two new full-time physics positions are available for Fall, along with an Environmental Tech position, and adjuncts were encouraged to apply immediately. (3) A new draft rule on Collegial Teaching Teams, proposed as a mandatory grouping of a few adjuncts with each full-time faculty member, was mentioned. (4) The TYC 21 report was announced, but most full-time faculty had already received a copy.
4. The following items were discussed: (1) The proposed new Draft Administrative Rue on Task Force Chair Elections was discussed. The general feeling was that this is a ridiculous, cumbersome and unworkable rule, and we pray that it is not implemented. (2) The possibility of splitting into separate Task Forces was discussed. The group felt that it was crucial to retain an elected Task Force chair for each new Task Force created. Program Coordinators appointed by the Dean are not desirable; we would rather remain as a single task force than lose the ability to elect our leadership. (3) The new MSTA application and approval process was discussed. The Chair agreed to inform everyone by e-mail as to exactly what applications have been received, in order that "lost" applications could be re-submitted. (4) Ron Johns gave a status report on the Environmental Technology program.
5. The following action items were dealt with: (1) It was decided to approve the new edition of Chaisson as our Astronomy text for next Fall.
6. New business: (1) Milt Fegenbush proposed that we drop one of the two textbooks for ENGR 1201 Intro Engineering. Saad Eways agreed to hold a meeting of Engineering faculty to discuss this. We will put this on the agenda for the next meeting.
7. Breakout sessions- held at 9:00 before the main meeting.
GEO/PSC – no session.
AST/ENR/PHY – (1) After some discussion, it was decided to approve the new edition of Chaisson as our Astronomy text for next Fall. The alternatives were simply no good, and the proof pages of the first few chapters of Chaisson were very good. We are not happy about the summer release, though, because it forces us to buy into a book we have not yet seen. Curses on all publishers. (2) The text for Conceptual Physics was not decided. Some favored Wheeler and Kirkpatrick, but Paul W pointed out that it had received some bad reviews. We have not yet seen the new edition of Hewitt, and so will delay the decision to next time.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 AM.
Submitted by Daryl Pedigo, TF Chair.