Physical Sciences Task Force
Meeting Minutes
November 19, 1999

The Physical Sciences Task Force met at 9:30 AM Friday, November 19, 1999 in room 326 at RGC. Members in attendance: Underwood, Becker, Bechtold, Heath, Potter, Pirnia, Blodgett, Johns, Staff, Nelson, Cise, Williams, Prahovic, Pedigo.

    1. Approval of Agenda - approved, with the item on Solutions Manuals in the Tutorial Labs moved to the AST/ENR/PHY subcommittee meeting and the Insurance item moved to the head of the agenda to accomodate Michele Faust.
    2. Approval of Minutes- The Minutes of the October 15 meeting were approved.
    3. The latest rumor about rules on faculty portfolios was discussed. Despite the memo we sent asking for the portfolio structure we approved last month, the word is that a one-size-fits-all portfolio will be required this year, with content intermediate between what we proposed and what the college wanted for the most complex portfolio. Basically all exams and syllabi together with a narrative on why you teach the way you do. The TF members reiterated their previous position on this issue.
    4. Michele Faust gave a presentation on the proposed ACC policy on student insurance. The Task Force felt that students should not be required to purchase such insurance, but that it should be made available on a voluntary basis if possible. After discussion, the attached statement was adopted based on a Draft prepared by the Chair.
    5. Job descriptions for Task Force and Task Force Chair were distributed, and a brief report on the development of the Summer schedule was presented. Adjunct recruitment was discussed, and new ideas were solicited (none were presented). The possibility of Temporary Full-Time faculty positions to solve the Spring 2000 schedule crunch was mentioned, and the TF Chair agreed to notify adjuncts if and when such positions are announced. It was noted that the GEO 2614 change to 4-3-3 hours was approved by the Curriculum Committee at their last meeting.
    6. Items for discussion and thought were presented but not acted upon, including: staffing options for Summer 2000 classes, such as full-time summer work for full-time faculty; the issue of adding or deleting courses from the physical sciences to the Core Curriculum; the upcoming Academic Master Plan for review in Spring 2000, and the related Unit-Level Effectiveness database (about which we know almost nothing).
    7. The new training requirement for mentoring was discussed. The TF feels that it is a waste of time, but the Chair agreed to ask the FDO if we could at least get the training for those of us who are interested done in bulk.
    8. Under New Business, Paul announced that anyone interested in having a Multi-Semester Term Appointment (MSTA) must re-apply now for this year's decision even if they already have it for this fall. The same goes for the designation Highest Priority to Hire (HPTH). Apply to Paul Williams. Also under new business, the Chair announced that we have been asked to clarify our TF policy on accepting "D" grades for graduation. The Chair was directed to issue a statement that "D" grades are unacceptable on any math or science course in our degree plans, but that the student could repeat such courses to attain a higher grade which could then be used for graduation.
    9. Breakout sessions-

GEO/PSC - 1.) Discussed SACS assessment procedures and compilation of results for ‘98-’99 academic year. Ron Johns will handle SACS assessment for Geology, Bob Blodgett for Physical Science. 2.)Discussion of capital monies supposedly allotted to Geology. Ron Johns will investigate to determine if said monies are actually in account to purchase GIS computers and software. 3.) Notification of Wilderness Medicine class taught by Jeff Rubin at UT to any interested parties. 4.) Ron Johns will check into procedures for setting up geology tutors at the main campuses (NRG, RGC, RVS). 5.) Discussion about purchasing hardware for wiring up the computers in the CYP labroom shared by Biology and Geology. Ron Johns will contact Ed Meyerthal about funds needed.

AST/ENR/PHY - (1) John Cise gave a report on the tour of Dell. (2) The Chair gave a report on the status of FTF positions in AST and PHY/ENR for Fall 2000. VP Elva Allie approved both job descriptions and our advertising campaign in Physics Today as of November 11, 1999. The Chair hand-carried a draft of the ad to Stacy Wooten at HR, who nevertheless decided to write her own version. We are waiting to see if the ad makes the deadline for the January 2000 issue. (3) The Tech Plan money has been announced, and Physics received over $13,000, which was just enough to cover the number one item on last year's proposal: updating video capture capability at all physics labs. The dollar figures did not exactly match, but it was decided to go ahead and purchase the necessary computers and video cameras rather than trying to seek clarification on what items were actually approved. (4) The TF also agreed to begin review of Engineering Physics textbooks very early in the spring, because the deadline for entering approved texts for fall will occur by early March. Everyone should review the available texts during the holiday and bring their favorite to the next meeting in February. (5) The eligibility lists for AST/ENR/PHY were circulated, and comments were solicited. The Chair will prepare an updated list for the Asst Deans to use in Spring scheduling. (6) The Summer 2000 schedule was discussed. Physics is a High-Demand discipline for summer, so we decided to add a few sections, and to ask for money to extend physics to RVS, perhaps as early as this summer. Otherwise the schedule should stay the same as much as possible within the new scheduling guidelines. (7) Jeff Bechtold asked the TF to formulate a policy on keeping solution manuals out of student's hands in the tutoring labs. After some discussion it was agreed that our policy should be that solutions manuals are for tutors only, not for students, and that the Chair should send a memo about this to the Lab Managers.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 pm.

Submitted by Daryl Pedigo, TF Chair.