1996:2:26:9:2:

University College London

Computer Science Department

Minutes of the SSCC meeting February 10th 1999

Natalie May

The meeting will be held at 1:00 pm in room 212.

  1. Apologies for absence.


    2. GAR, All first year Reps due to a lecture

  2. Approval of minutes of the meeting of November 27th 1998.


    3. The minutes were approved.

  3. Matters arising.
  1. BS has now met this action.
  2. The lockers for DCNDS use now have combination locks
  1. Volunteers to meet IQA team on 25th March.


    2. The meeting was asked to get volunteers to make themselves know to Jill Saunders to meet the IQA Team for general discussion over lunch.

  2. Undergraduate Issues:
    1. Keeping the computer labs open after 7pm and also on weekends.


      2. 8.4 Access to labs after 7pm Previous response which holds from meeting held November 1998

      SRW states that this is not a departmental decision but one made at College level based on Governmental Health and Safety guidelines. Increased opening has been requested before and granted in part, if this matter is approached again we may end up worse off and all extended opening will be disallowed. We do have the duty officer coverage during times of recognised need.

      Again it is suggested that Cluster rooms are used. UNIX cluster rooms exist in College and are open until 10 during the week and some coverage on Saturday, also use of the Telnet facility for those who can.

    2. Complaint about the way the course caters for the ability of those who have previous programing experience by allowing them to gain extra marks, particularly on optional questions of the programming excercises, some of which were well beyond the reach of someone with no experience.


      3. It is suggested that there are more lab sessions where students can gain the necessary experience.

    3. The 1B45 lecturer (maths for CS) needs to slow down, as the current speed of teaching is too fast and people cannot follow the course.
    R Hill has been approached and said he found the comments useful. He will act on the request.

    RH will also look at the summary of course. It will be made at the start of the course for forward reading.

  3. M Sc CS issues:
    1. Lack of IT careers advice: "I think a lot of us would have appreciated at a fairly early stage (ie last term) and certainly by now some advice on WHEN to make job applications. They will probably say that there is a careers departmental adviser (I think it's John Campbell). However, as this is an issue that affects all of us I think if he or someone in the department could spare ten minutes or so to speak to us all it would be very helpful. At the moment, people are unsure what to do for the best. There has been a lack of communication on this issue."


      2. John Crowcroft is in fact the careers advisor.

      Organisation of MSC Careers Talks. (Action Chris Clack)

    2. Lack of recommended course books in the library: "the library doesn't have enough copies of the recommended books. For those of us who can't afford to buy books, this is a real problem."


      3. If the books which are recommended course books are not in the library please email the lecturer. If we are unaware of problems they cannot be addressed.
       
       

    3. Java and Software Engineering for MScCS.
    PAR did run a 2 day session last year just after the exams. This will be referred to the Teaching Committee.
  4. Announcements.


    5. None apart from the up and coming IQA (mentioned above 4).

  5. Any other business.
Pigeon Holes: The pigeon holes are unusable as they are at over flow stage. An email should be sent to JJ Giwa who will deal with the matter.

Eating in Labs: This is unacceptable. No food or drinks should be consumed in the Labs. Labs are work area not common rooms.