AC-97-99 FACULTY OF SCIENCE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, December 9, 1997, at 2:30 p.m. in the Arts Council Room (160). PRESENT: Dean Shaver (Chair), Associate Dean de Takacsy (Vice- Chair), Professors Prof. Andrews, Baines, Drury, Franklin, GrÅtter, MÅller-Wille, Panangaden, Paquette, Pasztor, Wechsler, Yau; Associate Dean Norris; E. Gibb (in the absence of H. Waluzyniec); K. Devon and J. Lefebvre; J. D'Amico REGRETS: Professors Brawer and Silvius; D. Cowan; S. Aggarwal; E. Bales-Kogan, and T. Samanta. VISITOR: Professor M. Scott (Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences) DOCUMENTS: AC-97-70 to AC-97-98 Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 2:36 p.m. ADDITIONS/CHANGES TO THE AGENDA - Item #6, School of Computer Science - BSc Major/Honours (AC-97-76), was withdrawn. - Several courses to be considered under Other Business, Item # 15. (1) INSTITUTE OF PARASITOLOGY (FAES) - Prof. M. Scott - Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology AC-97-32,33,34 (Previously Circulated) 401.1 Prof. Scott introduced the Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology, and answered members' questions. 401.2 Two major objections to the certificate were raised. The first concerned whether credit should be given for learning to surf the bionet. The second related to the appropriateness of giving credit for work for which a person is already being paid. 401.3 Prof. Scott said she would relay these objections to Prof. Buckland, and report back to the Academic Committee. (2) MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 18, 1997 AC-97-70 Prof. Baines moved, seconded by Prof. Andrews, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. (3) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES (a) Minors offered by other faculties (b) Science Minors within the BSc (c) Minor concentrations in Science for Arts The above three items were scheduled to be discussed as items #10, 11, 12, respectively. (4) REPORT ON MINOR COURSE CHANGES AC-97-71 (for information) (5) AD HOC JOINT MAJOR IN BIOLOGY & RELIGIOUS STUDIES AC-97-72 Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Franklin, that the ad hoc joint major program for Ms. Caroline Kim be approved. The motion carried. (6) SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE Course retirement: 308-100A,B Popular Computing AC-97-73 3 credits Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Franklin, that the above course be retired. The motion carried. 308-350A Numerical Computing AC-97-74 Change in administering faculty. 3 credits Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Yau, that the above change be approved. The motion carried. New Course: 308-560A Graph Algorithms and Applications AC-97-75 3 credits Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Drury that the above course be adopted. The motion carried. - BSc Major, Honours & Minor AC-97-77 Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Franklin, that the above changes be approved. The motion carried. New Course: 308-700A Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination AC-97-78 4 credits New course: 308-701A,B,C,L,TThesis Proposal and Area Examination AC-97-79 4 credits 406.1 Prof. Panangaden gave the background to the two graduate courses, and answered members' questions. Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Drury, that the above courses be adopted. The motion carried. (7) MICROBIOLOGY & IMMUNOLOGY AC-97-80 407.1 Prof. Baines explained the reasons for the additional information concerning admissions to the Microbiology & Immunology programs, and clarified the information. In effect, the Department wants students to be informed that only 120 students can be admitted due to severe resource limitation. (8) PSYCHOLOGY 204-333A Personality and Social Psychology AC-97-81 Change in course description. 3 credits Prof. Franklin moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the above change be approved. The motion carried. - BSc Major, Faculty & Honours AC-97-83 Prof. Franklin moved, seconded by Prof. Andrews, that the above changes be approved. The motion carried. (9) GEOGRAPHY (for information) - BA Major in Geography AC-97-84 - BA Major in Geography (Urban Systems) AC-97-85 - BA Minor Concentration in Geography AC-97-86 (10) MINORS OFFERED BY OTHER FACULTIES AC-97-87 410.1 Associate Dean de Takacsy outlined the responses from other units concerning their Minors for Science students. These included multidisciplinary Minors. (11) SCIENCE MINORS WITHIN THE BSc, MINUTES 302.1 TO 302.5, MEETING OF NOVEMBER 18, 1997 411.1 Dean Shaver reintroduced the issue of converting Science Minors for Science students from 24 to 18 credits. This issue had been discussed at two previous Academic Committee meetings, and a motion and an amendment to that motion remained on the table. 411.2 Prof. Pasztor mentioned that different Major programs in Science had different credit requirements, and said she thought that similar flexibility should obtain in the case of BSc Science Minors. She said Minors should be tailored to the discipline involved. 411.3 A vote was taken on the following amendment (proposed by Prof. Drury, seconded by Prof. Straub, from the Academic Committee meeting of November 18, 1997): That where there is an existing allowance for more than a six-credit overlap in a 24-credit Minor, the allowance in an 18-credit Minor should be reduced by six credits. The amendment passed. 411.4 A friendly amendment to the original motion on 18- credit Minors changes it to read: Minor programs would normally consist of at least 18 credits. Normally, no overlap with the degree program is allowed, except as otherwise specified in the specific Minor. The motion carried. (12) MINOR CONCENTRATION IN SCIENCE FOR ARTS, MINUTES 312.1 TO 312.3, MEETING OF NOVEMBER 18,1997 (for information) AC-97-88 412.1 Associate Dean de Takacsy said that document AC-97-88 reflected the motions that had been passed at the Academic Committee meeting of November 18, 1997. He said that the details of the courses were still being submitted, and he asked the Academic Committee for permission to accept changes as they are submitted. These will be posted at: http://adeansci.artsci.mcgill.ca/science_minorrevised.h tml Departments should review these. (13) ARTS MINOR CONCENTRATIONS FOR SCIENCE STUDENTS (Approved by APPC - AC-97-92) - Art History AC-97-38 (Previously Circulated) Prof. Andrews moved, seconded by Prof. Franklin, that the above Minor be approved. The motion carried. - Classics AC-97-39 (Previously Circulated) Prof. Andrews moved, seconded by Prof. Franklin, that the above Minor be approved. The motion carried. - English - Literature AC-97-89 - Drama and Theatre AC-97-93 - Cultural Studies AC-97-94 Prof. Andrews moved, seconded by Prof. Franklin, that the above Minors be approved. The motion carried. - Langue et LittÇrature Franáaises AC-97-61 (Previously Circulated) - Lettres - Lettres et traduction - Langue et traduction - ThÇorie et critique littÇraires Prof. Andrews moved, seconded by Prof. Paquette, that the above Minors be approved. The motion carried. - Sociology AC-97-90 Prof. Andrews moved, seconded by Prof. GrÅtter, that the above Minor be approved. The motion carried. (14) REPORT: IYES PROGRAM AC-97-91 414.1 In reply to a question from Prof. Yau concerning the Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences' submitting an internship program, Dean Shaver said that the Academic Committee would be open to such submissions. 414.2 It was pointed out that, since an individual student may submit multiple applications, it would be more informative to know the number of students applying, rather than the total number of applications. (15) OTHER BUSINESS - PSYCHOLOGY 204-414A Social Development MCC-97-8 3 credits (Tabled) Change in prerequisite. Prof. Franklin moved, seconded by Prof. Baines, that the above change be approved. The motion carried. - EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCES New Course: 186-225A Properties of Minerals AC-97-95 1 credit (Tabled) Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Prof. Andrews, that the above course be adopted. The motion carried. Not Approved: 186-604A Ore Petrology I AC-97-96 3 credits (Tabled) Split of 186-604D Not Approved: 186-605B Ore Petrology II AC-97-97 3 credits (Tabled) Split of 186-604D 415.1 Concerns were raised about these 600-level courses being open to Honours undergraduates. Considerable administrative work is entailed when an undergraduate enrols in a 600-level course. Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Prof. Andrews, that the above change be approved. The vote was split: 4 In Favour 4 Against 3 Abstentions Dean Shaver cast the deciding vote against the motion. The motion was defeated. - BIOLOGY New Course: 177-453B Neotropical Environments AC-97-98 3 credits (Tabled) 415.2 There was some discussion concerning the prerequisites and corequisites for the course. Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Norris, that the above course be adopted. 415.3 The motion carried, subject to Prof. Pasztor's submitting a report detailing the corequisites for the course, the report to be submitted in time to be circulated for the next Academic Committee meeting. The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. f:\usr\josie\academic\acmn7df.doc