MARIETTA COLLEGE FACULTY MEETING
February 11, 2002
MINUTES (Approved 4/8/02)

The regular meeting for February of the Marietta College faculty for the 2001-2002 academic year convened at 5:00 p.m. February 11, 2002, in the Selby Science Center, room 101. Dr. Sidney Potash, Chair of the Faculty, presided.

1. Announcement
   
   Website. Dr. Potash reported that it was now possible to access reports, forms, minutes of Faculty Council, Faculty Development Committee, and Curriculum Committee through http://marietta.edu/~mcfac/.



2. Minutes

   The minutes of the meeting of January 28, 2002 were approved as submitted.

3. President’s Report
   
   
   1. Board meeting. Dr. Scott reported that the following items would be considered at the upcoming meeting of trustees: tenure recommendations; a first look at the 2002-03 budget which currently showed an $81,000 deficit on revenues of approximately $30 million; deferred maintenance; "below-the-line" budget items such as additional drawdown for some deferred maintenance projects; a report on the comprehensive campaign. She also hoped she would have some positive news to report on local matching for the McCoy $500,000 gift.
   
   
   
   2. Cassidy & Associates. Dr. Scott reminded the meeting that the College entered into a relationship with this firm some years previously. To date, the only result from the firm's work in Washington on behalf of the college had been a $200,000 matching grant from the National Park Service's Save America's Treasures program which had been used to digitize materials related to the Ohio Company of Associates. Cassidy & Associates had now agreed to continue to work for the College on a pro bono basis with a target of raising $3 millon.

   There was an opportunity for questions, but none was raised.

4. Provost’s Report
   
   
   1. Board meeting. Dr. DeWine reported that she would be taking the following topics to the board meeting: First Year Taskforce report; ongoing curricular issues, changes in the evaluation system, and post-tenure review.
   
   
   
   2. International Advisory Council. The creation of this group was reported.
   
   
   
   3. First Year Program. Dr. DeWine reported that Dr. Suzanne Walker had been appointed Director of the First Year Program. The Provost also reported that all sections of the Fall’s First Year Seminar were already staffed with full-time faculty with a couple of instructors in reserve.


5. Curriculum Committee
   
   The motion was proposed by Dr. LaFramboise and seconded:

   That the faculty approve a Bachelor of Science major in Physics as described in the attachment to this notice, for implementation in the Fall of 2002, but retroactive application to the Fall of 2001.

   Dr. Seale was invited to address the meeting. Details of the new major in Physics and the changes to the major in Applied Physics and the minor in Physics had been distributed with the notice calling the meeting. A copy of the material is attached as Exhibit A (blue). Dr. Seale spoke to the topic and augmented his comments by use of a Power Point presentation. Material not contained in the material distributed is attached as Exhibit B (yellow). "Modern Physics" was to be added to the slide "Course Changes" as one of the courses not changed.

   Discussion followed Dr. Seale’s presentation and Dr. Radford joined him in responding to questions. Issues raised include: Any "hidden prerequisites"? (No.) New major is aimed at students preparing for graduate school, does this present a problem for students intending to proceed directly into industry? (No. either major – Physics or Applied Physics – would be good preparation for such students.) How dependent is the major on adjunct instructors? (Without adjunct assistance, it would be difficult to offer non-major courses.) Would the problem be alleviated if the upper-level courses were offered alternate years? (Difficult for students to take courses in preferred order if not offered each year.) What is being done to attract students? (There has been some interest among current students. Dr. DeWine added that there would eventually be 17 students on Physics scholarships. Dr. Scott further added that these scholarships were full tuition with the College absorbing the difference between the average discount tuition amount and the full tuition. This had been agreed to with the donor as an appropriate matching.)

   On a voice vote, the motion passed with no contrary votes and one abstention. The vote included absentee ballots.

6. Adjournment
   

   The meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.