Minutes

of the Physics Department meeting held Monday March 15, 2004 in GO313.

Present: Benjamin, Constantinescu, Dasgupta, Menningen, Rybski, Sahyun

Absent: none

I. Call to order at 2:19 pm.

II. Rybski/Sahyun moved to approve the minutes of 3/8/04 meeting. Motion passed.

III. Announcements

A. Assistant Dean of Students Mary Beth Mackin made a presentation on academic misconduct. Besides handling academic misconduct problems, the Office of Student Life assists faculty in matters of medical or personal problems that interfere with a student’s ability to perform in class.

There has been a large increase in the incidence rate of internet plagiarism and cheating schemes that involve programmable calculators, cell phones with digital cameras and text messaging, PDAs, etc. There are some ways to discourage plagiarism, such as requiring an outline in advance of submitting a paper. Many of our students do not understand what plagiarism is and why it is wrong.

The procedures to follow when academic misconduct is suspected were reviewed. The faculty member should first consult with the Assistant Dean of student Life, and then meet with the student to discuss the problem, then the faculty member decides upon the appropriate consequence. The academic misconduct reporting form ought to be used. The UWS Chapter 14 Student Academic Misconduct Procedures represents a contract between the university and the students, and the procedures described therein ought to be followed carefully. Threatening or disruptive behavior by the student should be handled according to the UWS Chapter 17 Student Nonacademic Misconduct Procedures.

B. Ken Menningen announced his resignation effective June 2004 to take a faculty position at UW-Stevens Point. While he has enjoyed the nine years he has worked here, he looks forward to a return to his alma mater as a member of the physics and astronomy department.

C. The Friday 3/12/04 Astronomy lecture on Saturn by Paul Rybski was attended by 26 people followed by a 90 minute observing session conducted by Juliana Constantinescu and Chris Klug.

D. Bob Benjamin gave a presentation entitled, “A new infrared view of the galaxy,” as a part of the Fairhaven Lecture Series on March 15, 2004. It was attended by about 40 people.

E. Ken Menningen gave a presentation entitled, “Converting to a hydrogen economy,” to a group of K-12 science educators at Madison Memorial High School organized by the Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program on March 13, 2004. There were about 12 teachers present.

F. Graduate Council report (S. Sahyun 3/11/04 meeting): The council passed a resolution requiring all 500-600 level cross-listed courses to specify the unique course requirements for graduate students.

G. L&S Curriculum committee report (P. Rybski 3/11/04 meeting): The forms and process for modifying curriculum have been streamlined and simplified. The new procedures will commence as soon as the Provost allows.

IV. Old Business

A. The following curricular matters were postponed:

i. Discuss the revision of the PHYSCS 303 Microprocessor Laboratory course.

ii. Discuss the proposals to delete the PHYSCS 173 and 175 courses.

iii. Discuss a proposal to change PHYSCS 210 to a 100 level course when we create the new PHYSCS 212 Physics for Elementary Teachers course.

iv. Discuss any information regarding how to offer online versions of ASTRONMY 114 Descriptive Astronomy and PHYSCS 150 From Einstein to Star Trek according to campus standards.

v. Discuss the new materials science course proposal.

vi. Discuss the new “Introduction to Engineering” course proposal.

vii. Discuss the streamlining of course requirements in the four major emphases. The discussion may include how to combine the engineering mechanics courses with the PHYSCS 310 Mechanics course. The two-course sequence would be simply called Statics and Dynamics, and each course would be a combination of the rigor of physics mechanics and the specific applications of engineering mechanics.

viii. Change the prerequisites for the PHYSCS 282 Engineering Mechanics: Statics course to allow concurrent registration with PHYSCS 172.

ix. Create a “Physics Colloquium” course that is required of all physics majors, modeled after the chemistry and biology seminar courses.

B. There was no update on the status of the telescope renovation project.

C. There was no update on the department newsletter.

D. There was no update on the status of our recruitment poster.

E. There was no update on the work to vacate the north half of Upham Hall.

F. There was no update on the plans for the Craig Foltz and James Gates visits.

V. The following New Business was postponed:

A. Discuss the 2003-2005 merit spreadsheet.

B. Revisit the dept minutes distribution list.

C. Discuss the list of graduates document.

D. Discuss the physics component of the Integrated Science and Business program.

E. Develop an appeal to keep our cross-listed courses.

F. Arrange for an informal meeting between physics students and one or more alumni.

VI. Benjamin/Rybski moved to adjourn 3:21 pm.

Respectfully Submitted, cc: Chancellor Miller

Provost Telfer

Interim Dean Stone

Dean Ross

Kenneth L Menningen University archivist

Department chair