UW-Stout Physics Department Meeting Minutes (preliminary)

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Jarvis Hall, SW 103J

 

Members Present: Mark Larchez (chair), Robert Foley (Recording Secretary) Jo Hopp, Laura McCullough, Jim Pejsa, John Rompala, Alan Scott, and Ellen Carlson

 

The meeting was called to order by M. Larchez.

 

1.       Announcements.

a.       Minor corrections have been made to the lab room assignments so Intro to Physics Laboratory will meet in sw112 rather than sw109.

b.       Spring enrollments:  most classes are full—more so than expected.

c.       The Dahlgren and the Price professorships: Application deadline (departmental) is Feb 26, leaving a tight deadline for departmental recommendations. Laura plans to submit an application early.

d.       Office help- there will be some limited office help this coming week.  Student scheduled to work broke her collar bone, but still may be able to work.

e.       Laboratory Setup - Levi will work with new student helper, Casey Konopacky, to train him into the laboratory setup work.

f.        Bob Foley will no longer offer Statics and Strength of Materials over the web.

g.       Mark Larchez announced tentative plans to retire in one year (at the end of next fall semester).  Bob Foley announced tentative plans to retire in one and one-half years (at the end of next academic year's spring semester).

 

2.       Minutes for meeting of 2006-12-15.  Jim Pejsa moved and Alan Scott seconded approval of the minutes.  Small corrects were made after which the motion was approved.

3.       Faculty Senate: Report from departmental Faculty Senator Alan Scott:  There had not been a senate meeting since the last report so there was nothing new to report.

4.       Departmental Definition of Research: Item had been tabled on Dec 15, 2006.  It was not removed from the table but may be considered at the next department meeting.

5.       Lab Equipment & Procedures: No problems at this time.

6.       Beginning of Semester Schedules:  The semester course syllabuses will be stored in an archive on the Physics Department’s Server.  Faculty and staff are expected to supply their course information to Jim Pejsa.  Faculty and staff schedules should be submitted to Ellen Carlson (3 copies).

7.       CNERVE Project:  Jo Hopp will be participating in this cross disciplinary project (Physics, Mathematics, Philosophy, Biology, and Psychology).  Jo may team teach some related courses in the future.   

8.    Student Researcher: Jo Hopp will  have a student researcher working for her this semester.

9.    Budgets and travel: The department has been reduced by $1200 in Learning Access monies.  This was a surprise as the

       department was assured that is nothing new was requested, the budgeted amount would be the same as last year.  This turned

       out to be not true.  Department Chair Larchez was asked to find out why this had happened to the department.

a.       S&S:  Approximately $1800 uncommitted at this time.

b.       Travel:

c.       Learning Access

d.       Other

9.       Report of Summary Think Tank – Interdisciplinary Activities Center (IAC) Proposal:  There have been indications that part of this report was being used to suggest a merging of the science departments.  The was extensive discussion of this issue, including the fact that only one sentence in the report deals with merging and is some what neutral on the issue .  No action was taken.

10.   Adjournment:  It was moved to adjourn.  Motion passed.

 

Submitted by Robert Foley