Minutes of the Staff-Student Joint Committee Meeting held on Monday 5 February 2001 at 2.15 pm in the Board Room

Present

Dr A Al-Tabbaa

 

Mr ECW Pain

 

Mr DJ Auger

 

Dr GT Parks

 

Mrs C Drummond

 

Dr MPF Sutcliffe

 

Mr SI Hill

 

Mr B Timms

 

Dr DRH Jones

 

Mr HK Taylor

 

Ms F Khattak

 

Dr JA Williams

 

Mr BR Martin

 

Mr Y Zhao

 

Mr PWT Mash

 

 

 

Ms SF Morgan

 

 

01.01  Welcome of new members

Dr Williams welcomed the newly elected members of the SSJC.

 

01.02  Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs J Hawtrey-Woore and Mr TG Froggatt.

 

01.03  Minutes of the meeting held on 23rd October 2000

The minutes of the meeting held on 23rd October 2000 were approved.

 

01.04  Minutes of the meeting held on 29th November 2000

The minutes of the meeting held on 29th November 2000 were approved.  Mr HK Taylor offered his apologies retrospectively.

 

01.05  Matters arising from the minutes

         00.08(iv)   Provision of examples paper cribs on the web

Dr Parks reported that the Directors of Studies in Engineering had asked for examples paper cribs not to be provided on the CUED web site.

         00.10(i)     Student representation on Coursework Working Party

Dr Parks reported that the Coursework Committee had established a Working Party to be convened by Dr Williams to consider the matters raised by the SSJC. This Working Party would be meeting soon.

         00.10(vii)   Review of Computing teaching

Dr Parks reported that the first meeting of the Working Party reviewing Computing teaching would take place on 8th February. It was agreed that Ms Khattak and Mr Timms should take over from last year’s nominated SSJC representatives (Ms Galletly and Ms Stockbridge) at this meeting.

         00.10(viii)  Voluntary coursework sessions

Dr Parks reported that a proposal to introduce “Workshop Skills” sessions for Part IB students arranged in a manner similar to the IA Engine Strip & Rebuild sessions would be considered at the next meeting of the Coursework Committee. The Electrical and Information Engineering Subject Group would be reporting on progress in introducing “Computer Strip & Rebuild” sessions on 6th February.

 

01.06  SSJC booksale

The proposed arrangements for the 2001 SSJC booksale (Paper SSJC:01.2.01) were approved.

 

01.07  Facilities for undergraduates

(i)             The opening of windows in LT1 and LT2

Dr Parks reported on behalf of Mrs Hawtrey-Woore that the cleaning staff would be asked to ensure that the windows in LT1 and LT2 were left closed in the morning.

(ii)           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.

(iii)         The possibility of providing more drinks vending machines in the department

Dr Parks reported on behalf of Mrs Hawtrey-Woore that no further drinks vending machines could be contemplated while the existing ones continued to run at a loss of £108 per month.

 

01.08  Library

(i)             The provision of an introduction to CUED library facilities for all freshers

Dr Parks reported that the Librarian had expressed her willingness to provide such introductions on request. It was agreed that Exposition group leaders should be encouraged to include a Library introduction as part of their courses.

(ii)           Vandalisation of library books

Dr Williams reported on the discovery that the Part IB examination papers had been ripped from bound copies of the Tripos papers for 1992 and 1993. The SSJC unanimously deplored this act of vandalism. It was agreed that a message concerning this incident should be sent to all undergraduates.

(iii)          The provision of a stapler in the Library photocopying room

It was agreed to ask the Librarian to provide a stapler in the photocopying room.

 

01.09  The provision of an introduction to CUED computing facilities for all freshers

(i)             It was agreed to ask all members of staff responsible for Part IA coursework involving the use of DPO computers to provide a short (5 minute) introduction to the particular facilities used for the benefit of those students less familiar with computers.

(ii)           Mr Timms and Mr Pain agreed to write an “SSJC Guide to the CUED Computing Facilities”

 

01.10  Language Teaching

(i)             The possibility of introducing Spanish teaching

(ii)           The possibility of scheduling of classes in 2×1 hour slots

(iii)          The possibility of earlier notification of oral examination times

It was agreed to refer all three matters to the Language Programme for Engineers group for consideration.

 

01.11  Coursework

(i)             The possibility that more 3rd year major lab leaders introduce a debrief lecture (as is done for G7)

It was agreed to refer this matter to the Coursework Committee for consideration.

(ii)           The possibility of adding a tear-off cover sheet for 3rd year labs on which students can report anonymously to the SSJC the time taken on each report

It was agreed to introduce this in the 2001-2 academic year.

(iii)          The possibility of adding a tear-off cover sheet for 2nd year long labs on which students can report anonymously to the SSJC the time taken on each report

It was agreed to introduce this in the 2001-2 academic year.

(iv)          The suitability of the lab books issued for Part I coursework

It was agreed that the use of lab books was good practice and should be continued.

(v)           The periodicity of long labs in the Part I coursework rotas

Mrs Drummond explained that the Part I long labs were already as evenly spread as the timetable allowed.

(vi)          The length of time given for Part IA long lab write-ups

Dr Williams undertook to investigate reports that some Part IA students were being compelled by enforced sign-up arrangements to write up long labs in much less than the 15 days normally allowed.

 

01.12  Course Content

(i)             To request the Engineering Management Subject Group to consider the appropriateness of the material presently taught in G12

It was reported that this issue had been resolved.

(ii)           To request the Electrical & Information Engineering Subject Group to consider the appropriateness of the material presently taught in E4

It was reported that this issue had been resolved.

(iii)          To request the Electrical & Information Engineering Subject Group to consider providing a “more gentle” introduction to the IA Linear Circuits course to allow for the disparate electronics knowledge of incoming students

It was agreed that the student members of the SSJC should prepare a paper on the matter for consideration by the EIESG.

 

01.13  SSJC Initiatives

(i)             To suggest the introduction of an annual SSJC dinner

The idea of holding an annual SSJC dinner was welcomed. Dr Parks undertook to ask Professor Newland as Head of Department if a modest contribution towards the cost of the dinner might be available from departmental funds.

(ii)           To revive the “unofficial” SSJC home page

The proposal to revive the “unofficial” SSJC home page was welcomed.

(iii)          The reviving of links between CUED and the CUOTC

The SSJC agreed to the provision of notice board space to enable events of interest to Engineering students run by the CUOTC to be advertised.

(iv)          “Electronics Teaching Support” through STIMULUS

Mr Mash and Mr Martin reported that this venture was now operating through STIMULUS. This development was warmly welcomed by the SSJC.

 

01.14  General/Miscellaneous Issues

(i)             Scheduling of SSJC meetings

It was agreed that the possibility of a second SSJC meeting should be allowed, if there was business that warranted a meeting, but that wherever possible business should be conducted by email and circulation.

(ii)           To request that the Teaching Committee consider whether 4th year modules in one Group could, where deemed appropriate, be “approved” by another Group

Dr Jones reported that subject groups also supported this idea, but that its implementation required a change of Regulations and therefore was not straightforward.

(iii)          To consider the introduction of pages of “mug shots” on the CUED (local) web site

This suggestion was supported. [Post meeting note: Such pages have already been prepared to help staff responsible for coursework activities to identify students.  To enable these pages to be made accessible to all students requires the data subjects’ approval to be sought.  The Teaching Office will initiate this process.]

(iv)          Cleaning of the statue at the entrance to the Department

It was agreed to refer this matter to the Department Improvement Group for consideration.

 

01.15  CMI

Dr Williams reported on the current plans. These developments were warmly welcomed by the SSJC.

 

01.16  Modularisation of the 3rd Year

Dr Williams reported on the latest developments.

It was agreed that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year members of the SSJC should canvass by email the opinions of their constituents on:

(a)   the attractiveness of the proposed changes to the 3rd year course, and

(b)  their preference for examination scheduling (for both the 3rd and 4th year exams) under a fully modular course – the options being exams at the start of the following term (as in present 4th year arrangements) or all exams at the start of the Easter term (as in present 3rd year arrangements).

 

01.17  Resignation of Ms EWL Charlton

Dr Parks reported that as a result of Ms Charlton’s resignation a by-election for the now vacant position on the Faculty Board would be held. It was agreed that Mr Taylor should replace Ms Charlton as SSJC Publicity Officer.

 

01.18  Date of next meeting

Next SSJC Monday 14th May 2001, 2.15 pm, Board Room.

 

01.19  Any other business

(i)             Availability of Excel on CUED computers

Dr Al-Tabbaa raised the issue of the (lack of) availability of Excel on CUED computers. It was agreed to refer this matter to the Computing Strategy Committee for consideration.

(ii)           Swipe cards for Part IA students

It was agreed that an email message clarifying the situation with respect to the functionality of the swipe cards issued to Part IA students should be sent.