MCS College Council
Minutes for meeting of Thursday, April 24, 1997

1.  PROPOSED PHYSICS COURSES. (R. Swendsen)

33-777 Introductory Astrophysics, 12 units
This is a graduate-level course which will be the first in a sequence of
six courses offered with the University of Pittsburgh.  The Physics
Department will teach this course; Pitt will teach the other five
courses.  All six courses will be given Carnegie Mellon course numbers
for our students' transcripts.

33-100 Basic Experimental Physics, 6 units
This is an undergraduate-level course designed for students interested
in health sciences.  It includes topics that aren't covered in Physics I
or Physics II, and it will help students prepare for the MCAT.  Although
it's constructed to have a one-hour lecture plus a three-hour lab,
scheduling constraints this year have meant that just the three-hour lab
will be offered initially.  The Health Professions Program will control
space allocation in the course so that students needing to meet medical
school requirements can be sure to get into it.  Ultimately it will be
ideal for freshmen due to both curricular scheduling issues and the fact
that it carries no prerequisites.

COLLEGE COUNCIL ACTION:  Both courses were passed unanimously.


2.  MCS FRESHMAN SEMINAR. (E. Grotzinger)

The Curriculum Committee chaired by Dick MacCamy encouraged active
learning in the context of experimental science.  To this end, we have
been given an NSF award of $25k/year for three years to integrate
research and education through the freshman seminar.

The model proposed is a two-part plan.  For the first six weeks of the
fall semester, Eric Grotzinger will work with the students on
discussions and readings about being a scientist.  During the second six
or eight weeks, the students will participate in small groups on
project-based courses led by a faculty member, patterned to some extent
on the PGSS model.  It should be a great opportunity for faculty to
interact with the freshmen.

Physics has bought into this idea, and Barry Luokkala has designed
several student projects as part of the plan.  Biological Sciences also
has some already developed experiments that could be incorporated. 
Mathematical Sciences has designed a mini-course for freshmen that will
work with this model.  Chemistry will consider participating in some way
- Eric will talk with Chuck VanDyke about options.

COLLEGE COUNCIL ACTION:  No vote needed.  Will bring topic up again for
discussion next spring after the fall pilot is completed.


3.  COMMENCEMENT POLICY FOR MASTER'S STUDENTS. (I. Fonseca)

There are currently two models for participation in May commencement
exercises: PhD students *cannot* march until all requisites are
completed; undergraduate students *can* march (and receive a blank
diploma) if all requisites will be completed by the following August. 
College Council discussed which model to use for Master's degree
candidates.  One distinction to use is whether a thesis is required for
the Master's degree.  College Council proposed the following policy for
students who have not completed all requisites for the degree before the
May commencement:

- If the student's remaining requisites are coursework only (no thesis),
the student will be permitted to march (and receive a blank diploma) if
the department expects the coursework to be completed by August.

- If the student's remaining requisites include a thesis, the student
will not be permitted to march until the thesis is completed.

COLLEGE COUNCIL ACTION:  The proposal was approved unanimously.  The
complete policy is below.


- POLICY ON GRADUATION PROCEDURES FOR DOCTORAL AND MASTER'S DEGREE
CANDIDATES IN THE MELLON COLLEGE OF SCIENCE -

Approved by College Council April 24, 1997

GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATING IN COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
Doctoral and Master's Degree candidates will participate in the
commencement exercises according to the following guidelines:

1.  MCS doctoral degree candidates who have completed their requirements
(courses and thesis) one week before the date of the May commencement
(MCS policy 23 January 1987), and whose thesis and other required
documentation have been delivered to the MCS Dean's office by the yearly
stipulated deadline, will:

    .    be entitled to march at commencement;
    .    be listed in the commencement book;
    .    receive a valid diploma dated May or the previous August or
December as appropriate.

2.  MCS Master's degree candidates who have completed their requirements
by the Friday before commencement, and whose thesis (if a part of their
degree requirements) has been delivered to the MCS Dean's office by the
yearly stipulated deadline, will:

    .    be entitled to march at commencement;
    .    be listed in the Commencement book;
    .    receive a valid diploma dated May or the previous August and
December, as appropriate.

3.  MCS Master's degree candidates who are certified by their department
as expected to complete the degree requirements by the deadline for
August graduation, and whose thesis (if a part of their degree
requirements) has been delivered to the MCS Dean's office by the yearly
stipulated deadline, will:

    .    be entitled to march at commencement;
    .    be listed in the Commencement book as August graduates;
    .    receive a blank diploma case (see guidelines below for
receiving a valid diploma).

GUIDELINES FOR RECEIVING A VALID DIPLOMA
MCS Master's degree candidates falling under item 3 above will receive a
valid diploma only after completing all the degree requirements, and the
diploma will be dated as follows:

    .    if they complete their degree requirements before the first day
of the following fall semester, they will receive a valid diploma dated
August;

    .    if they complete their degree requirements later than the first
day of the following fall semester, they will receive a valid diploma
dated for the degree award period (May, August, or December) appropriate
for the time when the requirements are completed.