Physical Sciences Task Force
Meeting Minutes
February 4, 2000

The Physical Sciences Task Force met at 9:30 AM Friday,, February 4, 2000 in room 326 at RGC. Members in attendance: Cavali, Valastro, Stege, Becker, Heath, Potter, Biggs, Blodgett, Johns, Staff, Cise, Underwood, Bechtold, Smith, Eways, Williams, Pirnia, Pedigo.

    1. Approval of Agenda - approved.
    2. Approval of Minutes- The Minutes of the November 19 meeting were approved with a minor name change.
    3. We discussed the fact that VP Elva Allie took away our two vacant full-time faculty positions despite vigorous protest. She has now re-approved ONE of the two, a physics position. The advertising published in the January issue of Physics Today refers to multiple positions, and sets a date that is impossible to follow because no job descriptions have been posted on the web yet. On the bright side, we did get several items approved for funding over the next few years in the Master Plan: physics at RVS, GEO monitoring well at NRG, Enviro Tech program, etc. Saad Eways has agreed to chair the committee for the Program Review of Engineering that will take place during 00-01. The next PR will be Geology/PSC in the 01-01 year. All adjuncts were notified that they must apply or re-apply to Paul Williams if they wish to be considered for a Multiple Semester Term Appointment for next year.
    4. Only a few textbook problems were reported for the Spring semester, and these were in courses for which multiple textbooks have been approved. The new system cannot guarantee that bookstores will order only the specific text desired by an instructor; bookstores may decide to order any other approved book on their own initiative. The eligibility lists need to be updated for next summer and fall, and the TF Chair asked permission to instruct Assistant Deans to hire only faculty on the approved list (in the past, some last-minute hiring was done without the required TF interviews). The TF directed the Chair to stop this practice. The new Competency Matrix for the Core Curriculum was distributed, and each faculty member was asked to attempt to fill out two of the forms: one for the courses they teach and one as a summary for the discipline. These will be reviewed at the next meeting. Adjuncts were reminded of the 2-hour discipline-specific training requirement, and it was aanounced that the TF will offer a training session in March or April to address this need. John Cise, Fac Devel Chair, will put together a plan.
    5. The four degree plans offered by our Task Force were reviewed, and it was noted that it will be impossible to include the entire Core Curriculum while still keeping the plan below 66 hours (except perhaps for the Physical science degree). The TF Chair was directed to protest this problem to the Core Curriculum Committee, and to suggest revision of the Core to include more math and/or science and less fluffy stuff. In addition, it was agreed that the TF Chair would contact the Math TF with a request that calculus be taught in a two-semester sequence (rather than the current three) in order to cut 4 hours out of our degree plans. The TF also agreed on modified portfolio requirements, with the modifications designed to allow us to assess whether faculty are following the guidelines adopted by the TF last year. The TF Chair was instructed to ask the Dean for permission to institute the following portfolio requirements: For Each Course Taught during 1999 (not just Fall), a copy of the syllabus and other 1st-day handouts, a schedule of lab activities by week or by date, a copy of each exam including the final exam, and a copy of two laboratory assignments (or other major assignments if not a lab course). In addition, for ONE course chosen by the faculty member, a 250-word narrative as described in the general portfolio requirements.
    6. The only new business involved summer opportunities for students.
    7. Breakout sessions-

GEO/PSC - (1) Approved new editions of Miller (11th) and Nebel and Wright (6th) for PSC 1603 (Science and the Environment). Also approved the new, 2000 edition of "Race to Save the Planet" for PSC 1603 ITV class. (2) Approved establishing a departmental policy that orientation is required for all ITV classes in GEO and PSC (identical to the already-existing open-campus policy that orientation is required). Students not attending the orientation may be dropped at the instructor’s discretion. (3) Revised the SACS assessment questions for Physical Geology (GEOL 1403). Ron Johns will send the revised list of questions to all faculty teaching the class this semester, and this list should be used beginning now. Revision of the assessment questions for PSC 1603 postponed. (4) Discussed the mutilation of the geology degree plan in an attempt to cram the 42 credit hours of core curricula into it. (5) Discussion of the PETE conference in Cocoa Beach about "Strengthening Your Environmental Program". Jan Smith will attend the conference and report back. (6) Updated office hour and field trip information. Ron Johns will notify the GEO/PSC faculty. (7) Brief discussion of installing computers in RGC 108.

AST/ENR/PHY - (1) Paul Williams proposed a PCM course for next year. Since he had no specific details, the TF asked him to formulate a proposal to offer a specific course next Spring. (2) The Chair gave a report on the status of FTF position in PHY for Fall 2000. The hiring committee consists of Daryl Pedigo (chair), Paul Williams, Saad Eways, David Fonken, and others to be named later. The time frame for interviews will be late March if we can ever get the job posted. (3) Jim Heath gave an update on PHYS 0141 for the 12-week session, with classes expected to begin February 14. (4) It was decided to leave the PHY / AST / ENR Assessment unchanged at present. (5) The TF Chair agreed to find the approved TCCN Course Descriptions for all of our courses so that we can consider possible changes to our course offerings, possibly to take effect next Fall. Initial indications are that only PHY 1603 and PHY 1653 may need special approval. (6) Textbooks for Engineering Physics were discussed at length. We finally agreed to adopt Tipler Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 4th edition (1999), phasing in with PHYS 2425 in Fall 00 and full adoption in Spring 01.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:20 pm.

Submitted by Daryl Pedigo, TF Chair.