Minutes of Physical Sciences Task Force

September 5, 2003

 

 

Meeting Place:  RGC 326

Meeting Time:   9:30 am

Participants:                  Ron Johns, Sal Valastro, Lala Guerra, George Staff, Bob Blodgett, Dale Biggs, Andra Troncalli, Mostafa Pirnia, Leslie Davis, Martin Prahovic, C.D. Rao, Jan Smith, Chris Cavalli, Jim Heath, Dean Becker, John Cise, James Friedrichsen, Helen Nelson, Saad Eways, Allen Underwood, Maurine Poe, Jeff Bechtold, Laura Tacheny

                                   

1.)    Approval of Agenda

2.)    Approval of Minutes for

3.)    Information items presented:

a.)    Full-time Physics Position  - We finally filled the full-time Physics position.  The full-time instructor’s name is Greg Flynn.  He will start teaching in the Spring 2004 semester at NRG.  There was much rejoicing.  The Hiring Committee was commended for their efforts.

b.)    Applied Physics Course Changes – The Semiconductor Technology folks, led by Hector Aguilar, are thinking of changing the curriculum for their degree.  It currently requires Applied Physics (SCIT 1418).  We would also like to change this since this course is traditionally under-enrolled.  James Friedrichsen is chairing a subcommittee of our department that is working with them to revamp the curriculum, and he described what is going on.  The goal on both our parts is to eventually convert the class into a section of PHYS 1401, but, understandably, they don’t want to frighten away students from their program.  So, starting in the spring, the students will use the new textbook for General Physics I but with reduced course contents equivalent to what is now being taught in SCIT 1418.  More substantive changes in curriculum will have to be approved by their Advisory Committee.

c.)    Faculty Evaluation – Faculty Evaluations will be the same as last year.  Adjunct Faculty evaluations are due at the end of February and Full-time Faculty evaluations are due at the end of March.   Portfolios are due November 1.  Student evaluation this semester will be conducted between October 20 – November 7.  Suggestions were made that students evaluation should be done after the last day of class withdraw.   Also suggested was having longer windows for the student evaluations and doing evaluations every semester.  Ron Johns will forward these suggestions to Boyd Bush.  They are also working on software for providing grade distribution information.

d.)    Budget Flux – There are no cuts from last year’s budget, at least not yet.  But they are doing it different this year.  Instead of pools, everything will b paid out of a subcodes.  There might be more transfers but budget transfers will be done in 24 hours.  

e.)    Capital Equipment Replacement – Astonishingly, almost all of our budget requests were approved.  To replace and purchase capital equipment, we now have $8000 for Environmental Science, $26,000 for new Physics electromagnetic physics equipment, $24,000 for optics equipment, $5000 for motion equipment, $5500 for thermodynamics apparatus,  $1000.00 for a new electronic balance, and $1900 for dissecting microscopes for Environmental Science.

f.)      Laptops at RVS – The hideous Imacs in the RVS lab will be replaced by laptops.

g.)    Departmental Development Day – Jim Heath will be leading another Departmental Development Day on October 10.   There will be both a morning and an afternoon session.  He is looking for volunteers for presentations.

h.)    Planetarium Efforts – There will be a brainstorming session on bringing a planetarium to Austin.  The meeting will be on September 13, 2003 at St. Stephens Academy at 6:30pm.  There will be Star Party meeting at 8:30 on the same day, same location.

i.)      Star Party Website – Jim Heath has also created a website to list all the events taking place at St. Stephens Academy and Wild Basin Wilderness.  Official ACC events are also on this website.  The address is http://www2.austincc.edu/jheath/events.htm

j.)      John Cise Commendation  - John Cise received a commendation from the Faculty Senate for his efforts as Chair of the Faculty Salary and Benefit Committee.

 

4.) Items presented for discussion

a)      Withdrawal Policy -  Our departmental policy is that we will not drop students, although they faculty member may choose to do so if they wish.  However, it was felt that this may need some clarification.  After some discussion it was agreed that faculty should be encouraged to withdraw students if they have not been showing up for class and have missed safety training.  In addition, students who do not make an orientation for a distance–learning class should be dropped.

b.)    Computer literacy SACS Requirement – One of the myriad of things that SACS wants is for us to identify courses for which there is a significant computer literacy component, i.e., the students will have to use computers in some capacity on at least three occasions.  Given the nature of the curriculum, it was agreed that PHYS 1401, PHYS 1401, PHYS 2425, and PHYS 2426 qualify, but other courses do not.

c.)     Prerequisite Waiver Approval – It was agreed that having our feckless students sign a waiver saying that they have all their prerequisites is a good thing.  Several instructors commented that they include a statement along those lines in their syllabi, and then have students sign it saying that they have read the syllabus.

d.)    Purchasing Process – It was suggested that individuals who order supplies email faculty to let them know when and what is being ordered or what needs to be ordered.  Perhaps someone might develop a supply inventory website.  Physics has decided to coordinate a meeting to develop some purchasing procedures.

 

4.)    Action Items

a.)    Disabled Students – An issue came up on how to teach geology to a totally visually impaired student.  Jan Smith commented that she had done so before, and was subsequently volunteered to present a workshop on it at the next development day.

b.)    New textbooks – We will be going to the 5th edition of Tipler in the Spring 2004 semester. 

c.)    Committees — Committees for everyone! The full committee membership will be mailed out later.

 

 


Minutes of PHYS/AST/ENG Subcommittee

September 5, 2003

 

 

Participants - Dale Biggs, Andra Troncalli, Mostafa Pirnia, Martin Prahovic, C.D. Rao, Chris Cavalli, Lala Guerra, Jim Heath, Dean Becker, John Cise, James Friedrichsen, Helen Nelson, Saad Eways, Allen Underwood, Jeff Bechtold, Laura Tacheny

 

The Astronomy Assessment Test was not ready for review.

 

With regard to the prerequisites of PHYS 2425 and 2426, ACC vs. UT, was to have students

sign a  substitution form to say that PHYS 301 is equivalent to Engineering Physics for graduation.  

 

 

 

Minutes of GEOL/ESTE Subcommittee

September 5, 2003

 

 

Participants - Ron Johns, Sal Valastro, George Staff, Bob Blodgett, Leslie Davis, Maurine Poe, Jan Smith

 

Bob Blodgett will try to get an appropriate instructor for EPCT 2415 through his contacts at various state agencies.

 

Ron Johns will solicit nominations for two $250 scholarships funded by the AGS.  OIE should also have data on geology majors and grade distributions across the sciences.

 

David Fonken has decided that transferring from GEOL 1404 to GEOL 1403 is a level transfer, so it can be done up to the 12th class day.  The issue was raised about transferring from GEOL 1403 to GEOL 1305, and Ron will inquire about that.

 

It was agreed that the faculty need to take a trip down to the coast to scout out activities for the oceanography trip.  Leslie offered to talk to some friends who have a beach house about staying there overnight.