School of Computer Science and Software Engineering

Staff/Student Meeting - Clayton Campus

Professor Christine Mingins (Acting Joint Head of School), Dr Ann Nicholson (Associate Head of School), Daniel Heath (1st year CompSc), Karan Juneja (3rd year CompSc), Myles Fenton (3rd year Dig Sys), Kunal Mamik (3rd year Software Engineering), Tania Dastres (BA/BCompSc), Kirsten Frederiksen (BL/BCompSc), James Nicholson (BSc/BCompSc), Christoph Walters (CompSc Honours), Gareth Anderson (MITS), Karen Fenwick (Undergraduate Studies Officer)

Apologies:
Joshua Bakanursky (2nd year Software Engineering)

Welcome
The meeting was chaired by Associate Head of School, Dr Ann Nicholson who opened the meeting, welcomed the student reps and introduced Prof Christine Mingins, the new Acting Joint Head of School.

The purpose of this introductory meeting was to provide information of new initiatives put in place within the School with the loss of Assistant Lecturers; to discuss the roles of student reps and ways of improving the communication lines between the students body, student reps and the School.

Dr Nicholson advised the meeting of the dissemination of duties previously carried out by ALs and the creation of the CSSE HELP room which she felt was a good initiative anyway.

CSSE HELP room - Student reps were asked for feedback on the CSSE HELP room. Students felt that the existence for the CSSE HELP room was not widely advertised and thought lecturers should link the CSSE HELP timetable for their particular units on their courseware pages. It was thought that with time, more students would become aware of its existence. Karen Fenwick advised that CSSE HELP room (consultation timetable) is currently advertised on the School's home web page, the Semester 1 Unit Offerings page, the undergraduate noticeboards, the enquiry office front desk and lecturers were asked to show an overhead at their lectures. Directional signs are posted in building 75.

ACTION: Lecturers will be asked to post CSSE HELP room consultation times on their courseware pages.

Gareth Anderson reported that MITS is quite happy with the response by the School to their concerns regarding ALs and with the introduction of the CSSE HELP room.

NEWSGROUPS - Students thought on-line assistance via newsgroups is very valuable and there was a concern that responses might not be as forthcoming without Assistant Lecturers. Dr Nicholson advised that tutors staffing the HELP room are to answer any queries in newsgroups in quiet times. It was suggested that a list of newsgroups would be good.

ACTION: The School will look at ways of making information on newsgroups more readily available and having queries answered.

Christoph Walters (CompSc Honours) undertook to poll the Honours students to see if there was a need for a newsgroup for Honours students which could be set up if needed.
ACTION: Christoph Walters

Dr Nicholson explained the roles of Head Tutors, being admin rather than student contact.

COMMUNICATION - As a means of improving communication, the School will be sending out an electronic newsletter possibly twice a year, advising students of their student reps, how and why to contact them, plus information and feedback of resolutions. Students suggested that the newsletter should be concise, dot point, with links to more detailed information if required.

ACTION: Dr Ann Nicholson/Karen Fenwick

It was suggested that lecturers should be promoting technology in their lectures by demonstrating where information is available on the web, rather than just posting overhead slides at the beginning of lectures.

ACTION: Lecturers to be advised.

STUDENT SURVEYS - Dr Nicholson advised that as of this year, surveys have to be completed for every unit in every semester across the whole University. This will be web based rather than in lectures. Students asked if they could get feedback from such a survey and suggested that results should be advertised.

ACTION: Dr Nicholson agreed and undertook to check if this is going to happen.

CSE1308/CSE2306 - There was a concern raised that some students in CSE1308/CSE2306 had the same person as the unit lecturer, tutor and demonstrator. These units are not presently offering consultation in the CSSE HELP room. Dr Nicholson indicated that if a unit is not scheduled and there is a need, the School will look in to it.

FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS -

ACTION: Dr Nicholson / Karen Fenwick to get out 1st newsletter prior to next meeting, with a section on Student reps, their email addresses, and requests for feedback. Student Reps to collect and collate feedback prior to meeting. Also to provide edited (for anonimity) version to School, as well as reporting at meeting.

COURSEWARE - Some students had difficulty finding the courseware pages from the School's home page and links from my.monash are not current. Professor Mingins advised that under the new structure, web pages will come under the Faculty control.

Concerns were raised about the overall structure of CSSE web site, with students having difficulty finding information (it was there, but often quite deep in the hierarchy).

ACTION: Karen Fenwick to organise review

Concerns were raised that info about CSSE courses on my.monash was out of date. It was suggested that if the info is taken from Cupid, then it is just a matter of getting Cupid info up to date.

ACTION: Ann Nicholson / Karen Fenwick to follow up

FACULTY RESTRUCTURE - Dr Nicholson gave a brief outline of the Faculty restructure. Prof Mingins gave an outline of the new courses, common core and transition for present students. Students asked if the Faculty could provide current students with relevant information on the Faculty review and restructure.

ACTION: Professor Mingins undertook to follow up.

CSE2304 - Students voiced their concerns about Algorithms and Data Structures being an ongoing problem to some sections of the student body.

ACTION: Dr Nicholson and Professor Mingins undertook to investigate.

Professor Mingins advised that Business Systems would be instituting staff/student meetings this semester, along the same lines as CSSE. BSys staff will attend CSSE staff/student meeting to see how it works, then have their meeting the following week.

NEXT MEETING - The next meeting will be held on Friday 29th April 2005 at 1.00 pm in the Seminar Room G55 Building 75.

Dr Nicholson closed the meeting at 2pm and thanked everyone for their attendance.