AC-03-149

FACULTY OF SCIENCE
ACADEMIC COMMITTEE


Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, February 24, 2004, at 3:00 p.m. in 
Macdonald Engineering Building, Room 388.

PRESENT:	Dean Shaver (Chair), Associate Dean Mendelson (Vice-Chair), 
Professors Baker, Bennett, Cline, Kakkar, Kemme, Kramer, R. Sengupta (in the 
absence of Prof. Meredith), Schmidt, Wechsler, Yau; Associate Dean Hendershot; 
E. Gibb; J. D’Amico.

REGRETS:	Professors Arkani-Hamed, Baines, Roulet, Silvius; M. El Ouali; 
J. Capling, R. Harron, R. Kozak, E. Lewis, A. Malone, S. Sen, J. Vorstenbosch.

DOCUMENTS:	AC-03-131(Rev)			AC-03-141 to AC-03-148

Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m.

(1)	ADOPTION OF AGENDA

	Prof. Schmidt moved, seconded by Prof. Kakkar, that the Agenda be 
adopted.

	The motion carried.

(2)	MINUTES OF JANUARY 20, 2004				AC-03-141

	Prof. Bennett moved, seconded by Prof. Yau, that the Minutes be 
approved.

		The motion carried.

(3)	BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

	There was no business arising from the Minutes.

(4)	AD HOC HONOURS PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE			AC-03-131(Rev)

604.1	There were some questions concerning non-equivalent courses being 
listed as alternatives in the Required Course Lists.  It was pointed out that 
this ad hoc program was based on the Minor in Neuroscience, and it was 
mentioned that in view of the number of ad hoc programs in Neuroscience that 
have been approved over the years, that the implementation of a formal 
Neuroscience Major/Honours Program would seem appropriate.  Dean Shaver said 
since no individual had yet come forward to "champion" such a formal 
Neuroscience Major/Honours Program, that perhaps the Department of Psychology 
could take the lead.

	Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Kemme, that the 
above ad hoc program be approved.

	The motion carried.

(5)	AD HOC JOINT HONOURS PROGRAM IN PSYCHOLOGY &
       PHYSICS							AC-03-142

	Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the 
ad hoc program be approved.

	The motion carried.

(6)	SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
       
       B.Sc. Program Changes:
       - Honours in Computer Science				AC-03-143

	Prof. Kemme moved, seconded by Prof. Schmidt, that the program 
changes be approved.

	The motion carried.

	- Minor in Computer Science				AC-03-144

	Prof. Kemme moved, seconded by Prof. Schmidt, that the program 
changes 
be approved.

	The motion carried.

(7)	B.A. & Sc. DEGREE

	- Credit Distribution for B.A. & Sc. Students
       Taking Faculty Programs					AC-03-145

607.1	The new regulation reads:

	“B.A. & Sc. students who take faculty programs must complete at 
least 30 credits in each faculty as part of their faculty program and 
their minor or minor concentration.”

	Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that 
the above regulation for the B.A. & Sc. Degree be adopted.

	The motion carried.

	- Faculty Program in Cognitive Science			AC-03-146

	Minor Changes for Clarification:

607.2	- the three headings referring to Complementary Courses are 
replaced by one heading reading "Complementary Courses (51 credits)"

607.3	- the paragraph "Note:  Students who choose...Linguistics or 
Philosophy" is deleted.

607.4	- the sentence reading "18 credits, at least 12...and/or 
Psychology" is replaced by "18 credits, at least 12 at the 400-level or 
higher, chosen from Lists A and/or B in Computer Science, Linguistics, 
Philosophy, and/or Psychology."

607.5	Also, it was suggested that PSYC 301 be added to Psychology, List 
A/B, and that MATH 328 be added to Computer Science, List B.  (These 
course additions are to be approved by the relevant program coordinators.)

	Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Baker, that 
the program be adopted.

	The motion carried.

(8)	CHEMISTRY

	New Course:
	CHEM 400		Independent Study in Chemistry	AC-03-147
				1 credit

608.1	Ms. Gibb said that if any specialized books were required, the 
library was currently in a position to purchase them.

	Prof. Kakkar moved, seconded by Prof. Cline, that the course be 
adopted.

	The motion carried.

(9)	MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AND COURSES				AC-03-148

609.1	There was general agreement with the thrust of the article.  
However, one member was not convinced that there was a cause-and-effect
relationship between increased choice and decreased well-being.

609.2	It was suggested that students be given guidelines and increased 
guidance concerning choice of programs.  While some of this information 
may be available to students, much of it may be confusing and guidance by 
advisors would be desirable.  A member suggested that, in analogy to 
course evaluations, program evaluations could be instituted.

609.3	Dean Shaver said that he would pass along the idea of program 
evaluations.

(10)	OTHER BUSINESS

610.1	A member questioned, if a program is changed during a student's 
stay at McGill, whether the student is eligible to follow the new program 
or is bound to follow the old program.  The member asked if this was 
codified somewhere. 

610.2	Associate Dean Mendelson replied that common practice is for 
students already registered in the program to have the choice of continuing 
with the old program or adopting the requirements for the new program.


       The meeting adjourned at 3:48 p.m.

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ACMinutesFebruary24.doc