Physics Department Meeting

Minutes August 31, 2004

JHSW 103J

Department members attending: Mark Larchez (chair), Bob Foley, Paul Henkiel, Laura McCullough, Jim Pejsa, John Rompala, Alan Scott, Ellen Carlson

1. Minutes for the May 6, 2004 meeting were approved with minor edits.

2. No report from new Faculty Senator Alan Scott.

3. Announcements:

a. Department meetings will be at 9:05 a.m. on alternate Fridays beginning September 3.

b. Ellen will take several vacation days in November.

c. GCMS and XRF are working. The department approved spending funds to support the running of this equipment, up to several hundred dollars.

d. Give Ellen the names of students who would make good tutors for this fall.

e. Information from the library is currently sent to Mark. Mark will send cards he thinks of interest to department members, and the library “choice” cards will be put into a box in the workroom for people to peruse as they wish.

f. Journals are now in room 103J. Items on the cart are up for grabs. Anything left by next Thursday will be offered to students.

g. The new keys open rooms in the physics office and the 103-122 corridor, but do not open the lecture rooms. Ellen will request that instructors have key access to the lecture classrooms 140, 141, 152, and 153. Ellen will also request roof access for Jim Pejsa to be able to service the weather station.

h. General Education assessment workshops are offered on Sept. 1.

4. Budget:

Travel—$1600 in travel funds available. $1000 to Laura for the summer AAPT meeting. Travel to the WAPT meeting in Oshkosh will be supported.

Supplies & Services—$6000 has been budgeted by Ellen for normal supplies, leaving approximately $10,000 for equipment and supplies. Each department member will have $500 in discretionary funds; ask Ellen to order items from these funds. Research will also be supported; $500-$600 was approved for John for software.

Student Help—Ellen will work on scheduling. If possible, student assistance will be scheduled for Bob, Laura, and John for a few hours each week. If needed, office help will be reduced from 8-5 every day, every hour to blocks of time.

Computer cost-share program—Mark, Alan, and Bob are in rotation for new laptops.

5. Dennis is this year’s lab setup worker. A new student needs to be trained in the spring since Dennis is graduating.

Lab schedule: Paul has created a tentative schedule. Talk to Paul and Dennis if there are changes. Room 115 will be reserved 2:30-4:30 on Wednesdays for Bob’s College Physics class. Other room issues should be mentioned to Ellen by Friday.

Room 121 had a computer hard drive failed. It has been replaced.

Room 115 has a computer software problem and is being worked on.

Friday’s open lab has low attendance and hours may be reduced if funds are tight.

LoggerPro needs to be on the keyserver next year for University Physics labs.

6. Possible hiring for a tenure-track position. The personnel committee is all members of the department. Mark suggested getting the process started early. Meetings will most likely take place Fridays at 9:05 as needed. A smaller search-and-screen committee was suggested.

7. Other:

There is a digital recorder available in room 122.

Forrest Schultz would like to work on getting a joint meeting time for all the sciences as well as Applied Science seminars.

Laura will be working on a science education licensure concentration within Applied Science.

The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Laura McCullough, secretary