AC-99-99 FACULTY OF SCIENCE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, November 23, 1999, at 2:30 p.m. in the Arts Council Room (160). PRESENT: Dean Shaver (Chair), Associate Dean Mendelson (Vice- Chair), Professors Baines, Baker, Cline, Damha, Fabry (replacing Prof. Yau), Klemes, Merrett, MÅller-Wille, Paquette, Pasztor, Rasmussen, Silvius; Associate Dean Norris; Ms. H. Waluzyniec; A. Kovacs; J. D'Amico. REGRETS: Professors Brawer and Wechsler; D. Crawford; W. Maricar, G. Tsimiklis, T. Samanta and J. Tsang. GUESTS: Professors G. Ewing, J. Harrod, S. McCall and M. Scott. DOCUMENTS: AC-99-56(Revised) AC-99-60 to AC-99-97,97A, AC-99-98 Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. ADDITIONS/CHANGES TO THE AGENDA - Item #8, Biology, Faculty, Major & Honours Programs (AC- 99-78 to AC-99-80), was withdrawn from the Agenda. - Item #15, Other Business, Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences/Earth & Planetary Sciences (AC-99-97/AC-99- 97A) and Approval Process for Faculty(AC-99-98) to be considered. - Item #9, Science for Teachers (AC-99-94 to 96) was withdrawn from the Agenda. (1) MINUTES OF OCTOBER 19,1999 AC-99-60 Prof. Merrett moved, seconded by Prof. Baines, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. (2) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES There was no business arising from the minutes. (3) REPORT ON MINOR COURSE CHANGES (for information) AC-99-61 (4) MCGILL COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL (MCI) AC-99-56(Revised) 304.1 Professors S. McCall, G. Ewing and J. Harrod were present. Prof. McCall highlighted the main points of the MCI proposal. 304.2 The main concerns were: the method of teaching; the availability of lecturers, as departments currently find it very difficult to fulfil their teaching loads; the administrative relationship between MCI and McGill; residency space for students; lack of classroom space, including very large classrooms; the possibility of creating a two-tier system with regard to regular McGill students and MCI students; the difficulty of offering internships to every MCI student; the shortness of a four-month internship; possible low enrolment due to high tuition fees; quality control; and a shortage of modern social science courses. 304.3 Dean Shaver said that the proposal was for discussion only. The proposal would have to be brought to Faculty for discussion, and for a vote on whether to explore the idea further. 304.4 On behalf of the Academic Committee, Dean Shaver thanked Professors Ewing, Harrod and McCall for presenting the MCI proposal, and for answering members' questions. (5) MCGILL SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT - Undergraduate Programs/Guidelines (for information) AC-99-62 New Program: - B.Sc. in Environment: Food Production & the Environment AC-99-63 305.1 Prof. M. Scott was present to answer questions. Prof. Rasmussen moved, seconded by Associate Dean Norris, that the program be adopted. The motion carried. Program Changes: - B.Sc. in Environment: Atmospheric Environment & Air Quality AC-99-64 Prof. Cline moved, seconded by Prof. Damha, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. -B.Sc.in Environment: Water Environments & Ecosystems AC-99-65 Prof. Fabry moved, seconded by Prof. Silvius, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (6) PSYCHOLOGY Program Changes: -Faculty AC-99-66 -Major AC-99-67 -Honours AC-99-68 Prof. Baker moved, seconded by Prof. MÅller-Wille, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (7) CHEMISTRY 180-571B Polymer Synthesis AC-99-69 3 credits Changes in credit weight, course number & course description Prof. Damha moved, seconded by Prof. Klemes, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. Program Changes: -B.Sc. Major in Chemistry (Materials Option) AC-99-70 -B.Sc. Honours in Chemistry (Materials Option) AC-99-71 Prof. Damha moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. New Course: 180-470C/D Research Project AC-99-72 6 credits 307.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said the justification for offering the course in the 'D' semester should be reflected in the rationale of the proposal, and that the course should be incorporated into the Honours Program in Chemistry, which should be brought to the next Academic Committee meeting. Prof. Damha moved, seconded by Prof. Merrett, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. New Course: 180-647A Physical Chem: Special Topic 1 AC-99-73 4 credits New Course: 180-648B Physical Chem: Special Topic 2 AC-99-74 4 credits Prof. Damha moved, seconded by Prof. Merrett, that the courses be adopted. The motion carried. (8) BIOLOGY Course Retirement: 177-199A FYS: Species Diversity AC-99-75 3 credits 308.1 Dean Shaver said the university had done a lot of work to set up First Year Seminar courses. 308.2 Prof. Pasztor explained the reasons for the retirement of 177-199A. 308.3 Associate Dean Mendelson said First-Year Seminar courses serve an important function in the university, especially in a department such as Biology whose first year courses are so large. After some discussion, Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Rasmussen, that the course be retired. The motion carried. Course Retirement: 177-274A General Genetics AC-99-76 3 credits Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Baines, that the course be retired. The motion carried. TABLED TO THE NEXT MEETING: 177-301A/B Cell and Molecular Laboratory AC-99-77 4 credits Change in credit weight (from 3 to 4) Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. MÅller-Wille, that the changes be approved. 308.4 Prof. Pasztor explained the reasons for the increase in credit weight. 308.5 Mr. Kovacs said that a change in credit weight from three to four would not solve the real problem, which was the amount of work involved in 177-301A/B. He suggested the creation of a working group to look at the issues of credit weighting and of workload. 308.6 After some discussion concerning the heavy workload of 177-301A/B versus the proposed change in credits, Mr. Kovacs moved, seconded by Associate Dean Mendelson, to table the proposal to the next Academic Committee meeting scheduled for December 14, 1999. Dean Shaver said that, at the next meeting, the Department of Biology should provide more details about the course. The motion carried. 308.7 Associate Dean Mendelson said it would be worthwhile for the Faculty to discuss the issue of credit weighting in general, in order to deal with the problem, which occurred in a number of readily identifiable courses. 308.8 Dean Shaver suggested that Associate Dean Mendelson bring to the next Academic Committee meeting a list of such courses, and a proposal to strike a small working group. THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM CHANGES WERE WITHDRAWN FROM THE AGENDA 308.9 These program changes were withdrawn because of the tabling of Biology 177-301A/B to the next meeting. Program Changes: - Faculty AC-99-78 - Major AC-99-79 - Honours AC-99-80 New Program: - Minor in Biology AC-99-81 Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the above program be adopted. The motion carried. (9) SCIENCE FOR TEACHERS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM CHANGES WERE WITHDRAWN FROM THE AGENDA 309.1 These program changes were withdrawn because of the tabling of Biology 177-301A/B to the next meeting. Program Changes: - Major Program in Biology & Chemistry for Teachers AC-99-94 - Major Program in Biology & Geography for Teachers AC-99-95 - Major Program in Biology & Mathematics for Teachers AC-99-96 (10) ATMOSPHERIC & OCEANIC SCIENCES Program Changes: - B.Sc. Major in Atmospheric Science AC-99-82 Prof. Fabry moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. - B.Sc. Honours in Atmospheric Science AC-99-83 Prof. Fabry moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. - B.Sc. Joint Major in Atmospheric Science and Physics AC-99-84 Prof. Fabry moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. - B.Sc. Minor in Atmospheric Science AC-99-85 310.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said that if the Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences wished to offer a Minor Concentration for students in the Faculty of Arts, a proposal for this would have to be submitted directly to the Faculty of Arts. Prof. Fabry moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. - Diploma in Meteorology AC-99-86 310.2 Associate Dean Mendelson said that under Complementary Courses in document AC-99-86, the list of departmentally approved courses should be specified or their levels should be given. Prof. Fabry moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (11) INTERDEPARTMENTAL HONOURS IMMUNOLOGY PROGRAM AC-99-87 Prof. Baines moved, seconded by Prof. Merrett, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. 311.1 Although members voted on the above item, they agreed that it did not have to be considered by the Academic Committee. (12) PHYSICS New Program: -B.Sc. Joint Major in Physics & Computer Science AC-99-89 Prof. Cline moved, seconded by Prof. Merrett, that the program be adopted. The motion carried. New Course: 198-489A/B Special Project AC-99-88 3 credits 312.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said that Special Project courses require Research Guidelines. Prof. Cline moved, seconded by Prof. Fabry, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. (13) EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES New Course: 186-530A Volcanology AC-99-90 3 credits Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Prof. MÅller-Wille, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. 313.1 Dean Shaver said a proposal for library resources should be prepared. (14) GEOGRAPHY New Course: 183-370A Protected Areas AC-99-91 3 credits Prof. MÅller-Wille moved, seconded by Prof. Fabry, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. 314.1 Dean Shaver said a proposal for library resources should be prepared. Program Changes: - B.Sc. Major Program in Geography AC-99-92 - B.Sc. Honours Program in Geography AC-99-93 Prof. MÅller-Wille moved, seconded by Prof. Merrett, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. Program Changes (for information) -B.A. Major Concentration in Geography -B.A. Major Concentration (Urban Systems) in Geography -B.A. Honours Program in Geography -B.A. Joint Honours Program in Geography (15) OTHER BUSINESS - ATMOSPHERIC & OCEANIC SCIENCES/EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCES New Courses: 195-250/186-250 Natural Disasters AC-99-97/ AC-99-97A 3 credits 315.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said the following restriction should be included in each course proposal, under Item #10: 195-250 Not open to students who have taken or are taking 186- 250. 186-250 Not open to students who have taken or are taking 195- 250. Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Prof. Fabry, that the courses be adopted. The motion carried. 315.2 Dean Shaver said he had met with Vice-Principal (Academic) Vinet, and had presented the Faculty's arguments in favour of double-prefix courses. He had said that the Faculty considered double-prefix courses to be a step forward in breaking down interdisciplinary barriers and increasing cooperation among departments. Dean Shaver said the Faculty was quite autonomous, and liked to design its own programs and courses. He said he would keep members informed. - APPROVAL PROCESS FOR FACULTY AC-99-98 315.3 Dean Shaver mentioned the volume of new and revised courses and programs that was being presented to the Academic Committee and to Faculty, as well as the increase in this volume over the last year. He said that he would like to streamline the approval process at Faculty, if possible. He said he would like to try to group changes into different types (e.g., New Programs, Revised Courses, etc.), and to move the passage of most of these as a group. Academic documents would still be available at Faculty meetings, and Faculty members would still have the option of querying individual items. He said he thought the best approach was simply to try something along these lines and to see how it worked. 315.4 Dean Shaver reminded members that it was their responsibility to inform their departments/chairs of issues that arose at Academic Committee meetings. 315.5 There was some discussion of the issue. The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m. josie\academic\acmin1999Nov.doc