PLEASE NOTE: THESE MINUTES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED YET. AC-01-102 FACULTY OF SCIENCE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, April 16, 2002, 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, Farrell, Leighton, Nishioka, Panangaden, Rasmussen, Silvius, Wechsler; Associate Dean Hendershot; H. Waluzyniec; J. D'Amico. REGRETS: Professors Lapointe and Sutton; S. Hadland, R. Hourani, S. Merani, D. Shanks, H. Walia, C. Ward, A. Wong; D. Crawford. DOCUMENTS: AC-01-83 AC-01-86 to AC-01-101 MCC-01-36 Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. (1) ADOPTION OF AGENDA - Computer Science course, COMP 361 (MCC-01-36), to be considered under item #8 of the Agenda. Prof. Arkani-Hamed moved, seconded by Prof. Drury, that the amended Agenda be adopted. The motion carried. (2) MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 26, 2002 AC-01-90 Prof. Bennett moved, seconded by Prof. Silvius, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. (3) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES - Minute 611.2, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND SCIENCE 703.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said that the committee members of the Bachelor of Arts and Science Joint Committee were: Prof. H. Goad (Linguistics), Associate Dean (Science) Mendelson (Co-chair), Prof. G. Mikkelson (Philosophy), Mr. N. Naidoo (AUS), Associate Dean (Arts) Quaroni (Co-chair), Prof. G. Schmidt (Mathematics & Statistics), Ms. C. Ward (SUS) and Prof. A. Wechsler (Physiology). He said the first meeting will be held on April 17, 2002. (4) REPORT ON MINOR COURSE CHANGES AC-01-91 (for information) (5) BIOLOGY New Course: BIOL 328 Biological Diversity in Africa AC-01-92 3 credits 705.1 After some discussion as to whether the course should be considered in the absence of the complete African Field Study Semester, Dean Shaver suggested that Academic Committee consider the course at the current meeting, but with the condition that the course be offered only if the African Field Study Semester is suitably approved. 705.2 Prof. Baker moved, seconded by Prof. Wechlser, that the course be adopted, subject to the above condition. 705.3 During discussion of the course, it was questioned which unit AGNR represented (#16, Corequisite), and what type of work would be involved in the eight hours under 12 (i) Other. 705.4 The motion carried pending clarification of the above. BIOL 313 Structure & Function of Cells AC-01-93 Changes: Description & Prerequisite 3 credits 705.5 Associate Dean Mendelson explained that the course changes were not being brought to Academic Committee as a minor item because the changes involved dropping a lab component. He said that the change in restriction (#24) should read "This course will no longer be capped to lab capacity." Prof. Nishioka moved, seconded by Prof. Rasmussen, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. BIOL 485 Plant Growth and Development Changes: Title, Prerequisite, AC-01-94 Restriction, Description & Course Number [from 177-357]) 3 credits Prof. Nishioka moved, seconded by Prof. Rasmussen, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. BIOL 555 Functional Ecology of Trees AC-01-95 Change in Prerequisite 3 credits Prof. Nishioka moved, seconded by Prof. Rasmussen, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. - Minor Concentration in Science for Arts (AC-01-96) (for information) (6) BIOLOGY/McGILL SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT New Course: BIOL 540/ENVR 540 Ecology of Species Invasions AC-01-97 3 credits 706.1 A member mentioned that although the course was listed as a lecture course, the rationale specified that students would present a research paper in class, which would take up a large amount of the lecture time. 706.2 It was pointed out the prerequisite would not ensure that only senior students could register for the course. It was agreed that the course would be restricted to U3 students. Secretary's Note: The Restriction should read: "Not open to U1 or U2 students." 706.3 It was pointed out that the reading list contained four books, and that it should be specified whether students were expected to read the books or use them as reference sources. 706.4 A member mentioned that SCTP would modify the course description as it was currently written. Prof. Rasmussen moved, seconded by Prof. Nishioka, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. (7) NEW OPTION FOR M.Sc.: COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING (CSE) OPTION - Comments on Academic Committee Concerns AC-01-98 - CSE at McGill AC-01-83(REV) Prof. Drury introduced the CSE Option. Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the above option be adopted. The motion carried. New Course Originally Proposed as MATH 799D/N: MATH 699D/N CSE Seminar AC-01-86(REV) 1 credit 707.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said that since the course was for M.Sc. students, it should properly be a 600-level, not a 700-level, course. 707.2 Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the course be adopted as a 600-level course. The motion carried. - MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS AC-01-89(REV) - COMPUTER SCIENCE AC-01-88(REV) - ATMOSPHERIC & OCEANIC SCIENCES AC-01-87(REV) Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Drury, that the option be adopted for the above units. The motion carried. (8) SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE Program Changes: - B.Sc. Major in Software Engineering AC-01-99 Prof. Panangaden moved, seconded by Prof. Drury, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. MINOR COURSE CHANGE (for information): COMP 361 Systems Development Project MCC-01-36 Change in Course Title 3 credits (9) PLACEMENT TESTS AC-01-100 709.1 Associate Dean Mendelson introduced the above item, and gave some background. 709.2 After a lengthy discussion, during which members expressed the feeling that if students could demonstrate sufficient proficiency in a subject, this should be recognized, Prof. Farrell moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the issue be tabled until there was information concerning the subsequent performance of students who had passed Placement Tests. The motion carried. (10) REPORT: FRESHMAN SCIENCE PROGRAM (FSP) SUBCOMMITTEE 710.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said that the FSP Subcommittee considered that the Freshman Science Program should be subject to a full review, and a report from the Subcommittee would be presented to Academic Committee in September, 2002. (11) CREDIT WEIGHTS IN FACULTY OF SCIENCE PROGRAMS AC-01-101 711.1 Associate Dean Mendelson highlighted various points in Document AC-01-101. 711.2 A member mentioned that when the programs were originally conceived, a Faculty Program was intended for those entering fields such as teaching, a Major Program for those requiring a specialization, and an Honours for those intending to pursue research. However, these distinctions no longer exist. 711.3 Another member said that Honours programs can be looked at in three ways: as more difficult, as more intensive, and as more specialized. 711.4 It was questioned whether there was the necessity for such a range of programs. 711.5 Dean Shaver said that while he did not believe in uniformity, communication and collaboration were easier if there was a shared vision. He also pointed out that if the number of required credits in a program was too high, this would work against cross-disciplinary studies, which were becoming increasingly popular. 711.6 Dean Shaver said that the whole issue was very important, and that he looked forward to the Faculty having a wide ranging discussion in the coming year concerning credit weights in programs. 711.7 Dean Shaver thanked Associate Dean Mendelson for providing such extensive data. (12) OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m. josie\academic\acminapril16.doc