School of Computer Science
Minutes of the Staff/ Student Feedback Committee Meeting
Autumn 2009 – 2010
Date: / 20 November 2009(Friday)Time: / 11.00 am -12.00pm
Venue: / Room BA43
Faculty of Science
Staff Members: / Chairman:
1. Mr Ho Sooi Hock - Associate Professor (HSH)
Staff Representatives
1. Prof Andrzej Bargiela – Director Of Studies (AB)
2. Mr K.R Selvaraj - Assistant Professor (KRS)
4. Puan Salma Abdul Kadir – Faculty Administraror (SAK)
5. Ms Dipa Patel (DP)
Student Representatives: / Year 1:
1.Sabesan Mahalingam (SM)
Year 2:
1.Ofentse Ketshubetswe (OK)
2.Piyumi Narmada Jayawardana (PNJ)
Year 3:
1. Woo Wen Chern (WWC)
Secretary: / Puan Sabariah Amin (SA)
Item / Particulars / Action by
1 / Welcome & Introduction
1.1 / The meeting was called to order at 11.10 am. Apologies for absences were received from Saleha Shahab Ghani and Nguyen Xuan Bao
Chairman welcomed all staff and student representatives who were present in the meeting.
2 / Terms of Reference
2.1
2.2 / HSH briefly explained the structure and objectives of the SSFC meeting to the committee especially to the 1st Year representatives, i.e. SSFC is one of many communication channelsavailable for students to be held at least once per semester. As student representatives, they are responsible for effectively collecting feedback from their fellow students, representing those views at meetings, and disseminating feedback from the meetings. It is not expected that every action requested by student representatives will be implementedbut it is expected that they be given proper considerations, and if they are not implemented, reasons will be explained. All issues discussed will be minuted for action and reviewed in the follow up meetings. The student representatives are encouraged to be more specific when bringing up issues, not just general statements; addressing behaviourinstead of personal attack; provide constructive criticisms by coming up with suggestions to overcome problems or issues.
For distribution of items discussed, HSH explained that SA will email the minutes to the student representatives and the staff members. HSHmentioned thatSSFC minutes used to be pinned up on the School notice board but it was not done since the School was moved from Faculty of Engineering to the Faculty of Science. Instead of hardcopy, AB & SAK suggested posting the electronic copy in the School web page, with access protected by password.
Action: To coordinate posting the softcopy minutes in the School web page with password protection so that it can be accessed by all students in the School. / SA
3 / Year 3
3.1 / Module G53DBC
WWC informed that this module is way behind schedule, only 5 lectures have been conducted so far and the 2nd assignment has notbeen releaseddue to unavailability of the module convenor. HSH explained that the School is aware of this as the lecturer was stuck in China due to immigration problem. The School is looking into getting an alternative resource to catchupcancelled lectures before the expected return of the lecturer sometime next week. For the assignment, the School will try to release it as soon as possible and submission will be postponed to a later date.
Action: Arrange for an alternative resource to cover this modulebefore the return of the module convenor. Review submission date so that sufficient time is given to students to complete Assignments 2. / HSH
4 / Year 2
4.1 / Classroom (BA05)
PNJ voiced out her classmates’ concern on room BA05. The room seems to be too stuffyand congested for the number of students taking G52MAL module.
AB suggested using the teaching lab but the lab is nearly fully utilized at the moment.
Action: Tohighlight to the Central Admin on this issue and arrange for an alternative venue if possible. / HSH
5 / Year 1
5.1 / G51PRG
SM indicated a number of problems for this module as below:
- A number of last minute class cancellations without earlier notifications and class replacements;
- No feedback on 2 assessments taken although the module convenor indicated that it will be done earlier;
- Course outline and lecture plan not made known to students.
In general, HSH will re-emphasised the need to provide course outline and lecture plan at the start of semester in the School meeting; and AB will emailed to all lecturers on the procedures for class cancellations. / HSH
HSH/AB
6 / Any Other Business
6.1
6.2
6.3 / HSH informed that all the lecturers have not received the attendant list from the Faculty Office.
Action: SA will give the current attendant list and ensure that the list is ready as early as possible in the Spring semester.
SAK suggested including an item on staff feedback in the agenda for next meeting which is agreed by all committee members.
SAK also suggested holding the meeting a bit earlier i.e. week 5 or 6 so that any problem arising can be caught earlier.
AB clarified that instead of waiting for SSFC meet, any problem that arise should be brought up as early as possible with either tutors, senior tutors or the Director of Studies.
Next meeting will be held in the 5th or 6thweek in the Spring semester. / SA
SA
HSH
There being no other matters the chairman thanked the staff and students. The meeting adjourned at 12.00 noon.
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