UW-Stout Physics Department meeting Minutes

 

2008-01-16          Jarvis Hall  SW 103-J Wednesday Afternoon  3:30 pm

 

Members present: Mark Larchez (chair), Paul Henkiel, Jo Hopp, Laura McCullough, Jim Pejsa, John Rompala, Alan Scott, Ellen Carlson, and Usha Raut

 

 1.  Announcements

a)      Announcement of the University re-alignment plan has been made. http://www2.uwstout.edu/news/index.asp?event=news.get&id=1166

The Physics department will be in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)

 

b)      All necessary student tutor positions have been filled. However it would useful if we could recruit another student tutor. Please give suggested names to Ellen.

 

c)      Up-to-date enrollment figures were announced. Most classes have been filled

 

d)      Summer class offering requests will be submitted soon. (Astronomy, College Phys I, Geo & Soils?)

 

Astronomy will meet on campus at a time to be determined.

 

College Physics I and Geology & Soils Mechanics will be offered on-line.

 

e)      Regular department meetings will be at 9:05 am Fridays as needed.  Meetings may be needed on most Fridays. Some of the meetings will be of the personnel committee. Meeting on Wednesdays at 9:05 a.m. are not feasible this semester.

 

f)        Ellen requested a copy of your “first day” info for students. (Include attendance policy.) and three copies of your spring schedule. Please submit them by January 25, 2008

 

g)      Lab set-up: Student Casey Konopacky will return.  He generally will be doing set-up overnight. Be sure he is aware of your needs in a timely fashion (either the day before, or further in advance as needed.)  Be sure to give adequate instruction, and that the instructions are properly understood.

 

h)      Please make known how many copies of the lab manual(s) you will need for your students

 

Henkiel asked for 50 College Physics I lab manuals and 25 College Physics II manuals

 

Pejsa asked for 48 College Physics I lab manuals

 

Rompala asked for 48 College Physics I lab manuals

 

i)        The procedures for student use of the lab printers have changed. Instructions can be found on the Physics department web page under the link Lab Resources, Lab Printer Install.

 

 

 

 

j)        Two people have been hired temporality for this semester, Professor Emeritus Robert Foley and Dr. Usha Raut. Professor Foley is teaching College Physics II, Geology & Soils Mechanics, and Statics and Strengths of Materials. Dr Raut is teaching University Physics II lab.

 

k)      Foley requested copies of text books for his classes.

 

l)        Professor Larchez’s retirement party will be held Thursday January 17, 2008

 

m)    Professor Scott’s grant for the ESEA Wisconsin Improving Teacher Quality was approved.

 

n)      Pejsa stated he would setup the new color laser printer.

 

o)      Dr. Carl Picconatto talks Thursday and Friday 21-22 of February.

 

 2. Minutes for previous meetings:

 

a)      meeting of 2007-12-14: Scott moved to accept the minutes Hopp 2nd motion passed

 

b)      meeting of 2007-12-19: Scott moved to accept the minutes Hopp 2nd motion passed

 

c)      meeting of 2007-12-20: Scott moved to accept the minutes Hopp 2nd motion passed

 

 3.  Budget

 

a)  There is $242 left from the $800 the Dean has provided for travel. Also $800 from department funds remains for travel. From the travel money some will be spent on Hopp’s meeting in La Crosse and $150 for Rompala’s poster presentation.

 

b) Supplies & equipment:

Hopp had unexpected repair costs. She has request that her $500 be replenished. There remains $1500 in the services and supplies fund and $2300 for access to learning. These funds and the professional development funds should all be spent by the end of February.

 

c) This semester’s student help funds were supplemented by $1500 from the English and Philosophy Department. Thank you Dr. Levy.

 

5.  Equipment, Lab Scheduling and Setup: Lab classes will all meet as scheduled.

 

6. Hiring (group convenes as personnel committee). Deliberations and decisions were made in closed session. The closed sessions are to consider personnel matters, as permitted by s. 19.85(1)(c) and s. 19.85 (1)(f), Wis. Stats.  The meeting will reconvene in open session after the closed session.

 

7. adjourn

 

Respectfully submitted,

Paul Henkiel, recording secretary