September 24, 2018- Agenda & Minutes

Time: 10:00 am
Location: Exploratory Hall, Room 3301
Items to be considered on this agenda are due by 9/10/2018

When available, the meeting minutes will be indicated within bold brackets [ ] and are in draft form until they are approved by the committee.

Relevant Links: Undergraduate Council Meeting Minutes/ Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

I. Call to Order [10:02AM]

II. Approval of the August 27, 2018 Meeting Minutes [Approved]

III. Announcements/Discussion

• Continued Discussion: Providing Demand for New Curricular Offerings [Dr. Hakami reopened the discussion about adding new guidelines in program proposals that highlight reasons for the new program. Jennifer spoke with other colleges about their guidelines and found that all colleges have varying requirements to provide supporting rational for new program proposals. The committee voted and approved a measure to draft guidelines for submitting a rationale/assessment of need in program proposals. The guidelines will be discussed and voted on at a future meeting before being implemented. The results of today’s vote will be emailed to all committee members immediately following the meeting so any members not in attendance can voice any discontent (if needed). The email was sent on 9/24/2018 and as of 10/3/2018, no dissension has been voiced.]
• New Committee Member Introductions [The committee welcomed Drs. Blaisten (CDS), Zhao (PHYS/ASTR), and van der Ham (ESP). The committee thanks these departments’ previous committee members, Renz, Mishin, and Parsons (respectively).]

IV. Old Business

New Courses- Undergraduate

• ASTR 124: Introduction to Observational Astronomy [Approved. The committee suggested that the department considers working toward adding a Mason Core designation to course.]
• ASTR 420: Exoplanets [Approved]
• PHYS 170: Introductory and Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers I [Tabled due to concerns about overlap with the PHYS 160/260 sequence.]
• PHYS 270: Introductory and Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers II [Tabled due to concerns about overlap with the PHYS 160/260 sequence.]

Modified Courses- Undergraduate

• ASTR 402: RS: Methods of Observational Astronomy [Approved]

New Courses- Graduate

• ASTR 620: Exoplanets [Approved pending an update to the syllabus’ grading scale.]

New Programs

• Accelerated Master’s: Mechanical Engineering, BS/Computational Science, MS [Approved]

Modified Programs

• Astronomy Minor [Approved pending corrected total credit calculation to 19-22.]

V. New Business – Undergraduate

Modified Courses

• NEUR 327: Cellular, Neurophysiological, and Pharmacological Neuroscience [Tabled- representative absent.]

VI. New Business – Graduate

Modified Courses

• BIOS 716: Methods in Evolutionary Biology [Approved]
• GEOL 792: Seminar in Earth Systems Science, Geology & Earth Science [Tabled- representative absent.]

VII. Adjournment [11:36AM]