Meeting Place: RGC 326

Meeting Time: 9:30 am

Participants: Ron Johns, Lala Guerra, Sal Valastro, Jeff Bechtold, James Friedrichsen, Chris Cavalli, James Heath, Dean Becker, Alan Underwood, Paul Nacozy, Bob Blodgett, Laura Tacheny, Saad Eway, Dale Biggs, Jan Smith, John Cise, Paul Williams, Hadi Parhikhteh, Martin Prohovic

1.) Approval of Agenda

2.) Approval of Minutes from: November 5, 2004

3.) Information items presented:

a.) Faculty Evaluations – Faculty portfolios are due January 10, 2005.

b.) Honors Course – The Honors section of PHYS 1401 General College Physics was approved for Spring 2005

c.) CYP Planning Process – Bronson Dorsey is no longer with ACC so the CYP Planning Process has been put on halt for right now. Arguments for why we need a lab out at CYP include the:

1.) 30% of NRG physics students who would go to CYP if they could

2.) number of majors in engineering and physics

3.) revenue generated by the program

4.) need to provide diverse course offerings to the community, including the high schools

After some discussion, a decision was made to:

1.) vigorously express our concerns about the lack of suitable lab space for geology at CYP. We have been coping and that seems to have been taken as meaning that we don’t need a lab there.

2.) do a survey of all NRG physics classes to see if students would go to CYP if offered.

3.) get OIE to identify students who might wish to go to CYP instead of NRG

4.) make a public showing at a board meeting if all else fails.

d.) Major Major Successes – For Fall 2004, we have 57 majors in Physics/Astronomy, about 600 in Engineering, 41 in Geology, and 63 majors in Environmental Science and Technology/Environmental Studies. These numbers are from the official student records.

e.) RRHEC offerings – There will be 12 Math and Science courses offered at RRHEC in Fall 2005. PHYS –1311 (Stellar Astronomy) and ENVR-1301(Introduction to Environmental Science) were suggested s possible offerings.

f.) Computers – The replacement plan for computers has been reduced from 5 years ot 3 years. Surprisingly, this is actually more cost-effective. All faculty will receive 2.8 Ghz machines, some with 15” flat screens and some with 17” CRT displays. Who gets what was determined randomly, although the CYP people got flat screens because they have tiny, shared offices.

4.) Discussion Items:

a.) Forced Concept Inventory Test - Everyone agreed to use the standard FCI test as an assessment instrument for the Physics program, specifically for PHYS 2425.

b.) Engineering Physics pre-test – Saad distributed the pretest he uses for his Eng. Physics students to those present at the meeting.

5.) Action Items:

a.) Keeping old records – Ron’s office is overflowing with paperwork, triggering, mass wasting events. Suggestions were being made on how long old records should be kept, and it was finally decided that old records should be keep for 6 years. After that, they should be shredded or returned to individuals.

b.) New grading policy for Physics – A previous meeting of physics faculty had decided that the lab should continue to count for 25% of the class grade. However, to ensure that a high lab grade would not pull a failing student up to a passing grade, the committee recommended that each instructor’s syllabus should state that students would have to have a “C” in the lab and a “C” in the lecture to receive a “C” as their grade. Those present approved making this departmental policy.

c.) Enrollment limits for courses – Saad will email Ron with justification for change of class limits. At the moment, all lab courses have enrollment limits of 24, all the rest have limits of 32, depending on room capacity.

6.) New Business:

a.) Announcement – Ron announced his impending retirement as dept. chair. James Friedrichsen has bravely volunteered to step forward into the breech in a heroic act of self-sacrifice.

Minutes of PHYS/AST/ENG Subcommittee

December 3, 2004

Participants James Friedricksen, Chris Cavalli, , James Heath, Dean Becker, Alan Underwood, Paul Nacozy, Bob Blodgett, Laura Tacheny, Saad Eway, Dale Biggs, John Cise, Jeff Bechtold, Paul Williams, Lala Guerra, Hadi Parhikhteh, Martin Prohovic

1.) Saad Eways and John Cise volunteered to come up with new language for every Physics class to maybe appear in the Fall 2005 course listing. They will further discuss the topic in the February meeting.

2.) Martin Prohovic came by to see if Instructors had any criticism or complements about the tutoring lab. Alan Underwood requested a form showing who was going to the tutoring lab. Hadi (also an tutor for ACC at the RGC) explained that there was a form that they have in the Tutoring Lab showing what the students are being tutored for. James Friedrichsen complained that one of his students told him that a tutor at the RGC was criticizing how he presented material. Paul Williams mentioned that his students who went to the Learning lab liked one of the RGC tutors (Hadi Parhikhteh) very much. Paul also would like for Physics tutors to display more prominently for the benefit of students taking physics. He also felt that the Learning Lab website needed to be easier to find. Martin was also asked if the situation involving Teacher Solution Manuals was resolved. Martin responded that they are making sure the Teacher Solution Manuals are being kept from the students.

Minutes of GEOL/ESTE Subcommittee

December 3, 2004

Participants Ron Johns, Sal Valastro, Bob Blodgett, Jan Smith, Maurine Poe

1.) Jan expressed concern that students were not taking the field activity and were getting credit for doing self-guided trips that hardly compare with the instructor led activity. After some discussion, it was decided that, beginning in the spring, the department will require each student to participate in an instructor-led field trip. Should they fail to do so, they will get an “F” in the course. An incomplete will only be given to make up the trip for a very compelling reason. This requirement will apply to the GEOL 1403 (Physical Geology) and GEOL 1404 (Historical Geology) courses only

2.) We have several microscopes, so there was a question of whether it would be worthwhile to have a service contract. Jan offered to check with biology to see what kind of contract they have. John Kerzaya will inventory what we have college-wide.

3.) There is a surplus microscope at NRG. The consensus was to send it to RVS.

4.) Bob found a bilingual English/Spanish geological dictionary. It was decided to get a copy for each campus.