2023 Bachelor of Science in Physics and Space Science Cyclical Program Review Implementation Plan Update of Cycle 2

Implementation Plan

 
Recommendation Proposed Follow-Up Responsibility for Leading Follow-Up Timeline for Addressing Recommendation
1. Better instruct students and staff on how to access electronic resources. Invite the Chief librarian to provide a learning seminar to PSS Faculty. Faculty members will then be encouraged to invite the Chief Librarian into their classrooms to speak with students. Head of Department September 2023
2. Add a 2nd year course dedicated to computational physics or the practical aspects of numerical analysis. The undergraduate Studies Committee (USC) will look at the possibility of restructuring the curriculum to add a new 2nd year course dedicated to computational physics. Chair, Undergraduate Studies Committee September 2023
3. Continue to refine course material to reflect the fast-changing defence environment (e.g. PH255) A new description for PH255 and PH355 has been approved at the Syllabus Committee last November 2022. Also new labs are now offered in the third year laboratory course PH364. However, the material may be reviewed on a yearly basis to ensure it is keeping pace. Chair, Undergraduate Studies Committee Yearly review
4. Four pillars
  1. Professors will attempt to announce the dates of exams and assignments in their syllabus at the beginning of terms
  2. The Dept is unable to effect change to the Athletics pillar.
  3. The AVP-IKL is running the Curriculum Indigenization Working Group and the Department is encouraged to participate if applicable.
  1. Administrative Assistant  and the Head of the Dept
  2. Director of Athletics
  3. Head of the Dept to reach out to AVP-IKL

Fall 2023
5. Connect the oceanography courses to climate change, possibly through the lens of DND/CAF interests. Course PH370 is addressing the problems of climate changes. Department will continue to advance and develop this course to meet the needs of CAF officer training. USC to evaluate on a yearly basis Reviewed annually as a part of Ongoing Monitoring of program (implementation updates due each June)
6. Course syllabi.
  1. The Undergraduate Study Committee (USC) will analyse the various DLE’s and PLO’s and link these to specific courses.
  2. Standardize elements within course syllabi (such as instructor contact information, office hours, inclusivity statements and RMC policies on sexual and workplace harassment).
  3. The USC will examine/ decide if it is necessary to include statements prohibiting sexual harassment and bullying on the campus in the course syllabi.
  4. The USC will review course syllabi to assess AODA compliance as it relates to universal design for accessibility and inclusion.
 Chair, USC
  1. November 30 2023
  2. November 30 2023
  3. November 30 2023
  4. March 31 2024
7. Extend recommendation 6a to teaching documents. The USC will decide if DLE’s and PLO’s should be included in each course syllabus Chair, USC March 31 2024
8. Increase the stimulation of critical thinking.

USC will review current teaching practice. This will:

  1. improve the DLE/PLO tables consistent with IQAP manual v3.1
  2. help to assess the level of conceptual questions currently used by professors. Then the USC will be in a better position to recommend best practices to address this issue.
 Chair, USC March 31 2024
9. Laboratories
  1. The USC in concert with the Undergraduate Labs Committee (ULC) will review the current laboratory teaching methodologies and make recommendations
  2. A USC review of the inclusion of PLOs in course syllabi, if recommended, will effectively include demonstrated skill in laboratory methodology as an assessed skill in these courses.  This will also align with recommendation 6a, and 7.
  3. For the second year laboratory, the ULC proposes one common lab type question involving linearization of an experimental equation as well as differential error propagation, common for second year exams with associated labs;
  4. ULC and USC will to complete a review of the learning objectives for the labs (all years), which can then be linked to the overall structure of the PLOs and DLEs for the Physics and Space Science programs. After this, a separate review will occur to see how the specific experiments align with course material.

 
  1. Chair, ULC
  2. Chairs of USC and ULC
  3. Chairs of USC and ULC
  4. Chairs of USC and ULC
  1. March 31 2024
  2. March 31 2024
  3. June 15 2024
  4. June 15 2024
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