Chemistry Task Force Meeting Minutes

February 27, 2004

2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

CYP – Room 1083

 

 

In Attendance:  Chris Uzomba, Debbie Sackett, Madan Mohan, Ya-Ping Huang, Steve Kirschner, Kathy Nabona, Al Dumbuya, Matiur Rahman, Donna Lyon, Lew Barnett, Brad Herrick, Bill Cheek, Marilyn LeBlanc

 

¨      The meeting was called to order with a moment of silence for John Young.  If anyone wants to donate to the John Young Memorial Scholarship Fund, checks can be made payable to the ACC Foundation, and note John Young’s name on the memo line.  Mail to the foundation at HBC.

 

¨      Update on Master Plan – All faculty were asked to send Chris inputs as to what the Chemistry Department needs are in their area (campus) for 2005 – 2007.  Each input should have a date when needed and a measured outcome.  The money the department receives in the future will depend on what is requested.  Please send inputs to Chris, and he will forward to David.

 

¨      Introduction to Chemistry Textbook – The 2nd edition of our current textbook is out, and the publisher is encouraging us to switch to the new edition.  The department needs to decide whether to keep the old text for the 3rd year, go with the new 2nd edition, or to go with a completely new text.  It was decided to consider all texts for next year, and a decision will be made at the next meeting.

 

¨      Get Smart – Debbie started the presentation by encouraging instructors to tell their any of their students who might be interested in teaching at the high school level about the NSF Grant classes for teacher preparation in Chemistry, Biology, and Math.  Donna has been team teaching with Dorothy Martinez, teaching the science part of the introductory education course. In Fall 2004 we will teach the next course which will strengthen lab skills, teach how to order supplies, how to prepare labs, how to evaluate the quality of labs in terms of being a teacher and teaching it. There will also be a Math equivalent to the Chemistry & Biology courses. The last course will be in Spring 2005, which will be an internship. Students will work in the area high schools tutoring and possibly will work in ACC labs. We have articulation agreements with St. Edwards’ and UTeach, and A&M is almost ready. SWT will be added after that.  These agreements will ensure that students have no wasted credits. Debbie will mail new brochures to everyone as soon as they are ready.

 

¨      South Campus – It will open Fall 2005. We will offer CHEM 1405 and CHEM 1411 initially, but it is possible we will eventually teach up to Chem II..

 

¨      New Task Force Chair – Madan was nominated. He said due to other commitments, he would like to wait a year. Chris agreed to continue for another year, and Madan will train and help him with issues.  Debbie stated that she would not be able to continue as Chemistry Budget Authority next year. With teaching, the NSF Grant, and safety, she will not have time. 

 

¨      Recruiting New Full-Time Faculty – One position will be posted shortly. All full-time faculty will serve on the hiring committee.  Meetings can be held Friday afternoon or Saturday mornings.  Madan will chair the committee and will organize how it will be run.

 

¨      Chemistry for Allied Health – A decision needs to be made as to where and how the courses will be offered.  Chemistry had set up a committee at the Task Force meeting on 10/31/03 to research this and to make decisions.  The department needs to find out what nursing needs, a one semester Chemistry course or two.  The committee will meet on Friday, March 5, at HBC.  Marilyn will e-mail members to let them know about the meeting and the location.  Steve will get information from Biology.  Matiur suggested the department spend the remainder of this year planning and developing with the courses starting in Fall 2005.

 

¨      Handbook for Adjuncts – David Fonken wants Chemistry to develop a department handbook.  Every other Math/Sciences department has one.  Debbie volunteered to do the Safety portion of it.  Ya-Ping will gather and organize the information.  Much of it could come from the Chemistry website.

 

¨      How to Get our Department Working Better: 

 

It was suggested that there be a Task Force Meeting once a month.  It was decided to meet on the last Friday of each month, with exceptions such as end of semesters and December.  Also, only emergency meetings will be called during the summer semesters.

 

To build better relationships, Steve suggested 2 full-time faculty swap campuses each semester, so that each got to know the other’s campus. 

 

Matiur suggested we have twice a year socials, such as lunch or ice cream.

 

Donna would like to have meetings with other instructors, maybe twice a year, to get an insight as to how they teach a course, how they present material, and to hear others’ perspectives on teaching a course.