Minutes of Physical Sciences Task Force
Meeting
Time: 10:00 am
Participants: Paul Williams, Lala Guerra, Saad
Eways, Paul Nacozy, Chris Cavalli, Jim Heath , James Friedrichsen, CD Rao,
Elliot Richmond, Jeff Bechtold, Dean Becker, George Staff, Hadi Parhikhteh,
Luis Cuellar, Karl Trappe, Sal Valastro, Ron Johns, David Froehlich, Allen
Underwood, Anne Turner, Gary Crane, Mostafa Pirna, Glynda Mercier, Qurrat
Thakur, John Cise, Larry Wigginton
1.)
Approval of Agenda:
2.) Approval of Minutes from: There
were corrections on March and April Minutes.
3.) Information items
presented:
a.) Reminder of Assessment
Paul Williams reminded the faculty about the Course Assessment again.
b.) Safety Coordinator Update Paul
Nacozy announced that Safety Training for new faculty for the summer would be
on May 27th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.
He also mentioned that annual Safety Training would be moved from June
to September for
Physics/Engineering/Astronomy and January for Geology/Environmental
Science
c.) Students for Environmental
Outreach Update Amy Cunningham reported that the 24 hours to Empower went
great. Amy thanked the faculty that
participated in the bike ride. She also talked about having the event again
next year and other events too.
d.) End of Fiscal Year It was announced that
money in the budget needs to by spent before the end
of the fiscal year.
e.) Discussion of Possible Policy Limiting
Distracting use of Technology by Students in Class Following
discussion
of the possibility of a policy limiting distracting use of personal technology
in class by students, the following statement was agreed
upon.
The department encourages and
supports instructors to make a reasonable instructional policy regarding use of
personal electronics in the class.
Students acting in a distracting way are in violation of the
college
policy.
f.) Discussion of ways to Improve Communication with Adjunct Faculty
Everyone discussed ways to improve communication with adjunct faculty. It was agreed that a first semester
expectation check list would be developed for new adjunct faculty. George
Staff, Jim Heath and Elliot Richmond volunteered to come up with the check list.
g.) Student
Evaluations There was a discussion concerning student evaluations. Everyone shared their
suggestions and
concerns. It was agreed that a reminder email
would be sent to faculty when
evaluations were to be requested for the spring and summer
semester.
h.) Lab
Coordinators Updates It was agree that updates from lab coordinators would be
on the agenda
for every department meeting.
i.)
Improving Student Orientation of Departmental Website Everyone agreed that
the department website needed improvement on student orientation. Once the new Computer Lab Support Technician is
hired, the website would be updated. It
was also suggested that a Content Committee should be formed. Jeff
Bechtold, AlanUnderwood, Chris Cavall, Luis
Cuellar and Bob Blodgett volunteered to be on the
committee.
j.) Possible Face book Pages Chris Cavalli led
a discussion about having a department face book.
She then showed everyone an example
of the ACC Astronomy face book that she had developed.
Everyone agreed that it was a good
idea but was also agreed that the college had to be asked first if it
was
acceptable.
Minutes of GEOL/ESTE Subcommittee
May 8, 2009
GEOL 1403 Lab Manual A brief discussion was held, no decision was made.
Minutes of PHYS/AST/ENG Subcommittee
May 8, 2009
Participants Paul Williams, Lala Guerra, Saad
Eways, Paul Nacozy, Chris Cavalli, Jim Heath , James Friedrichsen, CD Rao,
Elliot Richmond, Jeff Bechtold, Dean Becker, Hadi Parhikhteh, Luis Cuellar,
Karl Trappe, Allen Underwood, Gary
Crane, Mostafa Pirna, John Cise, Larry Wigginton, Qurrat Thakur,
Chair for PHYS Assessment
Jeff Bechtold volunteered to
become Chair for PHYS Assessment.
New Engineering Course and
Degree Option Possibilities
There was a discussion of a new Electrical
Engineering course and a degree option possibility offered at ACC. Suggestion and concerns were shared. Everyone agreed in principle in offering a circuits course and pursuing the Field of Study degree
options in Engineering. A committee consisting of Saad Eways, Allen Underwood,
and Paul Williams was formed to investigate and draft the changes.
It was pointed out that the paperwork had to be
completed by February 2010 for the class and degree to be offered in fall 2010.
Required Topics for PHYS 1405
Chapter 5 and Chapter 17 were the only required
topics for PHYS 1405 that were changed.
Everyone agreed to the change.
Scheduling Training for
Connects System
There was a discussion over
scheduling training for the Connects System that is linked to the Giambattista
textbook. It was agreed that an in
person training would be scheduled for early August but an earlier online or an
in person training would be considered for those that could not attend in
August.
PHYS 1653 Committee
The 1653 Committee met and agreed
to use the Giambattista textbook. The
committee agreed to change the required topics for PHYS 1653 too.