Physics Department Meeting Minutes – January 17, 2006

Jarvis Hall Science Wing 112

 

Members Present: Mark Larchez (chair), Jim Pejsa, Jo Hopp (substitute recording secretary), Alan Scott, Bob Foley, John Rompala, Paul Henkiel, Ellen Carlson

Mark called the meeting to order at 1:05pm.

 

 

I. Announcements

 

1.  There will be no summer offerings from the physics department for Summer term 2006.

 

2.  Levi has returned this semester for helping with lab equipment and set-up.

 

3.  Ellen is still recruiting for office help.  Farien, Ben and Erin have left.  Casey will be available during pre-week and then it will be Jen and Casey when the semester starts.  Ellen hopes to hire more help soon.

 

4.  Laura (for Women and Science Spring Meeting), Jo (for Women and Science Spring Meeting) and Allen (for Science Olympiad) have requested travel funds for the spring semester.

 

5.  There is a meeting for the science wing renovation on Wed. Jan. 18 at 10 am in Applied Arts 210.  It was suggested that we all go as it may be an opportunity to give input.  Mark will try to get a copy of the current plan before the meeting from George Acker or Chuck Bomar.

 

 

II. Minutes:

 

1.  Minor changes (spelling and typos) were made on the minutes from the department meeting on 11-18-2005.  Allen made a motion to approve the minutes; John seconded.  Minutes were approved.

 

III. Faculty Senate Report:

 

Allen Scott reported from the faculty senate meeting:

            At the last meeting they discussed long term plans for the University in terms of land acquisition.

 

 

IV. Spring Class Schedule

 

1. Mark handed out the current class, room and lab schedule.  It was pointed out that there is a potential lab equipment conflict in early February between College Physics I and Introduction to Physics.  It was asked that the instructors work it out prior to the scheduled labs.

 

2. The spring holiday is 4 days this year (Friday through Monday).  Classes resume on Tuesday (April 18).

 

V. Budget (current year)

 

S&S: most people have not spent their $500 professional monies.  Allen made a motion to allot $250 to Paul for this semester.  Mark amended the motion to increase it to $500.  Bob seconded with the amendment.  Motion passed. Ellen has asked us to spend the $500 or tell her if it will not be needed so it can go into the pot.  Currently there is $1900 uncommitted.

 

Travel: currently ~$1350 uncommitted funds.  This money should be spent on travel but could be moved to supplies and services if no travel funds are needed.  Travel should be completed by June 1.

 

Access to Learning: Currently $700 uncommitted.  The calculators and Science News Magazines have been ordered.  All information for ordering any currently needed/wanted items should be brought to the next meeting.

 

Big Stuff “Orders”: administration may tell us there is money available for large purchases, so we should be thinking about what we might want.  If there is a lot of money left over they will use it to upgrade the wireless in Harvey Hall and Applied Science.  In the past $10000 and up was typically rewarded.  Let Mark know of any ‘requests’, since the request from administration for ideas usually comes with little notice and little time to respond.  Bob suggested an IR camera that was suggested in a previous year.  He will track down all the information. 

 

Repairs:  There was a small mishap with the X-Ray detector.  It will cost ~$1800 to fix.  There is $1328 available for repairs and we had to use an additional $500.  The detector is currently unavailable for use.

 

VI. General Education Assessment

 

Mark received feedback from last spring submissions. Most items were in need of some improvement or great improvement.  It was thought that the right information was not submitted.  Mark attended a Best Practices meeting in the morning (1/17) and at that meeting it was suggested that multiple section classes should have the same assessment because of the way the school’s accreditation process is.  Bob suggested that this violates academic freedom.  There is a faculty senate committee that examines this issue and this committee has asked to be presented with information on what we do in the classroom (evaluation, reflection, ect.).  It was suggested by the department that this committee should give concrete examples of what exactly they want and how they want it.

 

VII. Fall Class Schedule

 

The registrar has asked for the submission of class schedules for Fall 06, Spring 07 and Summer 07.  Mark asked the department to think about the schedule for the future keeping in mind that General Physics has consistently dropped enrollment.  It was suggested to get rid of General Physics and decrease the requirement for College Physics to involve algebra only.  It was suggested to make this an agenda item for the next meeting and perhaps invite Hans (Construction) to inform him of what the department is thinking about.

 

Adjournment:

 

The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 pm.

 

Submitted by Jo Hopp (substitute recording secretary)