UW-Stout Physics Department meeting minutes

Friday 2006-02-24    Jarvis Hall  SW 112

 

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

 

The meeting was called to order by Mark Larchez at 9:05 a.m.

 

1.      Announcements

 

a)      Jarvis SW renovation project: Final revisions have been sent to George Acker who will get them to System by Feb 28. The physics shop and the physics tutoring area have been restored to the plan.  The adjacency items that were omitted from the previous revision have been submitted again. There is a meeting for all science and math faculty on March 1st.

 

b)     Program review meeting for both Applied Math and Applied Science is this afternoon (Friday Feb 24). The program review report from F. Schultz is available.

 

c)      If department members wish to observe Jo Hopp’s teaching, do so before spring break or at the beginning of the fall semester. The retention decision is mid to late fall.

 

d)     Laura McCullough has submitted a paper to the Journal of College Science Teaching. On Mark’s request, Laura sent a copy to all department members to read. The paper discussed the use of Science News in the classroom.

 

e)      The physics department is invited to an open discussion with the chair of CalPoly, who will be visiting March 20. The meeting is at 1:25 p.m. in a room to be announced.

 

f)       A DataTel printing request from Kay Schnur was discussed.

 

2.      Minutes for meeting of 2006-01-17 were approved with minor changes.  (Scott/Larchez)

 

3.      Faculty Senate report from Alan Scott: Out of state tuition is rising; new alert system for freshman from Dean of Students office; Travel requirements have changed, Orbitz is not to be used; the polytechnic issue was discussed; facility use by religious groups was discussed.

 

4.      PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

The department personnel committee was convened in open session. The Application for Dahlgren Professorship received from Alan Scott was discussed. A motion to approve the application as “recommended” was made and approved. (Foley/McCullough) The personnel committee meeting was adjourned and the department meeting was re-convened. 

 

5.      Inter-departmental relations between physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics were discussed. The department decided to send possible gathering times to the other chairs in an effort to enhance the sense of community among math and science.

6.      Budget

a)      Ideas for spending approximately $3000 should be submitted to Mark or Ellen within the next week (by March 3). A new server is one possibility. Members should tell Ellen by spring break if they plan to use their $500. The plastic study guide sheets need to be ordered; Ellen and Laura will determine how many to order.

 

7.      General Ed assessment
The General Education committee returned our assessment report from last spring. There was discussion on what was expected last spring and what will be expected this semester (Spring 2006).

 

8.      The meeting was adjourned at 10:01 a.m.

 

 

Minutes respectfully submitted by Laura McCullough, recording secretary.