AC-00-144 FACULTY OF SCIENCE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, November 21, 2000, at 2:30 p.m. in the Arts Council Room (160). PRESENT: Dean Shaver (Chair), Associate Dean Mendelson (Vice- Chair), Professors Baines, Baker, Brawer, Cline, Farrell, Klemes, MÅller-Wille, Panangaden, Paquette, Pasztor, Rasmussen, Silvius, Wechsler; Associate Dean Hendershot; H. Waluzyniec; S. Baptista, P. Charbonneau, Alison Organek, Andrew Organek, M. Sanagan, D. Selvadurai, S. Waterston; J. D'Amico. REGRETS: Professor Leighton; D. Crawford. DOCUMENTS: AC-00-54, AC-00-56 to AC-00-137 AC-00-139 to AC-00-143 GUESTS: Professors M. Scott and G. Chmura Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 2:33 p.m. (1) ADOPTION OF AGENDA Items #13, 14 and 15 to be considered after Item #4. Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Klemes, that the Agenda be approved with the above changes. The motion carried. (2) MINUTES OF OCTOBER 24, 2000 AC-00- 54 Prof. Rasmussen moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. (3) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES - Minute 206.1, Minor in Technological Entrepreneurship for Science Students 303.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said that the Faculty of Science, at its meeting of November 14, 2000, had referred the Minor back to the Faculty of Management for consideration of the possibility of including an ethics course in the list of Complementary courses. - Minutes 210.1-210.19, Credit Weight/Workload for Laboratory Courses 303.2 Associate Dean Mendelson said that the above policy had been adopted at the Faculty of Science meeting of November 14, 2000, and that the policy would be printed in the 2002-2003 Calendar. He said he would be writing to chairs/directors and academic committee representatives to ensure that courses have the appropriate credit weight. (4) REPORT ON MINOR COURSE CHANGES AC-00- 56 (for information) (5) AD HOC B.SC. JOINT HONOURS PROGRAM IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS & ECONOMICS AC-00- 57 305.1 Although there was no letter of approval from the Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Prof. Klemes confirmed that the department had approved the program. Prof. Klemes moved, seconded by Prof. Brawer, that the program be adopted. The motion carried. Secretary's Note: A letter of approval was received from the Department of Mathematics & Statistics after the current meeting. Referred back to the Student (6) AD HOC HONOURS PROGRAM IN COGNITIVE SCIENCE AC-00- 58 306.1 Concerning the above program, the following points were raised: (1) Prerequisites not listed for 552-311 and other courses. (2) What the student has taken or is taking was not indicated, so it is unknown how many credits would really be required for the program. (3) 552-311 (required course) listed three times. (4) 504-321 (required course), 177-588, and 507-455 listed twice. (5) Many courses under "Cognitive Psychology" are currently bulleted. Prof. Wechsler moved, seconded by Prof. MÅller-Wille, that the ad hoc program be referred back to the student. The motion carried. (7) PHYSICS 198-200A Space, Time & Matter (3 credits) AC-00- 59 Changes: restriction & description) 307.1 There was a lengthy discussion concerning the appropriateness of Science students taking this course. 307.2 Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Ms. Waterston, that the course be referred back to the Department of Physics with the recommendation that a parallel course be developed for Science students, possibly sharing lectures with the above course, but with a different method of evaluation. The motion carried. (8) BIOLOGY Program Changes: - Faculty Program in Biology and Mathematics AC-00- 60 308.1 In Document AC-00-60, under Complementary courses, it was pointed out that 189-425 had been renumbered to 189- 525, and that the credits had increased from three to four. Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Klemes, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (9) ANATOMY & CELL BIOLOGY Program Changes: - Faculty Program in Anatomy and Cell Biology AC-00-61 Prof. Brawer moved, seconded by Ms. Sanagan, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (10) GEOGRAPHY 183-408A Geography of Development (3 credits) AC-00- 62 Changes in title & description Prof. MÅller-Wille moved, seconded by Ms. Waterston, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. New Course: 183-210B Global Places and People (3 credits) AC-00- 63 Prof. MÅller-Wille moved, seconded by Prof. Brawer, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. New Course: 183-508A Resources, People and Power (3 credits) AC-00- 64 310.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said that under Prerequisite, it should be clarified whether it was "and permission of instructor" or "or permission of instructor." Prof. MÅller-Wille moved, seconded by Ms. Organek, that the course be adopted, pending the above clarification. The motion carried. Secretary's Note: After the current meeting, the instructor confirmed that the item in question should read "or permission of instructor." (11) SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE New Course: 308-304A Object-oriented Design (3 credits) AC-00- 65 Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Mr. Charbonneau, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. New Course: 308-423B Data Compression (3 credits) AC-00- 66 Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Ms. Waterston, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. New Course: 308-522A Modelling and Simulation (4 credits) AC-00- 67 Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Mr. Organek, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. New Course: 308-526B Reasoning Under Uncertainty (3 credits) AC-00- 68 311.1 There was some discussion concerning the validity of having a 5% grade for class participation and concerning the fact that there was no definition of how the 5% would be determined. 311.2 Dean Shaver said the above concerns should be relayed to the instructor. 311.3 A member noted that consultation from the Department of Psychology would be required. Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Ms. Organek, that the course be adopted, pending consultation. The motion carried. New Course: 308-562A Computational Biology (3 credits) AC-00- 69 311.4 It was pointed out that consultation with the Department of Biology was required. Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Mr. Charbonneau, that the course be adopted, pending consultation. The motion carried. 308-566A Discrete Optimization I (3 credits) AC-00-70 Changes in title & description 311.5 Associate Dean Mendelson said that SCTP was moving towards requiring Arabic, rather than Roman, numerals, so the course title should reflect this. Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. New Course: 308-567B Discrete Optimization II (3 credits) AC-00- 71 311.6 Again, an Arabic numeral should be used. Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Ms. Baptista, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. New Course: 308-646A Computational Perception (4 credits) AC-00- 72 311.7 The Rationale should be rewritten to justify a credit weight of four. 311.8 There should be consultation with the Department of Psychology and a divisional group in Ophthalmology. Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Mr. Charbonneau, that the course be adopted, pending the above changes. The motion carried. B.Sc. Program Changes: - Major in Computer Science AC-00- 73 - Honours in Computer Science AC-00- 74 - Minor in Computer Science AC-00- 75 Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Mr. Charbonneau, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (12) EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCES New Course: 186-455A Sedimentary Geology (3 credits) AC-00- 76 Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Ms. Organek, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. New Course: 186-525B Subsurface Mapping (3 credits) AC-00- 77 Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Prof. Brawer, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. New Course: 186-552A,B Selected Topics III (3 credits) AC-00-78 312.1 An Arabic number should be used in the course title. Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Charbonneau, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. It was decided that the following five course changes were Minor Course Changes, and thus were for information only 186-425B Sediments to Sequences (3 credits) AC-00- 133 Changes: title & description 186-482A,B,D Independent Studies I (3 credits) AC-00- 134 Changes in title & description 186-483D Independent Studies II (3 credits) AC-00- 135 Changes in title & description 186-550A,B Selected Topics I (3 credits) AC-00-136 Changes in title & description 186-551A,B Selected Topics II (3 credits) AC-00-137 Changes in title & description Program Changes: - Honours Program in Planetary Sciences AC-00- 79 - Honours Program in Earth Sciences AC-00-80 - Major Program in Earth and Planetary Sciences AC-00- 81 Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Prof. MÅller-Wille, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (13) MCGILL SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT B.Sc. Program Changes: - Water Environments and Ecosystems: Biological Stream AC-00- 82 - Water Environments and Ecosystems: Physical Stream AC-00-83 - Ecological Determinants of Health: Population Stream AC-00- 84 - Ecological Determinants of Health: Cellular Stream AC-00-85 - Food Production and Environment AC-00- 86 - Renewable Resource Management AC-00- 87 Prof. Brawer moved, seconded by Prof. Pasztor, that the above program changes be approved. The motion carried. 313.1 In response to a member, Associate Dean Mendelson confirmed that every change in a course listed in a program requires that a program change form be submitted. B.A. Program Changes (For Information): - B.A. Ecological Determinants of Health in Society AC-00-88 (14) McGill SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT Bay of Fundy Field Semester Proposal - Cover Memo AC-00-89 - Background/Description/Rationale AC-00- 90 - Consultation Documents AC-00-95 New Course: 170-466A Research in Atlantic Canada (6 credits) AC-00- 91 New Course: 170-465A Environment and Social Change (3 credits) AC-00-92 New Course (For Information): 106-407A Understanding Atlantic Canada (3 credits) AC-00-93 (This course was listed as 106-XXXA in the Agenda.) 183-497 Ecology of Coastal Waters AC-00- 94 Changes in title, prerequisite, restriction, course description 314.1 Prof. Chmura introduced the proposal and answered members' questions. 314.2 The following points were raised: (1) Document AC-00-91, page 9, last sentence under "Course Outline," should read: No research with human subjects will be conducted unless first receiving an appropriate ethics approval. (2) The term "Literary Resources" should replace "Reading Lists." (3) The word "internship" should be replaced by a more appropriate term. (4) There was an arithmetical mistake in the budget calculation. Dean Shaver reminded the Academic Committee that the issues before it concerned only the academic content of the proposal and not the budgetary implications. Prof. MÅller-Wille moved, seconded by Ms. Sanagan, that the program be adopted. A friendly amendment added the courses to the motion. The motion carried. Dean Shaver thanked Prof. Chmura for appearing before the Academic Committee. (15) McGill SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT - Interdisciplinary Ph.D., M.A., & M.Sc. Program Option in Neotropical Environment AC-00- 96 - Program Option Description AC-00- 97 New Course: Biology 177-640A Tropical Biology & Conservation (3 credits) AC-00- 98 New Course: Biology 177-641A/B/T Issues in Tropical Biology(3 credits)AC- 00-99 New Course: McGill School of Environment 170-610B The Anatomy of Assumptions(3 credits)AC- 00-100 New Course: McGill School of Environment 170-611A,B The Economy of Nature (3 credits) AC-00-101 New Course: McGill School of Environment 170-612A,B,C,L Tropical Environmental Issues (3 credits) AC-00- 102 New Course: Political Science (For Information) 160-644A,B Tropical Environmental Politics (3 credits) AC-00- 103 Course Change: Biology 177-553B Neotropical Environments (3 credits) Change in description AC-00- 104 Course Change: Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (For Information) 336-550B AC-00-105 Course Change: Sociology (For Information) 166-565B AC-00-106 315.1 Prof. Scott gave an overview of the option, and answered questions. 315.2 The following points were raised: (1) In Document AC-00-97, page NEO 4, under #II, Complementary Courses in Neotropical Environment, it was questioned whether a 400-level course (183-498B) should be present. (2) All courses should be listed as restricted enrollment, limited to students in the NEO option of any program. (3) The requirement for an elementary Spanish prerequisite should be removed from all course proposals. Having courses listed as being restricted to students enrolled in the NEO Option, and having a Spanish requirement as a condition for enrolling in the NEO Option, will effectively satisfy the Spanish requirement for the courses. (4) For 177-641 (Document AC-00-99), "Suggested Readings" should be changed to "Suggested Resources." (5) For 170-611 (Document AC-00-101), specific course numbers should be listed under "Prerequisites," possibly with the addition of "or equivalent." (6) The apparent discrepancy in workload/credit weight for 170-612 and 160-644 should be resolved. Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the Neotropical Environment Option be adopted, pending resolution of the above points. 315.3 A friendly amendment was made to remove 170-610 (Document #AC-00-100) from the current consideration of the Neotropical Environment Option. The motion carried. New Course: McGill School of Environment 170-610B The Anatomy of Assumptions (3 credits)AC- 00-100 Ms. Waterston moved, seconded by Mr. Charbonneau, that the course be adopted. 315.4 The Committee felt the course title was too broad to reflect the course content, and that the course description emphasized methodology rather than content. Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Pasztor, that the course be referred back to the MSE, with a revised course proposal to be considered at the next Academic Committee meeting, on December 12, 2000. The motion carried. - M.Sc. Biology; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-107 - M.Sc. Geography; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00- 108 - Ph.D. Biology: Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-109 - Ph.D. Geography: Neotropical Environment Option AC-00- 110 - Consultation Documents AC-00-111 Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the above programs be adopted. The motion carried. 315.5 Dean Shaver said that the Neotropical Environment Option should not go to Faculty before the Academic Committee had reviewed the revised version of 170-610 (Document AC-00-100). 315.6 Dean Shaver thanked Prof. Scott, and asked her to convey thanks to Prof. Potvin. For Information (Documents Available Upon Request): M.Sc. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00- 112 M.A. Geography; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-113 M.Sc. Natural Resource Sciences; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-114 M.Sc. Plant Science; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-115 M.A. Political Science; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00- 116 M.A. Sociology; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-117 Ph.D. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00- 118 Ph.D. Natural Resource Sciences; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-119 Ph.D. Plant Science; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-120 Ph.D. Political Science; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-121 Ph.D. Sociology; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-122 (16) CHEMISTRY/PHYSICS New Courses: 180-334/198-334 Advanced Materials(3 credits) AC-00- 123/AC-00-124 New Courses: 180-534/198-534 Nanoscience and Nantechnology (3 credits) AC-00-125/AC-00-126 316.1 Dean Shaver mentioned that Prof. Lennox, Department of Chemistry, and Prof. GrÅtter, Department of Physics, would be co-teaching the above courses, as well as 180- 634/198-634. 316.2 Associate Dean Mendelson said that the first sentence in the course descriptions for 180-334/198-334 should be modified. Prof. Cline moved, seconded by Prof. Farrell, that the courses be adopted, pending the above changes. The motion carried. New Courses: 180-634/198-634 Seminars in Advanced Materials(3 credits) AC-00-127/AC-00-128 - Consultation Documents AC-00-129 Prof. Farrell moved, seconded by Ms. Waterston, that the courses be adopted. The motion carried. (17) CHEMISTRY 180-623 Organic Stereochemistry (5 credits) AC-00-130 Change in description Prof. Farrell moved, seconded by Ms. Waterston, that the change be approved. The motion carried. 180-365 Statistical Thermodynamics (2 credits) AC-00- 131 Change in course title Item Withdrawn 180-593 Statistical Mechanics (3 credits) AC-00- 132 Change in course title 317.1 After some discussion concerning the above changes in course titles, it was agreed that the proposed titles would lead to confusion. Prof. Farrell agreed to withdraw the change for 180-593. A title change proposal for 180-593 would be brought to the next Academic Committee meeting on December 12, 2000. Prof. Farrell moved, seconded by Ms. Waterston, that the title change for 180-365 be approved. The motion carried. (18) OTHER BUSINESS 318.1 Associate Dean Mendelson pointed out to members that it was important that the review of statistics courses be considered at the next Academic Committee meeting, in order for this item to be included in the Calendar for 2001-2002. 318.2 Associate Dean Mendelson thanked Josie D'Amico for her work on the Academic Committee, especially in putting together the long Agenda and complicated documents for the current meeting. 318.3 A member suggested several items that should be looked at in the future by the Academic Committee: (1) The implications of course instructors' names no longer being listed in the Calendar. (2) The number of credits of low-level courses that Science students should be allowed to take. (3) Guidelines for awarding a portion of grades based on class participation. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:17 p.m. josie\academic\ACNovMin.doc