Present

Student Representatives:

• Bachelor of Computer Science
• First Year
• Mr Casper Szymiczek-Graley
Second Year
• Mr Stewart Smith, Ms Amanda Crawford
Third Year
• Mr Andre Oboler, Mr Shane Hill
Honours
• Mr Shane Moore
• Bachelor of Digital Systems
• First Year
• Mr Timothy Szalek
• Honours
• Mr Rodney O'Donnell
• Bachelor of Software Engineering
• First Year
• Mr Christopher Bond
• Second Year
• Mr Dima Bensky
• Third Year
• Mr Daniel Rowley, Ms Zeana Haider

Apologies
Mr Nimesh Perera (Second Year BDS rep), Dr Lloyd Allison, Ms Edwina Goh, A/Prof Kim Marriott, Dr Bernd Meyer, Dr Henry Wu

Welcome and introductions
The Head of School, Professor David Abramson opened the meeting with a welcome and introductions. He thanked both new and continuing students representatives for their efforts.

Feedback from previous years
Andre Oboler (Computer Science) thanked the School for holding this meeting early in the semester and reported that issues raised in the last two years are now resolved i.e. a Student Club, mentor scheme and make-up tutorials for first years.

Student representative reports

• Computer Science:

Third Year - Andre Oboler
CSE3305 Formal Methods is difficult at times.

CSE3308 Software Engineering - lecture notes have some errors which have been pointed out to the lecturer. Because of the project, there is a large demand for consultation time and although the lecturer stays late, there is often a long wait.
Action - Consultation hours for CSE3308 will be looked at.

CSE3301 project - Project and supervision by Charles Twardy is really good.
 

Second Year - Stewart Smith
Stewart expressed his dissatisfaction with Allocate+.
Action - Professor Abramson asked for written complaints which he will pass on. Allocate+ is not controlled by CSSE.

News server - The news server which worked last year is not working this year and Stewart felt that the students were missing a good forum. The problem appears to be the ITS server and newsgroups not being advertised adequately.
Action - Instructions to be posted on the CSSE and Student Club web sites.

Labs - Students had a number of complaints about the computer laboratories including delays, problems with the shortage of working computers, dirty mice sealed shut so they can't be cleaned, vibrating screens etc. Professor Abramson advised that some delays are a ITS issue which had been taken up previously and thought to be resolved. Students are encouraged to report and log complaints. The laboratories are maintained by the Faculty and thought to be better than ever before. The problems appear to be a combination of hardware and software. Professor Schmidt suggested setting up a log of complaints. There are signs in the laboratory outlining the reporting procedure and students are to be encouraged to follow this procedure.
Action - School to talk to the faculty regarding sealed mice and the possibility of optical mice like they have at Caulfield and Berwick.

Shortage of free computers during lab classes was also raised. Professor Abramson advised that there will be a new building in the future.
Action - The possibility of having labs open later will be followed up with the Faculty.

Linux is slow to load on Faculty maintained machines. This is caused by a network problem.
Action - Stewart to provide the HOS will examples to be followed up with the Faculty.

Students are not happy that the Helpdesk is now located in the Union Building.

Coding styles - the students had an issue with coding styles, especially in CSE2304 and suggested a consistency of coding styles at the beginning of second year.

Not all lectures are being recorded. The meeting was advised that this is not possible in all lecture theatres but staff are encouraged to record lectures if the theatres are wired. There is also a limit of how many lectures can be recorded.

CSE2303 Formal Methods I - David Albrecht's notes are good.
 

Second Year continued - Amanda Crawford
CSE2318 Data Communications and Computer Networks - pracs are full and only half the computers in room 207 are working. Students reported it is impossible to get the work done. Professor Abramson reported that it was intended to retire the outdated machines in  lab 207 but couldn't because of machine/lab shortages. The School will try to book another lab in Building 19 after hours and will suggest the lecturer makes allowances in his assessment.
Action - Joel Reicher and Reuvin Aviv

Thank you to Deborah Pickett for helping students.


First Year - Casper Szymiczek-Graley

Complaints were received from students about the knowledge of some of the tutors. Students are advised to report any concerns to the Assistant Lecturer, First Year Co-ordinator, or Head of School.

Mathematics subjects - students wanted notes on the web. There are not enough questions in the maths tutorials. CSE2304 assumes certain maths. Academics advised that the pre-req should be in any maths course.
Action - To be brought to the attention of the Mathematics lecturers. Maths rep to be invited to the next Student/Staff Meeting.
 

CSE1401 Introduction to Software Engineering - there is a problem for students who haven't programmed before.
Action - to be taken on board.
 
• Digital Systems

First Year - Timothy Szalek
Timothy asked why there isn't a courseware page for CSE1101. The lecturer advised that messages are distributed via Novell.

CSE1301 tutorial solutions are not published on the web. Professor Zukerman advised that the solutions are posted on the noticeboard in Building 26 and not on the web for a purpose. If students have to copy them, something will sink in.

Recording of lectures was also raised.
 

• Software Engineering

Third Year - Zeana Haider
CSE3308 Software Engineering - problem with consultation times also raised.

CSE3305 Formal Methods II - consultation provided by Professor John Crossley and Joel Reicher is excellent. Notes could be better. Tutorials are not helpful, could be structured better. Professor Abramson advised that tutorials in this subject were provided as a result of a concerns raised at a previous Student/Staff Meeting.

CSE2324/3324 Computer Architecture - both slides and notes are excellent. A textbook on MIPS would be helpful.
 

Second Year - Dima Bensky
CSE2304 Algorithms and Data Structures - Students felt lecture notes are structured in such a way that students must attend lectures.
Action - Students encouraged to attend lectures. The School will try to arrange audio recording if the lecture theatre allows. Students are free to approach the lecturer if they miss a lecture for health reasons either during consultation hours or email and arrange a time.

Students felt some CSE2304 lecture material is not relevant to pracs and the coding style problem was also raised.

CSE2303 Formal Methods I - notes are good, no complaints.

CSE2318 Data Communications and Computer Networks - students had concerns about the assignments and the source of the solutions.

CSE2201 Software Engineering Practice - Students are happy with tutors and pracs.

Thanks to Joey Chua, Deborah Pickett, Sita Ramakrishnan and Daniel Rowley for their assistance.
 

Third Year - Daniel Rowley
CSE3324 Computer Architecture - Daniel advised that the Monday 4pm lecture is inconvenient for some students. Professor Abramson sympathised but pointed out the impossibility of moving lectures.

Students are disappointed with the help given by tutors with MIPS and suggested that revision labs in MIPS would be helpful. Dr Carlo Kopp advised that the first lab was a revision lab. Students should retain their MIPS notes from first year. Extra copies are available from the Enquiries Office.
 

First Year - Christopher Bond
Issues for the first year BSE students were also the lack of lab space, and lecture material for Mathematics subject not being on the web.

Christopher felt that the students body are not aware of who the students reps are.  Student representatives are encouraged to introduce themselves to the student body possibly before lectures start.
 

• Honours - Shane Moore
It was reported that Honours was hard but that was to be expected.

Students ask if the printer in the honours room can be replaced or serviced.
Action - Technical Services Unit

The honours room is lacking such things as a stapler or kettle. It was suggested that the student body could provide some of these things themselves.

The difference in points value for subjects in the Masters courses and points counted toward the courseware components in CSSE Honours was raised.
Action - To be followed up with the Honours Co-ordinator.