Physics Department Meeting
September 12, 2003
Jarvis Hall Science Wing 103I
Members present: Mark Larchez (chair), Ellen Carlson, Robert Foley, Paul Henkiel, Laura McCullough, Jim Pejsa, John Rompala, Alan Scott
M. Larchez called the meeting to order at 09:05
1. Announcements:
M. Larchez informed members of several items presented at the last Dean’s Counsel meeting:
a) eScholar; Faculty/staff are encouraged to utilize this teacher/student interface.
b) Summer Online Course; The dean’s goal that one-half of CAS summer courses be online courses.
c) CAS Budget Forums; Multiple budget forums are scheduled in October in order to accommodate variations in faculty/staff schedules.
d) Baldridge Related Projects; The J. Furst-Bowe has announce the availability of funds to support faculty/staff proposals to strengthen University attributes which are components of the Baldridge model.
e) Speaker Fund; The dean now administers the university speakers fund (with approximately 6K current available). Faculty/staff are encourage to suggest potential quest speakers.
E. Carlson informed members of the contributions of student workers
f) Other; The student help schedules for the office and open laboratory have been formulated and are posted. The tutoring schedule is being developed.
2. Motion: A. Scott/L. McCullough: That the minutes of the 2003-08-25 meeting be approved as submitted.
M. Larchez noted that item 7b should indicated that department members can submit purchase orders.
Action: Passed As Amended in a voice vote.
Applied Science Program Director, Forrest Schultz dropped by at this point in the meeting offering to answer question regarding a following agenda item affecting the program. Members respectfully declined the offer.
3. Faculty Senate: Report from Departmental Senator Jim Pejsa.
a) Two members of the Senate attended system meetings. Topics discussed included revisions in course credit transfer policy between the technical college and university systems and shifts in the system funding base.
The Chancellor presented points of interest and goals to be achieved.
b) The compensation package is being formulated. It appears that no salary increases can be expected this year with perhaps a one percent increase in the second year of the biennium budget. Health care package may contain tiers of covered service requiring proportionate employee contributions.
c) Competency Based progress toward graduation is being considered as an alternate to Credit Based progress.
d) Consideration is being given to realignment of IT departments.
e) A reevaluation of Stout Solutions is being conducted.
f) Ways of improving student retention will be considered.
g) Ways of reducing alcohol abused by students will be considered.
J. Pejsa informed members of his Senate committee appointment.
h) The departmental representative was elected to serve as an alternate to the Senate’s Executive Committee.
Department members voice concern that the projected compensation package is flawed.
4. Lab Equipment Difficulties:
a) Members agreed that storage space is need.
b) J. Pejsa and P. Henkiel volunteered to begin inventorying and disposing of surplus supplies
c) M. Larchez volunteered to begin weeding and restacking journals and manuals.
d) P. Henkiel proposed that lab computers be shut down for the weekend and that those they be booted on Monday morning.
5. Supplies & Services:
a) M. Larchez proposed that the department purchase additional equipment carts and shelving. Members concurred.
b) M. Larchez proposed that the department use underutilized sections of the SW122 and SW222 for storage. Members concurred.
6. Evaluations of Faculty & Staff:
M. Larchez informed members of the dean’s views on the evaluation process. The dean favors a college wide, uniform set of objective criteria. He has established a committee to work toward that goal.
7. Concentrations in the Applied Science Program:
8. The Future of the Sciences:
These agenda items were considered concurrently.
Members considered the mechanisms proposed by F. Schultz for implementing the Materials Science Concentrations. Aspects of the proposals discussed included; current staffing levels appropriate to this concentration, physics course offerings required to support it, the potential for position allocation support from the administration, and the prospects for successful federal grant funding. The department members unanimously concurred the implementation of this concentration not be pursued under existing constraints.
9. Class Schedule for 2004 Spring Semester:
Regarding scheduling for the coming semester, members reviewed available resources and staffing. It was concluded that a schedule similar to 2003 Spring Semester be implemented save the Astronomy courses.
Motion: R. Foley/A. Scott: That Astronomy courses not be offered this coming spring under current staffing and resource constraints.
Action: Passed in a voice vote.
10. Astronomy at Stout:
This agenda item was tabled.
11. Department Staffing:
This agenda item was tabled.
12. Other if any:
M. Larchez asked the member’s disposition on inviting the dean to the next meeting. Member agreed that this should be done.
13. Adjourn: (10:11)
Motion: R. Foley/J. Pejsa: That the meeting be adjourned.
Action: Passed in a voice vote.
Respectfully Submitted, John T. Rompala, Secretary