College of Sciences

Student Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

College of Sciences Conference Room (2118 Old Main)

October 22, 2007

Call to Order with Roll Call

Approval of Minutes of September 17, 2007

Committee Reports

·         Outstanding Faculty Award

·         Student Assistance Award

·         Service Project

Department Reports

·         Biological Sciences

            -First alumni weekend in association w/ homecoming—4o people at breakfast w/ faculty and                    

alumni w/ at least one faculty w/ each family.  Gave tickets to the football game—so alumni were able to attend.

            -Tours of about that many people to the building—Marianne McKinney--BS in biology 1948.                    

Lives on 4th street and receives current newletters

            -Continuing research and student working on progress for a field station—south side of Embarrass River
                        Would be used by many departments in the sciences.
            -Working w/ Perry-sponsoring a biological field station
                        Owned by Tarble family relatives-there has been talk of sponsoring initially just a classroom, with added dorms on in future so weekend work would be easier.
                        Provides access to the river—would provide areas for research for many disciplines

            -New newsletter this fall and talk of an alumni basketball game night. 
            -Steve rich at alumni association.  Talk of an event in Chicago—some kind of dinner, field museum, and a bunch of alumni could attend b/c many of them live up there…in planning stages

            -Dr. Anne Fritz-WISM
            -M3S-Minority Mentoring in Math and Science
                        -gave a dinner on October 4th, 2007 for students had a high number of student attendance
                        -gives each student a mentor—to help survive being a biological science major in our department

            -Meghan France-Tri-beta president—creating a student research day
                        -Students give talks on current research

            -Seminar series-continuing—2 talks already given

                        added on a 6th seminar—Dr. Stuart Hill From Northern Illinois University “Neisseria  genetic recombination with emphasis on pilin antigenic variation.”

·         Chemistry

            -The ACS-SA (American Chemical Society-Student Affiliates) has been very active lately. We are currently preparing for: National Chemistry Week with a poster and a bake sale and also setting dates with local schools to go out and perform demos for their students

            -The Midwest Chemical Society Meeting is coming up on November 8 and 9 in Kansas City,   MO
                        so far we have 3 faculty and 1 student going to present research

            -These past few weeks we have begun seminars both students and outside speakers

            -The chemistry department is giving tours to incoming/perspective students on the EIU open house dates

            -The department will be holding its annual Research Celebration on November 7 at 5:000pm  on the third floor of the physical science building.  All are welcome!

            -The department has two new classes being offered next semester:
                        Computational Chemistry taught by Dr. S Peebles
                        Research Rotation taught by Dr. R Peebles – for Freshman and Sophomore students to “get a feel” for the research being done in the department 

·         Communication Disorders and Sciences

            -Laptop initiative in full swing- especially targeting junior courses.

            -Taping this Friday- research promotion video for graduate assistants.  Dr. Throneburg coordinating the video, talking about how GA opportunities have benefited them in  their profession.

            -NSSLHA (the student group) has been coordinating several events, including the CDS Mentor Program, Halloweenie Roast, grad school information night, and promoting the ELL speaker and Kicks for Kids Kickball Tourney

            -ASHA conference taking place November 15-18 in Boston, all faculty and grad students will be attending

·         Economics

            -A senior sem called Pop Culture Economics has been developed and approved by the department but still needs approval from Academic Affairs

            -EIU faculty and students will be attending an economic conference this weekend in Kansas City

            -This year Fox Ridge Picnic had a turnout of about 40 people

            -The department is still receiving applications for a teaching position

·         Geology/Geography

            -The department is starting to work on a strategic plan for next semester’s external reviews- the whole department is involved in reviewing the mission and vision statements.
            -The Death Valley trip over break was successful
            -For geography awareness week we had a great attendance for our two guest speakers
            -Finishing classes for finals
            -Recieved preliminary plans for the modified room 3040, should hold 105 people

·         Mathematics and Computer Science

            -Math Club/KME held a bowling event two weeks ago.

            -Math Club/KME will host “Pumpkin Painting” next Monday.

            -Contract evaluations for faculty are still underway.

            -Tenure criteria evaluations are ongoing.

            -Faculty are conducting a technology presentation for textbook providers.

                        -Providers hope to offer educational materials which incorporate more software and other non-text learning aids.

            -The department is scheduled to present a technology brief to the Dean on November 31st.

            -Registration is up on upper-level Mathematics courses.

                        -Normally, such classes have 2-5 students registered by the beginning of the next semester

                        -Now, many classes have 5 students registered already, and we still have stragglers which haven't registered, yet.

·         Physics

·         Political Science

            -Happy to report that the Student Research Support Fund is up and ready

            -Classes are going well

            -120 majors

            -Another 20 Social Science teaching majors focusing in political science

            -Will be looking into the writing intensive classes and how they are helping academically within the department

            -Looking into the possibility of offering some classes every semester

      New Intro to Political Theory

      High demand with new criminology minor for the Criminal law class, might have to offer every semester

      Environmental policy class  

            -The new class Global Threats and Problems will be introduced in the spring

      Team taught – Dr. Wandling will be teaching political science part

·         Psychology

            -School Psychologist search winding down

      12 applicants, two or three good candidates

            -New research room

            -DAC Departmental Application Criteria

      Department has decided not to reduce the number of evaluations done

      Dr. Addison has suggested revisions, will review

            -Psi Chi- Linda Liang, 1973 alumni

      Gave career tips

·         Sociology and Anthropology

Dean’s Report

·         Technology Planning (Handout)

Activities for November meeting

·         Committee Activities and Reports

·         Department Reports

Adjournment