Minutes

of the Physics Department meeting held Monday April 29, 2002 in UH134.

Present:Ý Constantinescu, Menningen, Ramalingam, Rybski, Watchorn

Absent:Ý Sahyun (excused)

I. Call to order at 2:26 pm

II. Rybski/Ramalingam moved to approve minutes of 4/22/02 meeting.Ý Motion passed.

III. Announcements

A. The finalist for the physics/math tenure-track search has been offered the position and is considering it.Ý He will make a decision by 5/5/02.

B. Negotiations regarding the UW System budget are still pending.

C. The bbb Brat Blast is on Thursday May 2, 2002 at 5:30pm in Starin Park.Ý Physics faculty and students are encouraged to attend in lieu of a separate physics department picnic.Ý The cost is $4.

D. Administrative council report from 4/24/02

i. A large freshman class is expected once again this fall, with over 2,000 students admitted.

ii. The Provostís office is developing a plan to appoint university advisors will work half the summer Preview programs and teach the freshman seminar courses in return for a $4000 stipend but no release time.Ý

iii. Administrative drops will be handled online next fall.Ý Jodi Hare is available to departments as a consultant for the online grading and administrative drop procedures.

iv. Dr. Dieudonne Phanord of the Mathematical and Computer Sciences department has accepted a position at the University of Nevada ñ Las Vegas beginning July 1, 2002.

IV. Old Business

A. Curricular matters

i. Rybski/Watchorn moved a curricular action to require the General Science ñ Broadfield Physics Emphasis majors to take Senior Seminar. Motion passed.

ii. Discussion regarding computer science prerequisites for PHYSCS 303 was postponed. (Rybski)

iii. Discussion of a proposal to adjust requirements in the Industry track to reflect the changes made in the Economics 211 and 212 series was postponed. (Rybski)

iv. Discussion of alterations to the intermediate lab course to include computer data acquisition skills was postponed. (Sahyun and Menningen)

v. The 170 sequence was originally arranged to accommodate students with inadequate high school preparation.Ý While preparation has improved overall, there remain a number of students who need extra time to prepare for the physics curriculum but who have all the requisite skills to succeed.Ý Some possibilities include:

1. Retain the sequence as it is now but drop the GL designation for PHYSCS 170

2. Modify the PHYSCS 170 to make it more hands-on and appropriate for a GL designated course

3. Change the entire sequence to a two semester, 10 credit sequence similar to UW-Madison

4. Change the entire sequence to a workshop physics format similar to groundbreaking initiatives at other universities.

vi. Rybski/Watchorn moved a curricular proposal that adds COMPSCI 173 to the required courses for the graduate emphasis in order to satisfy the computer proficiency requirement. Motion passed.

vii. Rybski/Ramalingam moved a curricular proposal to allow PHYSCS 303 Microprocessor Laboratory to satisfy the laboratory requriment for various physics major emphases and minors.Ý The ìRationaleî section was modified to read,

ìWhen the PHYSCS 303 Microprocessor Laboratory was taught prior to 1992, emphasis was placed training students to use microcomputers in the high school physics laboratory.Ý It was decided that the course should not count toward the physics major or minor because the course included assembly programming and simple interfacing techniques appropriate for high school teachers.Ý Since 1992 the course has become more similar to a traditional physics laboratory class and has emphasized the use of microprocessor components and interfacing more appropriate for physics research and industrial applications.Ý It is an advantage for any physics or engineering student to acquire skill in understanding and manipulating such electronic components.Ý The PHYSCS 303 Microprocessor Laboratory ought to count towards the completion of a physics major or minor.î

Motion passed.

B. Discussion of a revision to the merit procedure was postponed.

C. Dr. Sahyun was not present to update the status of approved plan to use a $1000 almuni donation to improve the machine shop.

D. Plans to convene the department advisory committee on September 28, 2002 were briefly discussed.

E. Sally Ride has declined our invitation for April 2003.Ý Constantinescu will investigate the possibility of hosting astronaut Jim Lovell instead.

V. New Business

A. Boxes are now available for the move to Goodhue Hall.Ý Nicole Anderson will meet us at 3:30pm on Tuesday April 30 to allow us to tour the offices assigned to us.Ý The accessibility to students will be discussed at that time.

B. Watchorn/Rybski moved, ìThe UW-Whitewater physics department faculty commend Mr. Jeffery Paradis for his fine achievement to secure two external grants for research and educational outreach activities in astronomy.îÝ Motion passed unanimously.Ý Congratulations!

C. Purchase of an upgraded department printer was postponed until Menningen can evaluate different networking options.

VI. Watchorn/Ramalingam moved to adjourn at 3:30 pm.Ý Motion passed.

Respectfully Submitted, ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝ cc:ÝÝÝÝÝÝ Chancellor Miller

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝ Provost Prior

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝ Dean Lee

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Dean Ross

Kenneth L MenningenÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Susan Matulis, L&S Development

Department chair ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝ University archivist

Attachments: Curriculum proposals (3)