Grad Reps in attendance: Ion Garate, Jesse Pino, Stacy Sidle, Todd Tinsley (2004)
Attendance was good - about 30 students showed up. Free pizza works wellÉ.
The new board introduced themselves and indicated their main projects:
Ion: Physics Department Web site, Academic issues, Grilling Sessions
Jesse: Academic issues (core standardization), social activities
Stacy: Social activities, first-year liaison, gender issues
P.J. (absent): Academic issues, etc.
Todd will also continue working on the renovation of 9.222
The floor was then opened to voice concerns/comments-
There seems to be a general dissatisfaction with the quality of teaching in the Core classes, and with the variation from one class to the next. Some specific comments:
- All Cores seem to be taught by theorists- tough on experimentalists.
- Classes are a mix of students with different levels of preparation- the students
from liberal arts schools suffer on the same curve as those coming here with a Masters degree.
- Why do students with a Masters need to take 2 of the 4 Cores- why not test out of all 4?
- Why is a grade necessary for core classes?
- Maybe there should be defined syllabi for the cores to introduce more standardization.
- What impact do Course Evaluations have on the teacher? Can a tenured faculty member be barred from a class due to a bad evaluation?
There was dissatisfaction expressed over the lack of available summer classes.
It was suggested that possibly a core could be offered over the summer if a willing faculty member and the funds were located.
The Survival guide is out of date:
This is being addressed currently: visit the new guide at http://www.livejournal.com/~utphysguide
It was suggested that the Survival guide include lifestyle/apartment tips as well, which would be particularly helpful to international students.
Support was expressed for a peer-mentoring network, which would match students with problems with more experienced graduate students. This would potentially help academically, socially, and career-wise.
Todd fielded a question about trucks parking in the RLM courtyard: They will be there until the new Faculty-Staff-Graduate Student Lounge on the 5th floor is completed sometime next year. After that, we will have a courtyard and a lounge (hopefully).
Much grumbling about the 30 MB
quota on the Linux machines. Jesse spoke with the admin of the accounts:
This may be increased to 50 MB soon. If you need more for academic purposes,
please email help@physics.utexas.edu.
As always, please send your concerns to