Minutes

of the Physics Department meeting held Monday November 11, 2002 in GO313.

Present: Arriola, Constantinescu , Frandy, Menningen, Sahyun

Absent: Rybski (ill), Stepanov

I. Meeting called to order at 2:15 pm.

II. Arriola/Frandy moved to approve the minutes of the 11/4/02 meeting. Motion passed.

III. Announcements

A. Lisa Kornetsky, director of the UWS Office of Professional and Instructional Development, will give a presentation regarding new opportunities for funding in educational research on Monday November 18, 2002, 12:00pm in the UC South Commons. Contact the LEARN center by November 13 to reserve a spot.

B. The Provost and Chancellor plan to attend our department meeting on Monday, February 24, 2003. The Dean also plans to attend.

C. Assessment Committee report from 11/8/02

i. The importance of assessment was discussed in terms of the College of Education accreditation troubles and the upcoming 2005 NCATE review of the College of Letters & Sciences. Handouts with tips on good assessment practices were distributed.

ii. Dean Ross indicated that the burden of assessment should be distributed among faculty to minimize the time consumption for any one faculty member. He said that the College will support those involved in assessment with travel to workshops, stipends, and possibly release time.

iii. Departments were urged to review the different assessment tools they use and to report to the next meeting with a list for discussion. Attempts will be made to negotiate a better meeting time.

D. Report from American Association of Physics New Physics and Astronomy Faculty Workshop (Sahyun attending) in Washington, DC.

i. A wealth of information was distributed at the meeting, including books about peer instruction for physics and astronomy, and a book about ìjust in time teachingî. There were many fruitful discussions as well among the 80 participants.

IV. Old Business

A. Curricular matters

i. Discussion of how to alter the intermediate lab course to include computer data acquisition skills was postponed.

B. The department advisory committee meeting is set for November 16, 2002. Six participants and five faculty have confirmed attendance. A preliminary agenda is in preparation.

C. The department searches are underway and applications are being received.

D. No update on the status of National Physics Day celebration plans April 17 or 24, 2003 is available.

E. Review plans regarding an equipment auction when the future status of the surplus department is known.

V. New Business

A. Curricular matters

i. The MATH 152 co-requisite for PHYSCS 170 was introduced in order to allow entering freshmen to take PHYSICS 170 without having calculus first. It is important to offer 170 in the fall to accommodate the 3-2 engineering program. It causes much trouble to attempt to teach 170 without calculus, both for students and faculty. We propose to reform the 170 series to create a two-semester, 10-credit sequence to replace the current three-semester, 11-credit sequence. Prerequisites for the courses would allow students to begin in 160 and end in the 170 series if they werenít ready for the calculus yet. MATH 253 would be a co-requisite for 170. (Sahyun will prepare proposal).

B. Discussion of the departmental promotion standards for possible revision was postponed. Discussion may also include possible revision of the merit procedures as well.

C. Approval of the purchase of a digital oscilloscope using department service & supply funds is postponed until determination of available funds is complete.

D. Discussion of peer review schedule for Menningen and Rybski.

VI. Sahyun/Constantinescu moved to adjourn 3:10 pm. Motion passed.

Respectfully Submitted, cc: Chancellor Miller

Provost Prior

Dean Lee

Dean Ross

Kenneth L Menningen University archivist

Department chair