AC-02-29 FACULTY OF SCIENCE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, September 24, 2002, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 409, Dawson Hall. PRESENT: Dean Shaver (Chair), Associate Dean Mendelson (Vice- Chair), Professors Baines, Baker, Bennett, Drury, Kakkar, Lapointe, Leighton, Paquette, Silvius, Sutton, Wechsler; Associate Dean Hendershot; E. Gibb; L. Bondy, J. Capling, C. Caserly, S. Chakkalackal, I. Halperin, E. Lewis, C. Ward; J. D'Amico. GUEST: Prof. T. Meredith REGRETS: Professors Arkani-Hamed, Nishioka, Panangaden. DOCUMENTS: AC-01-102 AC-01-76A AC-02-1 to AC-02-28 (1) ADOPTION OF AGENDA - African Field Study Semester, item #10, to be considered after Business Arising from the Minutes, item #3. Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Kakkar, that the amended Agenda be adopted. The motion carried. (2) MINUTES OF APRIL 16,2002 AC-01-102 Prof. Kakkar moved, seconded by Associate Dean Mendelson, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. (3) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES There was no business arising from the Minutes. (4) REPORT ON MINOR COURSE CHANGES AC-02- 1 (for information) (5) Mathematics & Statistics MATH 240 Discrete Structures 1 AC-02- 2 Changes: Title & Course Description 3 credits Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Kakkar, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. MATH 323 Probability Theory AC-02-3 Change in Course Description 3 credits MATH 324 Statistics AC-02- 4 Change in Course Description 3 credits Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Leighton, that the above changes be approved. The motion carried. MATH 578 Numerical Analysis 1 AC-02- 5 Changes: Prerequisite & Course Description 4 credits MATH 579 Numerical Differential Eqns. AC-02- 6 Changes: Title, Prerequisite & Course Description 4 credits 105.1 Prof. Drury said the prerequisites for the above two courses should read: Prerequisites for MATH 578, Item #23: MATH 223, MATH 247, MATH 251 or MATH 270; MATH 248, MATH 260 or MATH 314; MATH 315, MATH 261 or MATH 325; MATH 317 or MATH 387; or the instructor's approval. Prerequisites for MATH 579, Item #23: MATH 317, MATH 387 or MATH 578; MATH 319, MATH 266 or MATH 375; or the instructor's approval. Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Silvius, that the changes for the two courses be approved. The motion carried. New Course: MATH 241 Discrete Structures 2 AC-02- 7 3 credits Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Baines, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. Program Changes: -Joint Major in Mathematics & Computer Science AC-02-8 -Joint Honours in Mathematics & Computer Science AC-02- 9 Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Bennett, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. -Faculty Program in Mathematics & Computer Science AC-02-10 -Faculty Program in Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science AC-02-11 Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Silvius, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. (6) PSYCHOLOGY New Course: PSYC 507 Emotions, Stress, and Illness AC-02-12 (Revised) 3 credits Prof. Baker moved, seconded by Prof. Leighton, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. (7) PHYSICS New Course: PHYS 614B Advanced Astrophysics 1 AC-02- 13 3 credits New Course: PHYS 615A Advanced Astrophysics 2 AC-02- 14 3 credits Prof. Sutton moved, seconded by Prof. Drury, that the above courses be adopted. The motion carried. New Course: PHYS 621A High Energy Astrophysics AC-02-15 3 credits New Course: PHYS 732A/B Topics in Astrophysics 1 AC-02- 16 3 credits Prof. Sutton moved, seconded by Prof. Wechsler, that the above courses be adopted. The motion carried. New Course: PHYS 733A/B Topics in Astrophysics 2 AC-02- 17 3 credits Prof. Sutton moved, seconded by Prof. Drury, that the above course be adopted. The motion carried. (8) CHEMISTRY Program Changes: -Faculty Program in Chemistry & Biological Sciences AC-02-18 Prof. Kakkar moved, seconded by Prof. Wechsler, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. New Course for Nursing Students - for information: CHEM 232 Organic Chemistry Principles AC-02- 19 4 credits (9) GEOGRAPHY B.Sc. Program Changes: - Honours in Geography AC-02- 20 - Major in Geography AC-02- 21 Prof. Lapointe moved, seconded by Mr. Lewis, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. B.A. Program Changes (For information): - Honours in Geography - Joint Honours in Geography - Major Concentration in Geography - Major Concentration in Geography (Urban Systems) (10) AFRICAN FIELD STUDY SEMESTER AC-02- 22 110.1 Prof. T. Meredith, Department of Geography, introduced the AFSS proposal, gave some background information, and answered members' questions. 110.2 Members agreed that the following change be made: Page 2, Special Topics (0-6 credits): The last sentence should read "Students may take Special Topics in the MSE, in African Studies, or in Development Studies, or in their home departments, with permission of the departmental advisor." Prof. Lapointe moved, seconded by Prof. Leighton, that the proposal as modified above be adopted. The motion carried. (11) BARBADOS FIELD STUDY SEMESTER AC-02- 23 (For information) 111.1 Dean Shaver briefly introduced the above document, and said that this particular Field Study Semester was concerned with both developmental and environmental issues, whereas the Panama Field Study Semester was environmentally oriented. (12) CENTRE FOR ELECTRON MICROSCOPY RESEARCH (CEMR) AC-02-24 -Guidelines & Checklist for Research Centres AC-01- 76A 112.1 As Dr. H. Vali was unable to attend the current meeting, Dean Shaver introduced the above proposal. He said that he was unsure whether the CEMR would be based in the Faculty of Science, and therefore did not believe that the proposal required approval by the Faculty. Dean Shaver said that the CEMR was brought for information, and for members' comments. However, should the CEMR be based in the Faculty of Science, the proposal would be brought back to the Academic Committee for approval. 112.2 Members expressed concern as to whether, according to McGill's guidelines, the proposal really related to a centre, or to a facility for EM research. There was also concern over the difference between the proposed centre and the McGill Institute for Advanced Materials (MIAM); there appeared to be overlap, and this issue should be clarified. Furthermore, there was very little mention of teaching in the proposal. 112.3 Dean Shaver said that it was important to be precise about the distinctions between a Centre and a Facility so that there would not be confusion in the future. (13) INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF BIOSENSORS AND BIOCHIPS AC-02-25 113.1 Dean Shaver said that the proposed Centre was not based in the Faculty of Science, and that it was for information only. He asked members for comments. 113.2 One member mentioned that although the proposal was called "International Centre of Biosensors and Biochips," most of the members listed in the proposal were from Qu‚b‚c. 113.3 Another member was concerned about the overlap between the proposed centre and the Montreal Genome Centre directed by Professor Tom Hudson, which might not lead to the most efficient utilization of resources. Further, there is no mention of the involvement of the Sheldon Biotechnology Center in this proposal which also suggests some areas of possible duplication or overlapping infrastructure. (14) REPORT OF THE JOINT BACHELOR OF ARTS AND SCIENCE (BASc) COMMITTEE AC-02- 26 114.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said that the report was the result of a joint committee of Arts and Science. The committee had discussed strategies, one of which was to come up with an entirely new curriculum, the other being to use McGill's existing models with the hope that within the new degree some more innovative programs could be developed. 114.2 Associate Dean Mendelson highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed program, and asked for members' comments. 114.3 One member said that the proposed program was more like a BA degree with some Science courses. 114.4 A member said that in order for the proposal to be exciting, there should be a Major Concentration in all the Science units. 114.5 Associate Dean Mendelson said it was hoped that units that did not have a Major concentration would create one. He said that the proposed program would be good for medical students or for Business-school students; there was an extensive clientele for a BASc-type program. Associate Dean Mendelson said it was important that the Faculty maintain propriety over the Science portion of the proposed BASc. 114.6 A member said that the proposed program would require students to complete 102 credits, and that this would not leave any room for flexibility. 114.7 Another member pointed out that it was important to take prerequisites into account, and that departments would have to be very careful in creating their offerings. 114.8 If the proposed program allowed students to take two Major Concentrations and one Minor Concentration, or one Major Concentration and two Minor Concentrations, it would provide an even broader education. 114.9 It was suggested that defining the proposed program with core courses would make the program unique. A capstone seminar course could be included. 114.10 Dean Shaver said that an important question was whether or not it was desirable to create a program that would serve as a bridge between Arts and Science. He asked whether there would be a chance of creating cohorts of students, and whether there should be integrative or core courses in the BASc. (15) REPORT OF THE FRESHMAN SCIENCE PROGRAM (FSP)SUBCOMMITTEE AC-02-27 115.1 Associate Dean Mendelson introduced the FSP Report. 115.2 Dean Shaver called for feedback on the Report. 115.3 It was pointed out that the heavy workload and/or lack of background for some students resulted in a relatively low GPA for their U0 year. This low GPA affects the students' CGPA over the course of their studies. 115.4 Some of the points raised were: the importance of the broad exposure obtained in the FSP; the inhibiting effect of the heavy workload on taking introductory courses in, for example, the Faculty of Arts which could potentially lead to a Minor Concentration; that while the FSP covers biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics, students do not have an opportunity to be exposed to other areas of science; and the possibility of reducing workload somewhat by some reduction in laboratory hours. 115.5 Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Lapointe, that the above Report and its recommendation be accepted. The motion carried. 115.6 A vote was held as to which of the suggested committees should undertake the review of the FSP. Option #2 (ad hoc committee of Faculty) was the committee chosen. (16) ASSOCIATE EXAMINERS AC-02-28 116.1 Associate Dean Mendelson introduced the above document. Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Wechsler, that the recommendation in the above document be adopted. The motion carried. (17) Streamlining Program Changes that Accompany Course Changes 117.1 Due to insufficient time, the above item was postponed until the next Academic Committee meeting on October 22, 2002. (18) OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 5:16 p.m.