Minutes of Physical Sciences Task Force

December 5, 2008

 

 

 

Meeting Place:            RVS 2266      

Meeting Time:             10:00 am

Participants:                Paul Williams, Lala Guerra, Saad Eways, Paul Nacozy, Chris Cavalli, Jim Heath, Ron Johns, James Friedrichsen, CD Rao,  Amy Cunningham, Elliot Richmond, Bob Blodgett, Jeff Bechtold, Sal Valastro, Dean Becker, George Staff, Meredith Denton-Hedrick, John Cise, Allen Underwood

 

1.) Approval of Agenda

2.) Approval of Minutes from:  October 3, 2008 and November 7, 2008 after a few corrections.

3.) Information items presented:

      a.)  Assessment - Everyone was reminded about Assessment again. 

      b.)  Reminder about Upcoming Safety Training –It was announced that Geology and Environmental

            Science’s Annual Safety Training would be the Saturday (January 17, 2009) at NRG before classes

            started and the second one would be the Saturday (January 24, 2008) after school started at RGC.  Paul

            Nacozy also reminded everyone that the Hazcom safety training was online. 

      c.)  eStaffing - Everyone was reminded about eStaffing for summer 2009.  Paul Williams showed

            everyone a chart of dates to follow for eStaffing.

      d.)  Fulltime Positions Deadline Extended – Deadlines for the fulltime Geology and Physics positions were

            extended to January 7, 2008.

      e.)  Student for Environmental Outreach –

            a.         Recycle ACC video -   Amy Cunningham informed everyone at the meeting that she had an                                 email sent out with a link of the ACC Recycle video to everyone at ACC, including ACC                                                students.

            b.         Taste the Waste – The Taste of Waste at RGC on November 10th thru the 13th was quite fun and

                         it also raised awareness. 

            c.         CO2 Inventory at SAC – Students are conducting a CO2 Inventory at SAC to find out how                                much carbon footprint is being produced. 

            d.         24 Hours to Empower – Amy reminded everyone again about the 24 hours to Empower. She

                        told everyone that it would either be the beginning of March or April.  If anyone is

                        interested in participating, please let her know. 

             e.        Sustainable Business Class Survey – Amy mentioned that a survey was going around to

                        determine if a Sustainable Business Class was in need.

             f.         Club Email List - If anyone is interested in being on the club email list, please let Amy

                        Cunningham know.

            g.         Lobby Congress – Students will be lobbing and meeting with legislatures to talk about

                        Environmental issues.

      f.)  Are Fulltime Faculty Interested in Shifting to Annual Schedules – After a brief discussion, the fulltime

            faculty indicated that they were not interested in shifting to annual schedules.

      g.)  Plan to Review and Update Catalog - Everyone was reminded that catalog updates were due on

            February 19, 2009 for fall 2009. 

      h.)  Solar System Astronomy Lab Course - James Heath showed everyone in the meeting the formal

            proposal for Solar System Astronomy lab course.  After questions, suggestions and concerns were

            shared about the proposal, the course was accepted and approved

       i.)  PHYS 1653 - After concerns shared about PHYS 1653, it was decided that a committee needed to be

            formed.  Members of the committee are as followed: Paul Williams, John Cise,

            Dean Becker, James Friedrichsen and Saad Eways.

5.) New Business:

 

Minutes of PHYS/AST/ENG Subcommittee

December 5, 2008

 

Participants                 Paul Williams, Lala Guerra, Saad Eways, Paul Nacozy, Chris Cavalli, Jim Heath, James Friedrichsen, CD Rao,  Elliot Richmond, Jeff Bechtold, Dean Becker, John Cise, Allen Underwood

 

                                    Discussion of Textbook Search Process for PHYS 1401

                                    After a discussion, it was agreed that the representatives of the Publishing Companies would be emailed and asked to send copies of textbooks for 1401 to fulltime instructors to review.  Two or three copies would also be sent to NRG, CYP, RGC and RVS administrative assistant offices for adjunct faculty to check out. 

 

                                    PHYS 1653 textbook

                                                It was agreed that the Committee for PHYS 1653 would choose the new textbook for the course.              

                                   

                                    CD of AAPT Demonstration show

                                    The CD of AAPT Demonstration was not available but John Cise passed out information of his use of NY Times articles that was presented at the Summer 2008 AAPT meeting.