Minutes of Physical Sciences Task Force

March 6, 2009

 

 

Meeting Place:            RVS 2267

Meeting Time:             10:00 am

Participants:                Paul Williams, Lala Guerra, Saad Eways, Paul Nacozy, Chris Cavalli, Jim Heath , James Friedrichsen, CD Rao, Amy Cunningham, Elliot Richmond, Bob Blodgett, Jeff Bechtold, Dean Becker, George Staff, John Cise, Hadi Parhikhteh, Luis Cuellar, Mike McGraw, Elliot Richmond, Qurrat Thakur, Leslie Davis, Karl Trappe

 

1.) Approval of Agenda

2.) Approval of Minutes from:  December Meeting

3.) Information items presented:

           

a.)    Update on Ron Johns – It was announced that Ron Johns was now out of the hospital and his prognosis was good.

      b.)  Reminder of Assessment - Everyone was reminded about the Course Assessment again.

      c.)  Budget Planning – The Long Range Planning Committee will be meeting March 13, 2009 at NRG, in

            room 2222 starting at 10:00 to start budget planning.           

      d.)  eStaffing Timeline for fall 2009 – Everyone was informed that eStaffing for the fall had already started.              Fulltime instructor assignments are due to the dean today, March 6, 2009.  Paul Williams then showed

            the schedule for fall eStaffing.

      e.)  Summer Overloads – It was explained that adjunct faculty could only request one section in the

 beginning of eStaffing for the summer semester but could request another one as an overload if

sections were available.  Adjuncts interested in selecting another section can email Paul Williams with

their request.   

      f.)  Update on Solar System Lab Course - Our Solar System Lab course will be showing in the 2009-2010

            catalog in fall 2009.  The lab course will start being offered in spring 2010. 

      g.)  April Department Meeting - The April department meeting will be moved to April 10, 2009.

      h.)  State Science Standards – The State Board of Education will be making their final voting on State

            Science Standards on March 26, 2009.  Bob Blodgett encouraged to email

their State Board representatives and express their concerns about the Science Standard.

i.)   Round Rock Update – Paul Williams updated everyone on the Round Rock Campus.  He

informed everyone that the deck was looking good, but the prep room had gotten smaller. Two safety

showers were added in the lab room and one in the prep room.  There was a discussion about the update.

Suggestion and concerns were shared.

      j.)  Student for Environmental Outreach –

a.         24 Hours to Empower -   Amy  Cunningham shared a U Tube video on the 24 hours to Empower.  She explained that the event was affiliated with the Whole Planet Foundation.  She also reminded everyone that they were still looking for volunteers for the event scheduled for April 2nd and 3rd.  If anyone is interested in participating, please contact Addie Broussard at sustainyourplanet@gmail.com to sign up.

b.         Taste the Waste – Amy informed everyone that there would be a Taste the Waste reunion tour at RGC on April 24th for the Taste the Waste.   

      k.)  John Cise Appreciation Day – There will be a John Cise Appreciation Day event on April 17, 2009.

Yvonne Estes is looking for volunteers for the event.  If you are interested in participating, please

Contact Yvonne at yestes@austincc.edu.   Paul Williams also suggested passing a resolution

through our physics department for appreciation of John Cise.  Everyone agreed to pass a resolution.

      l.) Possible Expansion of PHYS/GEOL course offering at CYP – It was announced that there is a possibility of expanding course offering at CYP.  There was a

discussion on what classes to add.  Everyone agreed to add a CP I on the weekend, a CP II on the

weekdays and an EP I on the weekdays too.  

     m.)   Community College Aero Space Scholars - Saad Eways announced that the CCASS trip will be

            April 2-4, 2009.  Saad also said if anyone was interested in helping with the trip to let him know.

 

5.) New Business: None

 

 

GEOL/ESTE Breakout Session – 3/6/09

 

Attendance: Bob Blodgett, Amy Cunningham, Leslie Davis, George Staff

 

The GEOL/ESTE faculty in attendance agreed to adopt the following textbook for GEOL 1445 effective with the Fall Semester 2009:
 
Paul R. Pinet, 2009. Invitation to Oceanography, 5th edition. Jones and Bartlett Publishers (ISBN: 9780763759933)

 

This book contains content that will facilitate meeting the Exemplary Educational Objectives for GEOL 1445.

 

Minutes of PHYS/AST/ENG Subcommittee

March 6, 2009

 

Participants                 Paul Williams, Lala Guerra, Saad Eways, Paul Nacozy, Chris Cavalli, Jim Heath , James Friedrichsen, CD Rao, Elliot Richmond, Bob Blodgett, Jeff Bechtold, Dean Becker, John Cise, Hadi Parhikhteh, Luis Cuellar, Mike McGraw, Elliot Richmond, Qurrat Thakur, Karl Trappe

                                               

                                    International year of Astronomy

                                    It was announced that 2009 is the 400th anniversary of Galileo.  The United Nations has declared 2009 as the International year of Astronomy.  James Heath told everyone in the meeting that he would like ACC to hold events to celebrate the International year of Astronomy.  He presented some ideas for the celebration.  If anyone has suggestions for the celebration, please email James Heath.

                                               

                                    CD of AAPT Demonstration show

                                    John Cise shared a CD of the AAPT demonstration show from the Summer 2008 meeting

                                   

                                    Books Reps. Requesting for Presentations

                                    Several book reps had asked to give presentations concerning their texts.  The department decided to not have the presentations.

 

                                    Upcoming Physics Meetings

                                    Some of the upcoming Physics meetings are as followed:   Joint AAPT/APS meeting, April 2-4, 2009 in Stephenville Texas - ATE Project for Physics Faculty meeting, April 23-25, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona - AAPT meeting, July 25-29 in Arbor Michigan

 

                                    ACC hosting spring 2010 section of TSAAPT/APS meeting

                                    Our department has been committed to host the spring 2010 section for the TSAAPT/APS meeting.  The meeting will be March 18-20, 2010.  Thursday and Friday sessions will be held at UT and Saturday session will be at held at the RGC.  Several faculty members volunteered to help.

 

                                    1405 Standards Committee

                                    The Standards Committee recommendations on policies for PHYS 1405 were passed out.  There was a discussion on the recommendations and everyone shared their concerns and suggestions.  One of the main concerns was inventory of laboratory and demonstration equipment available to instructors.

 

                                    Discussion of Textbooks for PHYS 1401

                                    There was a discussion on PHYS 1401 textbooks that were being looked over for adoption for fall 2009.  Everyone shared their suggestions and concerns on the textbooks.  Everyone agreed that they were not ready to make a decision on what textbook to adopt.  An intermediate meeting was scheduled for March 27, 2009 at 12:00 noon at the Tavern downtown.  Our final decision on a textbook would be April 10, 2009.