AC-02-102 FACULTY OF SCIENCE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, January 21, 2003, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 409, Dawson Hall. PRESENT: Dean Shaver (Chair), Associate Dean Mendelson (Vice- Chair), Professors Arkani-Hamed, Baines, Baker, Bennett, Drury, Kakkar, Kramer, Lapointe, Leighton, Panangaden, Silvius, Sutton, Wechsler; L. Bondy, J. Capling, E. Lewis; E. Gibb; J. D'Amico. REGRETS: Associate Dean Hendershot; C. Caserly, S. Chakkalackal, I. Halperin, C. Ward. DOCUMENTS: AC-02-86 to AC-02-101, AC-02-101A Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Prof. Bennett moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the Agenda be adopted. The motion carried. 2. MINUTES OF DECEMBER 10, 2002 AC-02- 86 Prof. Arkani-Hamed moved, seconded by Prof. Bennett, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. 3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES There was no business arising from the minutes. 4. MINOR COURSE CHANGES AC-02- 87 (for information) 5. MAJOR FACULTY BUSINESS: - BASc Major and Minor Concentrations AC-02- 88 505.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said that drafting a proposal for the BASc would create more work for the Faculty of Science than for the Faculty of Arts. He said Science units that were not in the Faculty of Arts and that wished to participate in the BASc degree, would have to design a Major Concentration and preferably also a Minor Concentration. 505.2 Using Computer Science and Psychology programs as examples, Associate Dean Mendelson outlined the basic requirements for a Major Concentration in the Faculty of Arts. He said that Dean Shaver would be sending a memo to chairs of Science units inviting them to participate in the BASc degree and to submit an outline of proposed Major and Minor Concentrations for their units. 505.3 Among the points raised were the problem of four-credit courses vis-…-vis a rigid 36-credit requirement for a Major Concentration; the fact that credits (e.g., Math credits taken as prerequisites for a Physics Major Concentration) could not be counted twice for the BASc; the fact that some BASc degrees (e.g., Psychology and Sociology) would be distinguishable only by the entrance requirements for students; the possibility of instituting Major Concentrations in the Physical Sciences and in the Life Sciences; the option of clearly distinguishing between Major Concentrations and Majors by naming them differently, especially in the case of an inter-unit or inter-faculty Major Concentration; and the fact that lists of complementary courses for a BASc Major Concentration should not be limited to courses with prerequisites outside the program to ensure that students are not obliged to complete more than 36 credits. 6. SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE COMP 273 Intro to Computer Systems AC-02- 89 Change in Course Description 3 credits Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Ms. Capling, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. New Course: COMP 533 O-O Software Development AC-02-90 3 credits 506.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said that SCTP and APPC would have a problem with the abbreviation in the course title. Dean Shaver suggested that Associate Dean Mendelson and Prof. Panangaden review the course title. Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Sutton, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. Secretary's Note: Associate Dean Mendelson has specified that the course proposal form include a rationale for the abbreviation "O-O" in the course title. B.Sc. Program Changes: - Minor in Computer Science AC-02- 91 - Major in Computer Science AC-02- 92 - Honours in Computer Science AC-02- 93 Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Silvius, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. - Major in Software Engineering AC-02- 94 Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Kakkar, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. Secretary's Note: Associate Dean Mendelson has specified that consultation should be obtained from the Faculty of Engineering regarding the above changes. 7. PSYCHOLOGY PSYC 308 Behavioural Neuroscience 1 AC-02- 95 Change in Restriction 3 credits 507.1 Associate Dean Mendelson pointed out that restrictions on courses do not necessarily have to be reciprocal between units; however, the relevant units (Anatomy & Cell Biology, Biology, and Physiology) should consider whether or not to apply restrictions to their courses. Prof. Baker moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. 8. EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCES Program Changes: - Minor in Earth and Planetary Sciences AC-02- 96 - Minor in Geochemistry AC-02- 97 - Major in Earth and Planetary Sciences AC-02- 98 - Honours in Earth Sciences AC-02- 99 - Honours in Planetary Sciences AC-02- 100 Prof. Arkani-Hamed moved, seconded by Prof. Bennett, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. 9. COURSES OUTSIDE THE FACULTIES OF ARTS & OF SCIENCE AC-02-101, AC-02-101A 509.1 Associate Dean Mendelson introduced the above issue, and explained the reason for the change. Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Leighton, that the proposal in Document AC-02-101A be adopted. The motion carried. 10. OTHER BUSINESS 510.1 There was some discussion concerning the issue of borderline percentage grades being raised to the next higher letter grade. Different instructors have different means of dealing with this issue, the important factor being consistency within a course in any given year. Associate Dean Mendelson stated that there was no Faculty policy on borderline grades, and that it was an individual instructor's responsibility to devise a consistent policy. 510.2 Dean Shaver said that the issue of undergraduate research would be brought to a future meeting of the Academic Committee and examined thoroughly. 510.3 Associate Dean Mendelson mentioned that instructors in the Faculties of both Arts and Science had been very conscientious in respecting deadline for submission of final grades for the fall semester. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.