SCHOOL OF CHEMISTRY STAFF-STUDENT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE Minutes of Meeting held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday 4 March 2015 in Lecture Theatre C

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1 SCHOOL OF CHEMISTRY STAFF-STUDENT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE Minutes of Meeting held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday 4 March 2015 in Lecture Theatre C Present Staff: Dr Fiona Gray (Director of Teaching), Dr Chris Baddeley (Deputy Director of Teaching, CH2701 Lab Coordinator), Dr Iain Smellie (CH1601 Module Convener), Professor Doug Philp (CH2601 Lab Coordinator), Professor Wuzong Zhou (CH2701 Module Convener), Dr Petr Kilian (CH3521 Lab Coordinator; PGT Coordinator), Dr Georg Hähner (Industrial Placement Coordinator), Dr Tanja van Mourik (Hons Project Coordinator) Iona Hutchison (Disabilities Officer) and Vicki Cormie (University Library Representative). Apologies: Dr Finlay Morrision (CH1402 Lab Convener), Professor Phil Lightfoot (CH1402 Module Convener), Dr Alan Aitken (CH2601 Module Convener), Dr Renald Schaub (Hons Project Coordinator) Students: Rhiann Ferguson (School President Chair) Chloe Long, Eliska Klimentova (Level 1) Ruth Moulson, Edward Simpson (Level 2) Amol Thakkar, Peter Mann (Level 3) Ashley Ross, Agnes Ozolins (Level 4) Catherine Higgins, Martin Gorman, Catherine Thomson (Level 5) Honours Projects Some concern was expressed by the 4 th and 5 th year class reps regarding the project workload. A proposal was made that the project modules should be 60 credits (currently 50 credits). It was suggested that a number of factors are causing stress among the project students. Some supervisors seem to expect project students to spend more time in the laboratory than the 22.5 hours per week assigned to project work. In addition, students often feel pressurised by the fact that their peers seem to be spending significantly more time on their project work. TVM pointed out that information is provided to project supervisors clearly outlining the expected working hours. A request was made that information of this type that is sent to project supervisors should be copied to students. FMG informed the meeting that the project has recently increased in credit weighting from 40 to 50 credits and that a further increase to 60 would not be the answer to the problem raised. MG asked if project hours could be rigidly defined, but DP responded by pointing out that this approach is unworkable for projects which require access to instrumentation. DP stated that it is unacceptable for supervisors to pressurise their students into spending more time in the lab than the recommended number of hours and emphasised that students can raise problems at meetings with their project mentors. RF pointed out that many students are reluctant to take this approach in case raising such issues would have a detrimental effect on their relationship with their project supervisor. AR raised the issue that some projects contain too much biological content and not enough chemistry. RF stated that any students concerned in this regard should be

2 encouraged to discuss the project content in detail with a potential supervisor prior to choosing the project. Level 5000 MG informed the meeting that fellow students had expressed concern that Chemistry students have a much larger workload than students studying in other schools. This makes it hard for students to take part in sporting activities or to commit to part-time jobs. DP and IAS pointed out that, in order for Chemistry degrees to be accredited by RSC, courses are required to contain many different training components including lecture based and laboratory based teaching. RSC accreditation is very important for any student who wishes to ultimately embark on a career as a professional chemist. FMG pointed out that discussions with graduate Chemists reveal that they appreciate the value of the material taught within the Chemistry degree programmes. CH4461/CH5461 Integrating Chemistry MG stated that a survey (resulting in 20 responses) had been carried out to assess students evaluation of the Integrating Chemistry modules. This was initiated once it was realised that these modules are not included in the module feedback system. A number of recurrent issues were identified. It was felt that tutorials require an unrealistic time commitment by the students; that the problems encountered in tutorials are often too far removed from exam questions and that many of the exam questions are designed to test memory of facts rather than problem solving capabilities. CT additionally stated that some concepts met in the Organic component were not taught in CH2601. DP requested that CT supply specific examples of these concepts so that he can raise any issues at the next meeting of Organic Chemistry staff. It was requested that future students are informed in advance that they will require their lecture notes from Level 2000 to help them with Integrating Chemistry. FMG stated that students will be told in 2 nd year that it is important not to destroy their lecture notes. PK made the suggestion that students can take advantage of the universities scanners and create pdf files from their written notes to avoid having to keep the paper versions of lecture material. Level 4000 RF reported that the practical session given by RAA on Foods and Fragrances had been very well received by the class. RF expressed concern that only one past paper exists for the CH4514 Advanced Metal Chemistry module and asked whether an additional revision tutorial could be arranged with SPN. ACTION: FMG Class reps asked if it would be possible in future for an additional Level 4000 inorganic option to be made available to students. CJB stated that possibilities would be investigated. ACTION: Inorganic Section and Teaching Committee Level 3000 AT reported that students were generally happy with the lecture based modules in Semester 2. However, he commented that students perceive that there is significant

3 overlap between CH2601 and Level 3600 Organic modules and also between CH2701 and Level 3700 Physical modules. AT highlighted CH3712 as containing sufficient overlap with material taught in CH3513 in Semester 1. FMG commented that staff generally aim to avoid repetition of material, but that some consolidation of material that has been encountered earlier in the course is often necessary. However, the content of some modules is currently under review. Class reps requested that the CH4612 Blockbuster Pharmaceuticals module be made available to BSc Chemistry students. CJB stated that this module had recently moved from Semester 1 into Semester 2 and that the possibility of making this available to BSc Chemistry students would be investigated. ACTION: CJB and Teaching committee PM informed the meeting that students studying the various materials chemistry modules would like to be taught more solid state physics and that they consider that the material taught in CH3512 Organometallic Chemistry should also be made available to materials students. CJB pointed out that a review is ongoing into the content of the various materials chemistry modules in Levels CH3521 Laboratory The idea was put forward for deadlines for supplying feedback to students regarding CH3521 lab reports. PK stated that this problem may have already been addressed as feedback has very recently been supplied to students. Class reps reported that students had expressed concern over the fact that expectations for lab reports are different in organic, inorganic and physical labs. PK stated that students are told exactly what is required for CH3521 reports in the laboratory manual. External Placement A request was made that Level 5000 students returning from external placement could advise Level 3000 students applying for placement positions. GH reminded students that the Industrial Day at the start of Semester 1 is designed to allow students to meet returning students and representatives from industrial companies. If students would like to arrange an additional event, GH suggested that this is something that students could organise for themselves. IAS indicated that students can apply for funds from the university to organise events of this type. RF indicated that she would pass information onto the next School President. ACTION: RF Level 2000 Class reps reported that feedback from their colleagues had been positive for both CH2601 and CH2701. They highlighted as being particularly useful the animations available for the Quantum Mechanics component of CH2701. Requests were made that model answers to the CH2701 Maths Workshops should be made available online. TVM pointed out that answers are already available from staff and PG demonstrators in the Maths Workshops and that it was not felt to be productive to make the answers available online.

4 A request was made for a model lab report for CH2701. CJB commented that it is very difficult to supply a model report for physical chemistry lab reports as the requirements for each experiment are rather different. Instead a suggested structure for a lab report is provided in the manual and this structure is the same as that provided in the CH3721 Physical Chemistry Laboratory module. Class reps requested that CH2601 lecture resources be made available online before a given lecture course begins in order to help students complete their lab reports. FMG stated that when lab experiments are carried out in rotation, it is extremely difficult to ensure that lab experiments can be timetabled after the appropriate lecture material has been introduced and that it was not feasible to routinely make lecture material available before a course begins. DP indicated that students could be directed to appropriate text book material as an alternative. RM commented that fellow students do not like the fact that two CH2701 lecture courses run in parallel in the early part of the semester. CJB stated that students at a previous SSCC had requested the current format to allow them more time to digest the quantum mechanics lecture material which students often find to be a very challenging aspect of CH2701. Level 1000 EK and CL inquired as to whether it would be possible for Level 1000 students to choose their lab day rather than being allocated to a particular group. FMG stated that labs are currently operating very close to maximum capacity and consequently it is very difficult to allow students choice over their lab days. The timetable clash between CH1402 and a Level 1000 Biology module was highlighted by the class reps as being regrettable. DP stated that this is a university timetabling issue associated with a change in the Biology teaching hour to accommodate the introduction of the Sustainable Development degree course. CH1601 Some students are concerned that content is being included in tutorials despite the fact that relevant lecture material is being taught on the day before the tutorial. DP stated that this problem only occurs in one tutorial and is a consequence of the fact that students had requested to receive the maximum number of tutorials and that tutorials examining new material cannot be timetabled in Week 12. The podcasts presented by ADS for CH1601 are popular with students. A request was made that CH1402 lecturers could also provide podcasts of their lectures. DP pointed out that it is up to individual lecturers to decide how best to deliver their lectures. AOCB FMG and DP requested that class reps inform their colleagues that teaching staff are concerned over lecture (and tutorial) attendance in sub-honours classes. DP and IAS carried out a spot check on Friday, Week 5 in the CH1601 class and found that attendance was ~65%. FMG reported that similar levels of attendance had been reported for other sub-honours classes. It was pointed out that there exists a strong correlation between non-attendance and poor module grades.

5 AT asked is a buddy -system could be set up between sub-honours and final year Chemists. FMG reported that similar systems had been tried in the past and could work successfully, but could also be extremely unsuccessful if 5 th year students are unwilling to engage. CT suggested that a facebook page could be set up to allow students to discuss issues with each other. RF agreed that this was a good idea and proposed that this would be looked into. ACTION: RF The meeting closed at 2.15 p.m. Dr C J Baddeley 5 March 2015