Minutes of Physical Sciences Task Force

November 7, 2008

 

 

 

Meeting Place:            RVS 2266      

Meeting Time:             10:00 am

Participants:                Lala Guerra, Saad Eways, Paul Nacozy, Chris Cavalli, Jim Heath, Ron Johns, James Friedrichsen, Hadi Parhikhteh, Mike McGraw, CD Rao,  Amy Cunningham, Luis Cuellar, Cindy Carr, Eric Ebner, Elliot Richmond, Bob Blodgett, Jeff Bechtold, Leslie Davis, Anne Turner, Sal Valastro, Qurrat Thakur, Karl Trappe, Dean Becker

 

1.) Approval of Agenda

2.) Approval of Minutes from:   

3.) Information items presented:

      a.)  Portfolios - Everyone was reminded that Portfolios are due November 7, 2008.  James Heath als0 reminded everyone that the Faculty input form is also part of the evaluation. 

      b.) Conduct Assessment – Everyone was reminded that the assessments tests needed to be conducted. Guidelines on how to conduct assessments test are posted in the department website.  If any further

           questions, faculty should contact Paul Williams, Ron Johns or James Heath.  The results will be collected and will be presented and discussed at the first department meeting in the Spring.

     c.)  TCCTA Meeting in Austin – It was announced that the Texas Community College Teacher Association (TCCTA) would be in Austin February 19th through the 21st.   More information on the TCCTA meeting    

             will be emailed to everyone later.

      d.)  Physics Simulations Workshop - Everyone was informed that the Physics Simulations workshop would be on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Northridge campus in room 2228 at 10:00am.

      e.)  Update on Round Rock Planning – There was an update of the Physical Sciences layout for the Round Rock Planning.  Some changes had to be made because the labs and lecture classes were in different             buildings.  So Physical Sciences and    Chemistry were moved to building B where the lab would be.  Biology reminded in building C.For Phase II, Physical Sciences will possibly be moved back to Building C once the expansion of the building is completed.

      f.)   Reminder of ELMO Demonstration – Everyone was reminded about the ELMO demonstration at             1:30pm at RVS  today in room 2266.

      g.)  Student for Environmental Outreach –

            a.         Recycle ACC video -   Amy Cunningham shared a video with everyone that her students developed for recycling at ACC.

            b.         Taste the Waste –  Taste of Waste will be at RGC on November 10th thru the 13th in the student lounge. Everyone is welcomed.

            c.         CO2 Inventory at SAC –  Students are conducting a CO2 Inventory at SAC to find out SAC’s carbon footprint.  Amy mentioned if anyone was interested in helping with the CO2 Inventory, they were welcomed to join the committee.  The committee meetings are every Friday at the SAC in the multipurpose room

            d.         24 Hours to Empower – Amy reminded everyone that there would be another 24 hours to Empower in the Spring.  If interested in participating, let  her know. 

      h.)  Workshops on Trinity Site - James Heath informed everyone that Bruce Darling visited the Trinity Site where the first Nuclear test took place.  Bruce took some pictures and would like to know if anyone would be interested in a Trinity Site workshop.  Everyone showed interested.

      i.)   Astronomy website – Chris Cavalli shared the Astronomy website she had developed with everyone in the meeting.

      i.)   Solar System Astronomy Lab Course - James Heath suggested initiating a Solar System Astronomy lab course.  There was a discussion about the item.  Questions, suggestions and concerns were shared.            James said that he and Paul Williams would develop a formal proposal for the December Department meeting    

 

 

 

Minutes of PHYS/AST/ENG Subcommittee

November 7, 2008

 

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

 

                                    Laser Safety

                                    Eric Ebner shared his updated Laser Safety Sheet with everyone.  There were a few changes made and everyone agreed to the proposal as follows:

 

                                    Passing out the condensed Laser Safety Sheet to students prior to their first laser lab.

 

                                    Including the more detailed Laser Safety Sheet in our Safety Manuals.

 

                                    Passing out the more detailed Laser Safety Sheet in our Safety Training classes.