Minutes of the Staff-Student Joint Committee Meeting held on

Monday 4 February 2002 at 2.15 pm in the Board Room

 

Present

Dr A Al-Tabbaa

 

Mr M Jung

 

Ms SA Bird

 

Mr BR Martin

 

Mr AJ Cable

 

Dr RJ Miller

 

Mrs CB Drummond

 

Mr AJ Murray

 

Mr TG Froggatt

 

Dr GT Parks

 

Mr ML Groombridge

 

Dr JA Williams

 

Ms R Hanzal

 

Ms AG Yetginer

 

Mr SJ Ingram

 

 

 

 

 

 

02.01   Welcome of new members

Dr Williams welcomed the newly elected members of the SSJC.

02.02   Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Dr DRH Jones and Mrs J Hawtrey-Woore.

02.03   Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd October 2001

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2001 were approved.

02.04   Minutes of the meeting held on 26th November 2001

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2001 were approved.

02.05 Matters arising from the Minutes

00.10(viii) Voluntary coursework sessions

Dr Parks reported on the popularity of the voluntary coursework sessions held at the end of the Michaelmas and beginning of the Lent terms. It was agreed that in future these sessions should be available to undergraduate cohorts as follows:

Engine Strip & Rebuild:

1st years only

Computer Build Project:

1st and 2nd years

Workshop Skills:

All years

01.12(iii) IA Linear Circuits teaching

Dr Parks reported that the report from Ms Bird and Mr Taylor had been considered by the EISGC and that the Part IA lecturers concerned had agreed to take on board its contents.

01.36 Computerised survey

Dr Parks reported that, as agreed, a system whereby a pop-up window appeared at login reminding those that had not used the survey about its existence had been implemented on the Teaching System at the end of the Michaelmas and beginning of the Lent terms. The numbers of students doing the survey at this stage had increased modestly compared to last year.

01.38 SSJC homepage

Dr Parks reported that, as agreed, the main link to the SSJC homepage had been moved alongside that to the official SSJC web page.

01.40(ii) Classing in Tripos Examinations

The SSJC received, for information, Mr Mash’s report to the Secretary of the Faculty Board (Paper SSJC:02.2.01).

01.40(iv) 4th year project selection procedures

Dr Parks reported that Dr Prager had modified the “First Notice about Fourth Year Projects” to emphasise the importance of face-to-face meetings with potential project supervisors.

02.06   SSJC booksale

The proposed arrangements for the 2002 SSJC booksale (Paper SSJC:02.2.02) were approved.

02.07   Facilities for undergraduates

(i) The possibility of providing a common room for the use of undergraduates

Dr Williams stated that the provision of an undergraduate common room remained a high priority for the department and would be considered should space and/or development funding become available. He reported that the possible move to West Cambridge of some research groups may result in suitable space becoming available. He reassured the SSJC that should the Department as a whole move to new buildings in West Cambridge space that could be used as a common room by undergraduates during term time would certainly feature in the brief given to the architects.

(ii) The possibility of providing some covered racks for students’ bicycles

Dr Williams reported that the new Head of the Architecture Department is keen to redevelop the area between the Architecture Department and CUED and suggested that this might provide an opportunity for the introduction of covered bicycle racks.

02.08   Computing facilities

(i)The design of the CUED local web page

Mr Cable agreed to produce a report suggesting ways in which the design of the CUED local web page might be improved.

(ii) The possibility of making the Fast Feedback Facility accessible from Colleges

Dr Parks agreed to discuss this with Mr Love.

02.09   Language Teaching

(i) The possibility of introducing Spanish teaching

Dr Williams reported that the Language Unit were also keen to introduce courses in Spanish and were actively seeking the necessary funding.

(ii) The timing of oral examinations

It was agreed to request the Language Unit to schedule second opportunities to take oral examinations, just as second opportunities to take listening examinations are already scheduled.

02.10   Coursework

(i) The limited extent of MATLAB demonstration provision

It was agreed that the member of staff in charge of IB MATLAB coursework should be asked to adjust the demonstrator-student ratio for coursework sessions so that it was closer to that used for Drawing classes.

(ii) The lack of clarity and consistency in Part I laboratory handouts

Mr Groombridge agreed to produce a brief report on this issue together with a “model” Part I laboratory handout.

(iii) The need for supporting background information for Part IIA practicals

Mr Murray agreed to produce a brief report on this issue together with a “model” Part IIA laboratory handout.

(iv) The preparation needs of immigrants to Part IIA from other Triposes

It was agreed that this was really a College matter, as Directors of Studies were in the best position to assess the needs of individual students. However, the Teaching Office should ensure that immigrants to Part IIA received the same CUED information that freshers received.

(v) The prevention of plagiarism

The junior members of the SSJC reported their concerns that plagiarism of coursework reports was rife. It was agreed that this could be discouraged by the changing of the data points used in calculations within practicals each year, where this was practicable. It was felt that the routine, automatic nature of many laboratory experiments encouraged plagiarism, and that the problem could also be reduced through the provision of practicals that engaged the students more. Mr Martin agreed to coordinate the production of a report identifying those laboratory experiments currently available that were felt to be “good” and “bad” in this respect. It was also felt that a system by which demonstrators could check whether students had, as required, read the laboratory handout in advance of the practical session (and penalise those who had not) would encourage a more attentive attitude.

(vi) The possibility of introducing some oral presentation exercises within Part IB coursework

The SSJC agreed that there was a need for continuity in “Exposition” training through the course, and that this was notably lacking in Part IB. It was agreed to ask the Coursework Committee to consider this matter, with the suggestion that perhaps some long labs could be reported on through the mechanism of an oral presentation rather than a written report.

(vii) The length of time required to complete coursework

It was reported that there were perceived to be large discrepancies between the indicated and the actual time taken to complete the coursework associated with D14 and the G1 major lab. It was agreed to bring these to the attention of the relevant Subject Groups.

02.11   Course content

(i) The need to review the assumed Mathematical background of students entering Part IA

It was agreed that this was an important issue, and there was general support for the outline proposals made in the Teaching Committee paper TC 01.11.05 “Proposal for a “Freshers’ bridging week”’ by Prof. Woodhouse and Dr Williams.

(ii) To request that the profile of Sustainable Development be increased within the course

There was strong support for this proposal and it was agreed that this should be drawn to the attention of the Teaching Committee.

02.12   Raising awareness of the SSJC, its role and achievements

It was agreed that this was an important matter, and that Ms Bird and Ms Hanzal essentially had “carte blanche” as SSJC Publicity Officers in addressing this. Logistical support was available from the Teaching Office.

02.13   General/Miscellaneous Issues

(i) The services available in the North Common Room

Mr Jung noted his pleasure that these had improved recently. He agreed to liaise directly with Mrs Hawtrey-Woore about one or two minor related matters.

(ii) The possibility of a “Burger Van” serving hot food on site at lunchtime

Mr Cable agreed to liaise directly with Mrs Hawtrey-Woore about this matter.

(iii) The possibility of providing Fair Trade drinks in the vending machines

It was agreed to refer this matter to Mrs Hawtrey-Woore.

(iv) The possibility of bottled water to be consumed in lecture theatres

It was agreed that, as this was already permitted in examinations, permission should be sought to allow students to take bottles of water (but no other food or drink) into lecture theatres.

02.14   DABCE visit 4th/5thMarch 2002

Dr Williams outlined the arrangements for this visit and invited all junior members of the SSJC to a buffet lunch with the Accreditation Panel on 5th March.

02.15   Modularisation of the 3rd Year

Dr Williams updated the SSJC on the latest planning for the new modular Part II course (Paper SSJC:02.2.03). He confirmed that the old form of the Engineering Tripos Part IIB and EIST Part II would run for the last time in the academic year 2002-3. The only changes would be that all module examinations would be held in the Easter term (in synchronisation with the new Part IIA course) and that there would be a consequent minor change in the assessment procedure for 4th Year Projects.

02.16   Date of next meeting

The next meeting of the SSJC will take place on Monday 13th May 2002 at 2.15 pm in the Board Room.

02.17   Any other business

(i) 3rd Year Project selection

Ms Yetginer asked whether it was possible for students from the Group (in future, Engineering Area) associated with a project to be given priority when allocations to oversubscribed 3rd Year Projects are made. Dr Parks reported that this was not possible this year because the necessary data was not readily available, but that it would be possible in future years if desired. There were felt to be arguments both in favour and against this proposal, and the matter was referred to the Coursework Committee for consideration.

(ii) SSJC membership for the CUES Chairman

It was agreed nem con that the CUES (Engineering Society) Chairman should be invited to attend future SSJC meetings, and that the issue of whether they could be allowed to vote should be investigated.

(iii) Student input to planning for a move to West Cambridge

Dr Williams assured the SSJC that, should the possibility of CUED moving en masse to West Cambridge become a reality, input into the development of plans for the new departmental buildings would most certainly be solicited.

(iv) SSJC dinner

Mr Cable reported on behalf of Mr Mash that junior members of the SSJC who attended the dinner would be charged through their College bills. Dr Williams confirmed that the Departmental contribution would be £8 per head. Mr Mash was asked, via Mr Cable, to let the senior members of the SSJC who attended the dinner know how much they owed him.

(v) SSJC best lecturer awards

Mr Murray reported that he had analysed the votes cast last year and had identified a winning lecturer for each year of the course. He showed the SSJC the certificates he was planning to present to the winning lecturers, and his design was approved. It was agreed that the presentations should, if possible, be made to the winning lecturer during a lecture this term to maximise the attendant publicity.