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.
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.