Physics Department Meeting
January 18, 2005
Jarvis Hall Science Wing 103I

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

M. Larchez called the meeting to order at 1:03 p.m.

1.  Announcements

a)  Ellen’s position has been reclassified.

M. Larchez and M. Ondrus had requested that E. Carlson’s classification be upgraded.  An upgrade has been approved.  The members congratulated E. Carlson and thanked her for her contribution to the department.

b)  New Course Proposal for Applied Science Profession II (APSC=401) will be submitted for departmental approval by A. Parsons at our next meeting.

Copies of the proposal were distributed prior to the meeting.  A. Parsons will attend the next meeting.

c)  Submitted summer 2005 schedule is to show Meteorology.

d)  Student Levi Stodala will begin working with Dennis on lab setup.

e)  E. Carlson is planning for office help.

The schedule for office help during the semester is being formulated.  Office help is available during Professional Development Week.

f)  Several more student tutors are needed.

Please submit possible names to E. Carlson today or tomorrow.  Approximately four new tutors are needed.  She will contact those suggested and inquire as to their interest.

g)  Budget:  M. Larchez asked that members submit needs soon.  Departmental funds are available for the needs of individual members.  Needs are to be submitted by March 11th Learning Access funds to support student learning are also available.

h)  Other:  J. Pejsa informed members that a clone of student laptops is available for use in developing software utilities for student access.

2.  Minutes for the meeting of 2004-12-20: 

A preliminary version is available at the department’s web site.  Action on that version was postponed until the next meeting.

3.  Departmental requests for Special Projects funding must be prioritized.

Members prioritized funding as follows:

·        Apparatus for Modern Physics experiments in Nuclear Spectra, and the Speed of Light.

·        An infrared thermal imaging camera

·        An extended Gas Chromatograph maintenance contract

4.  Hiring:  Faculty position beginning Fall 2005

a)  L. McCullough informed members that the position is not yet formally approved.  This may delay candidate screening until late February.

b) Update and possible discussion of recruiting materials was postponed since response from the Provost’s Office has not yet been received.

c)  Other:  The department has developed and approved all five recruiting tools.

5.  Spring class schedule:

a) Labs: P. Henkiel distributed copies of the scheduling of experiments during the spring semester

b)  Other: M. Larchez distributed copies of the updated spring class schedule.  Updates include adding a section of College Physics II and deleting University Physics II.  The summary instructor schedule showed that a convenient department meeting time was restricted to Friday, 9:05 a.m..

6.  Fall class schedule:  M. Larchez distributed copies of the partial fall class schedule.  That schedule reflected the removal of University Physics I.

7.  Proposal for Science Ed Concentration in Applied Science has been approved recently by the Applied Science program committee. 

Copies of the concentration description were distributed to member for review and future action.

L, McCullough, will begin serving as program director and offer courses within this concentration during next fall.  She will retain her position within the Physics Department during that time but her contribution to the Applied Science program might necessitate release time.  Members agreed that this time would be covered through overloads and through auxiliary staffing.  The members discussed options for addressing this contingency based on a list of topics distributed by M. Larchez.  That list and member suggestions follows:

(i)                              General or College-Maintain the current status.

(ii)                            University I- Restore this offering..

(iii)                           Intro Physics-Maintain the current status

(iv)                          Geology-Add a section.

(v)                            Geo & Soil-Maintain the current status.

(vi)                          Meteorology-Drop the evening section and allow overloads in the morning section.

(vii)                         Light and Color-Maintain both the, with and without lab, versions if instructor scheduling permits.

(viii)                       Astronomy-Drop the one credit version and offer the three credit version if instructor scheduling permits.

Member suggested that M. Larchez follow the following prioritized list in implement additions to the fall schedule:  (viii), (iv) and (vii)

8.  Plans for assessment of General Ed:

M. Larchez distributed copies of a suggested template members could use in formulating assessment plans for courses they offered this past fall.  He asked that members submit their plans by Friday.

9.  Other: 

Members receive proposed college level mission and vision statements along with related goals and proposed actions.  Department members can forward their comments regarding these goals and actions to the Chair.  He will carry them to the College Council meeting this coming Wednesday.

R. Foley reported that the scanner in SW103J is now working and that the associated computer has been replaced.

10.  Adjourn:

The meeting was adjourned by common consent at 2:58 p.m..

Respectfully submitted,

JTR