00.16 Co-option of new SSJC member

Patrick Wolfe (CHU) was co-opted to fill the vacancy for a post-graduate student on the SSJC.

00.17 Welcome of new SSJC member

Dr Parks welcomed Patrick Wolfe to the SSJC.

00.18 Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Dr A Al-Tabbaa, Dr DRH Jones and Dr JA Williams.

00.19 Minutes of the meeting held on 7th February 2000

The minutes of the meeting held on 7th February 2000 were approved.

00.20 Matters arising from the minutes

Mrs Hawtrey-Woore reported that the heating systems in these lecture rooms worked fine but the windows were routinely being left open.

Dr Parks reported that the possible conversion of the South Wing Basement to an undergraduate common room was at present under active consideration.

It was reported that a drinking fountain was already provided in the men's toilets in the Inglis building. The status of the women's toilets would be checked and a drinking fountain would be provided there, if one did not exist.

Dr Parks reported that this matter had been considered by Council, which had determined that the extension of present arrangements was not feasible because the cost implications of complying with the consequent Health & Safety requirements.

Dr Parks reported that lyx had been added to the "Applications" pull down menu. The desirability of an icon was reiterated by the student members of the SSJC.

Dr Parks reported that the Computer Strategy Committee had discussed this question. It had agreed to the trial installation of a Word viewer (along with Microsoft Excel) on the new DPO machines donated by Intel, and to the trial installation of Microsoft Office on the machines formerly in the South Wing Basement (now in the Electrical & Information Engineering Teaching Laboratory).

Dr Parks reported that the Computer Strategy Committee had been made aware of this request and were investigating ways of meeting it. The question of location was in part dependent on the outcome of deliberations about the future of the South Wing Basement. A source for suitable terminals had been identified, although the machines themselves were not yet available.

Dr Parks reported that suitable high speed scanning technology had just been installed in the Reprographic Section and that it was anticipated that five years worth of cribs would be available on the web by the end of the Summer. The possibility of providing examples papers cribs on the web was raised. Dr Parks reported that this was already a matter for discussion at the next meeting of Directors of Studies.

Dr Parks reported that the Language Unit Director had been made aware of this request and this would be seriously considered once the new courses in Japanese had "bedded in" and once the planned move of the Language Unit to new facilities had been completed.

Dr Parks reported that the Language Unit staff had agreed to provide this and he had been assured that the availability of this assistance would soon be advertised on the Language Unit web pages.

Dr Parks reported that the Coursework Committee had agreed to the co-option of two student representatives on the Coursework Working Party, and that the convenor of the Working Party (Dr Pellegrino) had been informed of the identity of the SSJC nominations (Ms James and Mr Timms). It was agreed that the student SSJC members should nominate a replacement for Ms James, whose graduation was imminent.

Dr Parks reported that he (as the member of staff in charge of 3rd year projects) and Dr Burgoyne (as the member of staff in charge of 3rd year coursework) had reiterated to markers the existing guidelines about providing feedback, and introduced (Dr Parks) or planned to introduce for next year (Dr Burgoyne) changes to the cover sheets to ensure that markers were identifiable.

Dr Parks reported that this request had been forwarded by the Coursework Committee to the Coursework Working Party for consideration.

Dr Parks reported that this matter had been discussed at the Coursework Committee, which had emphasised the importance of the existing on-line survey in highlighting inconsistencies between coursework assignments. He urged SSJC members to encourage their "constituents" to complete the survey.

Dr Parks reported that the Mr Wallace was conducting a review of Drawing teaching for the Coursework Committee. The Coursework Committee had agreed to the co-option of two student representatives on this working party, and Mr Wallace had been informed of the identity of the SSJC nominations (Ms Courtney and Mr Froggart).

Dr Parks reported that the Exposition Committee would be reviewing this issue over the Summer.

Dr Parks reported that the Coursework Committee had asked the Computing Committee to review the teaching of Computing and had agreed to the co-option of two student representatives on this working party. The chairman of the Computing Committee (Prof. Dawes) had been informed of the identity of the SSJC nominations (Ms Galletly and Ms Stockbridge).

Dr Parks reported that the EISG was investigating the introduction of "Electronic Circuit Construction" and "Computer Strip & Rebuild" sessions. The only locally available Workshop Training course is a year-long, one-day-a-week course costing ~£500. It might, however, be possible to arrange a course specifically for CUED undergraduates, and, in order to investigate this possibility further, the student members of the SSJC undertook to ascertain the level of interest in such a course.

Dr Parks reported that a new module on Engineering for Sustainable Development (F14) would be introduced in the 2000-2001 academic year.

Dr Parks reported that this request had been drawn to the attention of Dr Clarkson, who was reviewing the teaching of Design throughout the course, and had been well received.

Mr Pain and Mr Timms reported that they had received little response to their initial survey but would be seeking to gather more information through personal solicitation.

Ms Galletly, Ms James and Mr Miles reported that the practicalities of providing a guide to the 4th year were daunting. It was agreed that more thought should be given to establishing means for obtaining the information required for such a guide.

The potential usefulness of the proposed guides was reiterated.

Ms Galletly reported Prof. Langley was strongly supportive of this proposal and that others had offered to help in this endeavour. It was planned to have the proposed information on the web in time for the start of the next academic year.

Mrs Hawtrey-Woore reported that the problems had arisen due to the invigilator (the examiner) failing to read the instructions issued. She had taken steps to ensure that the problem would not recur.

Ms Stockbridge reported that the revision of this document was almost complete.

00.21 Introduction of Transcripts (Paper SSJC:00.05.01)

Dr Parks explained the process that had resulted in the introduction of transcripts. The question of whether more details of the marks awarded for 4th year projects could be given, in the form of a breakdown into first presentation, report, conference-style paper and final presentation marks was raised. Dr Parks undertook to investigate this.

Dr Parks also undertook to investigate whether individual transcripts could be made accessible to that individual via the web.

It was agreed that the traditional distribution route of examination marks (via Directors of Studies) should continue, but be kept under review.

00.22 Feedback on 4th Year Michaelmas Term Presentations

Ms James and Mr Miles raised the question of whether a formal mechanism for providing feedback on Michaelmas term 4th year project presentations could be introduced. It was agreed to refer this matter to the Coursework Committee.

00.23 4th Year Modules Coursework

Ms James and Mr Miles highlighted the problem that many module leaders were failing to comply with the existing requirement that module coursework be returned marked with comments within fifteen (full term) days of submission. Dr Parks undertook to ensure that the importance of meeting these requirements was re-emphasised to 4th year module leaders next year.

00.24 Survey of 3rd Year Coursework

Mr Pain reported that of 44 responses to his survey 36 had raised both general and specific complaints. He undertook to complete his report by 19/5/00, so that its conclusions could be taken into account in the 3rd year coursework moderation meeting. Concerns about the coursework for individual papers would be drawn to the attention of the chairman of the relevant subject group.

00.25 Part IA Materials Lectures

Mr Miles reported on the receipt through the Suggestions Box of a message expressing concern about the quality of the Lent term Part IA Materials lectures. Dr Parks reported that the Teaching Office were well aware that this course had not gone well and that changes had already been made for next year.

00.26 Provision of Recycling Bins for Cans

Ms Stockbridge asked whether bins for collecting drinks cans for recycling could be provided. Mrs Hawtrey-Woore reported that this facility used to be provided in CUED, but that the charity that collected the cans had withdrawn its services. Ms Stockbridge and Mr Timms undertook to try to identify an alternative provider of the same service.

Ms Stockbridge also asked whether a means of collecting and delivering "books for schools" (and similar scheme) wrappers and packets could be provided. Dr Parks undertook to investigate this.

00.27 Date of Next Meeting

Monday 23rd October 2000, 2.15 pm, Board Room.

00.28 Any Other Business

1. Mrs Hawtrey-Woore reported that the sandwich vending machine in the Inglis corridor, introduced at the request of a previous SSJC, was running at a loss and might therefore have to be withdrawn.
2. Mr Miles reported that a message in the Suggestions Box had asked whether Part I examples papers could be distributed in LT0 at the start of the 9.00 am lecture on the day of issue. Dr Parks and Mrs Drummond undertook to investigate the feasibility of this.
3. Mr Miles reported that a message in the Suggestions Box had asked whether "Concept Classes" could be run in addition to "Examples Classes". In discussion it was agreed that this idea was not really practicable.
4. Ms James reported on the Library Committee meeting she had attended, drawing the SSJC's attention only to the issue of the surprisingly large cost of the chairs provided in the library.
5. Ms James reported on the Safety Committee meeting she had attended, drawing the SSJC's attention to the problem of the failure of some 1st year students to attend the mandatory safety lecture at the start of the academic year. As a consequence, the lecture would be repeated earlier in the 2000-2001 academic year than hithertofore.
6. It was agreed that the lock on the SSJC noticeboard should be changed to enable the SSJC Publicity Officer to have their own key (the present key is shared with the Examinations noticeboard and therefore subject to strict access controls).

00.29 Farewell to graduating SSJC members

Dr Parks noted that this was the last SSJC meeting for Ms James and Mr Miles, who would be graduating soon. He thanked them for their contributions to the SSJC and wished them well in their future careers.