AC-02-159 FACULTY OF SCIENCE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, April 29, 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, Wechsler; Associate Dean Hendershot; E. Gibb; K. Smith; J. D'Amico. REGRETS: Professor Sutton; L. Bondy, J. Capling, C. Caserly, I. Halperin, C. Kim, E. Lewis, Y. Moolani. DOCUMENTS: AC-02-130 to AC-02-158 Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA & ADDENDUM 801.1 An Addendum containing a Minor Course Change and three B.A. Program Changes (for information only) had been circulated with the Agenda. Prof. Bennett moved, seconded by Prof. Kakkar, that the Agenda and Addendum be adopted. The motion carried. 2. MINUTES OF MARCH 18, 2003 AC-02- 130 Prof. Kakkar moved, seconded by Prof. Silvius, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. 3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES There was no business arising from the minutes. 4. CHEMISTRY CHEM 581 (Changes: title, description and prerequisite) Prof. Kakkar moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, that the changes be approved. 804.1 After some discussion, Associate Dean Mendelson, seconded by Prof. Wechsler, proposed an amendment that the course be considered as a new course. The amendment carried. New Course: CHEM 5XX Supramolecular Chemistry AC-02-131 3 credits A vote was held on the amended motion above. The motion carried. Program Changes: - Major in Chemistry AC-02- 132 - Honours in Chemistry AC-02- 133 Prof. Kakkar moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. 5. BIOCHEMISTRY, CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY - GRADUATE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PROGRAM OPTION IN CHEMICAL BIOLOGY Proposal for an Option in Chemical Biology AC-02- 134 Proposal for New `Seminars in Chemical Biology' Courses AC-02-135 805.1 Dean Shaver said that since this was a graduate option and involved graduate courses, only the option and courses for the Department of Chemistry would be approved. Those from the Departments of Biochemistry, and Pharmacology would be for information only. 805.2 Prof. Silvius gave a brief overview of the Option and its attendant courses. Prof. Silvius moved, seconded by Prof. Kakkar, that the Option be approved in principle. The motion carried. New Course: CHEM 689 Seminars in Chemical Biology 2 AC-02- 138 1 credit New Course: CHEM 690 Seminars in Chemical Biology 4 AC-02- 139 1 credit 805.3 Associate Dean Mendelson pointed out that the four courses should be cross-referenced in the Calendar to inform students of the other department's courses. 805.4 Associate Dean Mendelson said that portions of the course descriptions should properly be considered as notes, and thus should not be in the course descriptions. Prof. Kakkar moved, seconded by Prof. Silvius, that the courses be adopted. The motion carried. - M.Sc. in Chemistry(Chemical Biology Option) AC-02-142 - Ph.D. in Chemistry(Chemical Biology Option) AC-02-143 Prof. Kakkar moved, seconded by Prof. Silvius, that the programs be adopted. The motion carried. The Following New Courses Have Been Approved by the Faculty of Medicine's Curriculum Committee (For Information Only): BIOC 610 Seminars in Chemical Biology 1 AC-02- 136 1 credit BIOC 611 Seminars in Chemical Biology 3 AC-02- 137 1credit The Following New Programs Have Been Approved by the Faculty of Medicine's Curriculum Committee (For Information Only): - M.Sc. in Biochemistry(Chemical Biology Option) AC-02- 140 - Ph.D. in Biochemistry(Chemical Biology Option) AC-02- 141 - M.Sc. in Pharmacology(Chemical Biology Option) AC-02- 144 - Ph.D. in Pharmacology(Chemical Biology Option) AC-02- 145 6. MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS New Course: - MATH 490 Mathematics of Finance AC-02-146 3 credits 806.1 It was pointed out that the following restriction should be added to this course: Not open to students who have taken MATH 330. Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 430. Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. MATH 340 Discrete Structures 2 AC-02- 147 3 credits Changes in title, prerequisite, restriction, description Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. MATH 343 Discrete Mathematics and Applied Algebra AC-02-148 3 credits Change in restriction Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the change be approved. The motion carried. Secretary's Note: The course title for this course exceeds the 30-character limit. MATH 430 Mathematical Finance AC-02- 149 3 credits Change in number [from MATH 330] 806.2 It was pointed out that the following restriction should be added to this course: Not open to students who have taken MATH 330. Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 490. Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the change be approved. The motion carried. Program Changes: - Major in Mathematics AC-02- 150 - Honours in Applied Mathematics AC-02- 151 - Honours in Probability and Statistics AC-02- 152 Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. - Faculty Program in Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science AC-02-153 - Faculty Program in Mathematics & Computer Science AC-02-154 Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. - Joint Major in Mathematics & Computer Science AC-02-155 Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. Panangaden, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. 7. REPORT OF THE AD HOC FRESHMAN SCIENCE PROGRAM COMMITTEE AC-02-156 807.1 Prof. Leighton introduced the above item, and briefly highlighted the Report. 807.2 There was a wide-ranging discussion on the ramifications of the Report. The issue is basically one of depth versus breadth in the education of Science students. It was pointed out that vested interests in retaining FTEs would always be a factor in any discussion of reforming curricula. It was mentioned that the Faculty of Arts has a very rigid cap on its programs, thus forcing students to take a program in at least one other department, ensuring breadth. It was also mentioned that faculty programs give students the opportunity to obtain more breadth than do major and honours programs; however, some members maintained that there does not seem to be leeway in introducing breadth into the FSP without sacrificing necessary fundamental knowledge. 807.3 Dean Shaver said that it had been an interesting discussion, and he suggested that members take the discussion up with their departments. 8. OTHER BUSINESS BIOLOGY New Course: BIOL 594 Advanced Evolutionary Ecology AC-02- 157 3 credits 808.1 There was a lengthy discussion concerning the 20% component for class participation, which some members felt was too subjective. However, the opposing argument was made that for a 500-level course, the 20% component was appropriate, and that all grading involves a degree of subjectivity. Prof. Kramer moved, seconded by Prof. Arkani-Hamed, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. 808.2 This being the last meeting of the year, Dean Shaver thanked members for their participation in Academic Committee meetings, and wished them a great summer! There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.