Present: Robin Hirsch, Chair; Steve Wilbur
( Head of Department); Graham Roberts; Bernard Buxton; Steve Hailes; Simon
Arridge; John Washbrook; Dennis Timm; Raphael Carbonell; Barry Stein; Sarah
Berke; Jonathan Hull (minutes); Demetrios Perperidis, MRes; Nalini Mahadeo,
DCNDS; Mark Delacour MSci 1; Adam Hardy CS 1; Rajender Bakhshi; Michael
Rogers CS 2; Dushanee Selvaratnam MACS 2; Judy Cheung MSc CS; Jesmond Worthington
MSc CS; Amir Mahdavi CS 2; Ian Brown Phd;
Robin Hirsch (RH) opened the meeting and asked for items to be discussed under any other business. Dushanee Selvaratnam wished to raise a matter relating to CS with Maths students; and Demetrios Perperidis (DP) wished to raise MRes students access to the photocopier in G15.
1). Apologies for absence
There were apologies for absence from Giles Beale (3rd year rep)
2). Approval of minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 24th November 1999 were approved
3). Matters arising from the last meeting:
i Coffee machine
Raised by Michael Rogers: Sarah Berke (SAB) said the first floor had been considered as a site, however, there are insufficient resources to maintain a student coffee machine, it would need to be maintained by the students. SAB suggested The Pearson Society could fulfil this role but RH pointed out this body is no longer exclusively Computer Science this might pose a problem. The matter would require further investigation. Action: SAB
ii Removal of work station
Action: Agreed to remove a work station to make way for a port in the undergraduate labs.
iii Floppy disk drive
DP requested the provision of a floppy disk drive to save work on, Raphael Carbonell (RC) said that this would cost around £500 to install and Steve Wilbur (SW) suggested other solutions would need to be explored. Action: Systems Group
4). Undergraduate Issues
i) Petition for longer lab access
Adam Hardy (AH) stated that CS students are unhappy with the access to the computer labs, and said 215 of them had signed a petition (including every first year student) calling for increased access, and said local rules permitted an extension of hours and called on SW to hold an open meeting to discuss the matter with the students.
SW said no such meeting would be called and referred to the last SSCCM. He said there were procedures to request longer access but these had not been used by the students and no representations to the College authorities would be entertained unless existing mechanisms were used. Since the last meeting some more designated persons had been trained and if extra hours were requested there could be the possibility of late evening openings in the next few weeks. Judy Cheung (JC) asked if longer hours were only available for specific course work deadlines, SAB said the Department had to operate within certain parameters for increased access. AH quoted figures for lab access from QMW and Imperial who have 24 hour 7 day a week access; and with American universities which SAB said was not a valid comparison, and SW pointed out the American colleges were not bound by health and safety constraints.
Nalini Mahadeo (NM) said that the problem with their coursework is that their courses are a week long so notice so applying for extended access is not an option for them. John Washbrook (JW) suggested that access be increased over the last few weeks of term. SW said that over the next four weeks there would be at least one night per week of extended hours. RH concluded the discussion saying the meeting had expressed its views on the issue and both sides understood each other more clearly.
ii) Alternative OS lab
AH asked for a plan 9 lab in a spare room on the second floor. Graham Roberts (GAR) stated that such a lab would cost money which the Department doesn't have. SW said the space was already allocated and there were other priorities for any available space.
iii) Programming for tuition fees
AH suggested CS offer use of its' highly trained staff to assist Registry programming problems.
Action: SW suggested AH write with the suggestion to the Vice Provost, and utilise the student business club.
iv) 2b12 course work
Amir Mahdavi said that feedback from coursework made available to students enabled some to benefit to the disadvantage of those who handed in early. RH disagreed and said coursework feedback was a useful exercise.
v,vi,vii) 2b10, 2b12Coursework
GAR did not see a problem here there are only rumours of students downloading and decompiling code
4.8) SSHD installation
Barry Stein (BS) said that the system is no longer free and there were licensing uncertainties but Action: Systems group to investigate further
5) MSc CS Issues
Jesmond Worthington raised the late return of marked coursework for D0a Java; Software engineering and D0B VSCC, a complaint to be forwarded to the teaching committee. John Washbrook clarified the situation and stated the situation was not as bad as it appeared. Action: Teaching Committee
6) DCNDS Issues raise by Nalini Mahadeo
RDH asked for a second year to attend the committee. AH and Michael Rogers volunteered, AH withdrew in favour of MR, the meeting agreed his nomination.
8)BCS accreditation visit
SAB advised that the British Computer Society as part of their accreditation visit on 24/25 May would like to interview students from all disciplines. Action: SAB to email all years for volunteers
9) Announcements: none
10) AOB
CS with Maths students do not want to do any more maths modules Action: John Washbrook to investigate.
Use of G15 photocopier by MRes students, DP stated that MRes students had vast amounts of copying to do which was expensive using College machines and would like access to the copier in G15. Action: SAB to investigate.
There being no other business RDH closed the meeting by thanking all those who have attended and said this would be the last meeting of the academic year, and that new reps would need to be elected before the next meeting in the autumn term.