Physics Department Meeting

January 14, 2004

Jarvis Hall Science Wing 103I

Members present: Mark Larchez (chair), Ellen Carlson, Robert Foley, Paul Henkiel, Laura McCullough, Jim Pejsa, John Rompala

M. Larchez called the meeting to order at 09:05 (a.m.)

1.      Announcements:

a)     Yang Yannan arrives from China and will be shadowing Laura McCullough

b)  Luke, our lab worker will be available certain times this week.  Dennis will not start until after the first day of classes.

c)  Laura has received permission to get a Mac computer and matching money is available.

d)  We will surplus our ink-jet and dot matrix printers. Luke will be asked to help with this.

e)  The LCR meter has been located.

2.      Minutes of 2003-12-05 meeting:

Motion: J. Pejsa/L McCullough:  That the minutes of the 2003-12-05 be accepted as submitted..

Action: Passed, with corrections, in a voice vote.

3.      Faculty Senate: report from Departmental Senator Jim Pejsa

      No Report

4.      Lab Equipment Difficulties: 

      No major problems

5.      Budget:

a)   Department needs to beginning spending remaining funds.  Items suggested for consideration include: angle finders, infrared camera & color laser printer.

b)   Each faculty member has up to $400 dollars to spend on their selected equipment/supply items.

c)   Learning Access items were discussed including laboratory paper, rulers, protractors, optical kits, and CD's.

d)  The Department agreed to support Science Olympiad involvement with $250 of travel money.

6.      Applied Science Program:

The Applied Science program was discussed.  There are currently 77 full time students. The department consensus was to support new concentrations, such as material science, etc, as long as the Physics Department has the available or needed resources.  At this time we are down a half-time position and are just able to need current demands.

7.    Class Offerings:

      P. Henkiel distributed Laboratory Schedules and some small changes were made.  Course offering were also discussed.  Due to limited staffing, it was decided not to offer Astronomy in the coming semester.

8.      Departmental Staffing:

No action has yet been taken regarding the status of the department’s sole academic staff position.  The Dean is considering the situation. The Chair will discuss with the Dean how critical it is that the department have this position to maintain the present level and quality of offerings

9.   Other:

       No other items were brought before the members.

10 .  Adjourn (10:00 a.m.)

Respectfully Submitted, Robert  J. Foley, Secretary