Chemistry Task Force Meeting Minutes

December 7, 2001

2:00-4:30 p.m.

NRG 1214

In attendance: Debbie Sackett, Chris Uzomba, Al Dumbuya, Kathy Nabona, John Young, Ya-Ping Huang, Madan Mohan, Matiur Rahman, Bill Cheek, Mila Woldman, Anne Goube, Fred Miller, Bobby Shepherd

Textbooks to be considered for Fall 2002.

The TF reviewed all books currently used and made the following recommendations:

• CHEM 1405 Lecture - The 6^th edition of the Stoker book is one year out of print. This book is definitely up for consideration.
• CHEM 1405 Lab - no changes
• CHEM 1411/1412 Lecture - no changes
• CHEM 1411/1412 Lab - no changes
• CHEM 2423/2425 Lecture - There is some confusion on the 4^th edition of Wade. The TFC thought the publisher had said a new edition would be issued next year. Other faculty felt that the current book is in the 2^nd year of a promised 4-year cycle. Investigation is required.
• CHEM 2423/2425 Lab - there are mixed feelings about this lab book. Some like it and some hate it. The TFC pointed out that since 75% of our budget is already spent, it would be unwise to vote for another book this year. The TF voted to start considering books in the fall of next year. In the mean time, focus groups, specifically dealing with Organic labs would meet in the spring (see below).

Waste disposal plans. Waste disposal plans, which can be found on the web at http://www2.austin.cc.tx.us/chem/safety/ were approved as is by the TF. Full implementation by Fall 2002 is expected.

Lab requirements. As per the Dean's request, a sub-committee (Debbie Sackett, John Young, Matiur Rahman, Bill Cheek, Anita Thurwachter, Anne Goube) met earlier in the semester and discussed requirements for students to participate in labs at ACC. The committee came up with the following requirements (that were modified in the TF meeting):

Students must be able to:

observe changes in chemical processes

accurately read and record data from experiments

follow experimental procedures and safety policies

Two issues were raised in the TF meeting. (1) Would students with certain disabilities be able to perform experiments, with reasonable accommodations, and receive the same quality of education as other students? If the answer is no, then the above requirements would be necessary. (2) If the above requirements were adopted, then the TF would be prohibiting some students from taking chemistry at ACC, because one course number ties the lecture and lab together.

The TF voted to table the issue pending further investigation. Specifically, we wish to know if students who do not meet the proposed lab requirements can register for the equivalent of the lecture class only (e.g., CHEM 1311). Since so few students fall into this category, and would register through the Office of Students with Disabilities, they would enroll in any lecture section, but their course number would reflect the absence of lab.

Course objectives for CHEM 2423/2425. The course objectives for CHEM 2423/2425 were adopted, with minor changes. They can be found at http://www2.austin.cc.tx.us/chem/curriculum/

The TF agreed that in the coming year, these objectives, along with those for CHEM 1412 would be changed so that they were not listed as topic tied to particular book chapters.

Library Research Assignment. The TFC reported the results of a meeting with librarians in charge of the Library Research Assignment. The librarians, along with faculty are aware of students' general inattention and boredom with the current presentation. The librarians want to write an online tutorial that teaches the students how to use the library resource for their projects. It is proposed that during the scheduled lab time, the librarians will take the students through the tutorial in a computer classroom, where each student has access to a computer to follow along. The librarians estimate the tutorial will be available late Summer 2002 or at the beginning of Fall 2002. The two main advantages were outlined: (1) Students learn better if they can actively participate, and (2) students who miss lab that day can still follow through the tutorial at a later date. The TF approved of this plan.

This summer, a few select classes at NRG and CYP will present the library research project in a computer classroom. Students will be sitting at computers. As the librarian talks about a particular website, students will be able to visit it as it is being discussed. Results from these trials will assist in preparing the tutorial.

Chemistry Fairs. A subcommittee of the TF (Debbie Sackett, Kathy Nabona, Ya-Ping Huang and Anne Goube) met earlier in the semester and planned a couple of projects for the 5^th graders at Davis Middle School. A call for volunteers to assist with the project brought Mila Woldman and Chris Uzomba on board.

It is hoped we can develop a series of projects for presentation to schools around the Austin area.

Focus groups. The TF approved a plan to provide chemistry-specific faculty development opportunities in the spring. We intend to hold focus groups, designed to discuss specific lecture or lab courses. Full-time and adjunct faculty will gather to discuss their ideas and problem solving techniques. Priority one is discussion of organic labs. Meeting times for other courses will be planned also.

Hazmat training. Becky Cole, the latest and greatest Risk Manager is in the final stages of developing the ACC Hazardous Communications Program. Training will probably begin in the spring. Additionally, Becky plans to offer other specific training programs periodically through out the spring semester. All courses offered will count as faculty development.

Science Lab Assistants. John raised the issue that the new Science Lab Assistant job descriptions were not ideal. The TFC explained that the three TFCs for the sciences (Chemistry, Biology, and Physical Sciences) had developed a plan for 5 levels of lab assistants. The idea was to give lab assistants at lower levels a career ladder or goals to shoot for in the future. The plan was submitted to HR, and they added only one lab assistant position. In the process, they garbled some of the finer points of the job description and most notably, the educational requirements of the old Lab Assistant III position.

On the positive side of this "reorganization", the Technical Lab Assistants in the sciences received an upgrade in pay scale. Ultimately all received a 7% raise this year, while virtually all other classified employees received only a 3% raise. To make the upgrade clear, the new job title of Science Lab Assistant was created.

This includes a better explanation of the changes that occurred than were given in the TF meeting.

OLD JOB POSITIONS		NEW JOB POSITIONS
job title	pay classification	job title	pay classification
Tech. Lab Assistant I	B-2-1	Science Lab Assistant I	B-2-2
Tech. Lab Asssistant II	B-2-2	Science Lab Assistant II	B-2-3
Tech. Lab Asssistant III	B-2-3	Science Lab Assistant III	B-2-4
		Science Lab Assistant IV	B-3-1

The TFC explained that the job descriptions and educational requirements would be reviewed by the science TFCs, but would have to wait until Biology, Geology and Physical Sciences had finished the Program Review process.