Clayton School of Information Technology
[Computer Science & Software Engineering]

Staff/Student Meeting - Clayton Campus

Prof David Abramson, Dr David Albrecht, Dr Lloyd Allison, Mr Stanley Breskin (BSE 4th Year), AssocProf Trevor Dix, Mrs Karen Fenwick, Dr Tim Ferguson, Mr Charles Greif, Mr Karan Juneja (BCompSc 3rd Year), Dr Carlo Kopp, Mr Kunal Mamik (BSE 3rd Year), Dr Ann Nicholson (Chair), Dr Andrew Paplinski, Dr Ronald Pose, Dr Medahalli Ramakrishna, Dr Sita Ramakrishnan, Dr Sid Ray, Dr Peter Tischer, Mr Christoph Walters (CompSc Hons), Dr Stephen Welsh

Apologies:
Dr Peter Atkinson, Mr Myles Fenton, Ms Kirsten Frederiksen (BL/BCompSc), Mr Steve Gardner, Dr Kevin Korb

Welcome
The meeting was chaired by Associate Head of School, Dr Ann Nicholson who opened the meeting, and welcomed the student reps and staff members.

Minutes of last meeting were accepted. Action items were addressed as outlined in the Outcomes with the following additional comments -

The Honours rep reported that he tried to follow up the complaint about the printer with the student who raised the issue but hasn't had a response.

Dr Lloyd Allison felt that it isn't necessary to hold a special information session about Honours in level 4 BSE as information is available on the web and anyone else with further queries can see him directly.

Dr Lloyd Allison advised that following the last Student/Staff Meeting, CSE3322 sessions have been scheduled in the CSSE HELProom but attendance has been poor. It is thought that this may change closer to the exam.

TSU to follow up concerns raised last meeting regarding ports and computers in the Honours Lab and postscript viewer for Windows. Action: TSU

FIRST YEAR -

No representative present. First year lecturers reported that they weren't aware of any major issues. Students will be advised during CSE1301 and CSE1303 lectures that CSE1303 is being offered over summer in 2006 as CSP (not full fee). It is strongly recommend that student take CSE1303 over summer so they can take second year units in 2006.

SECOND YEAR -

No representative present. Students in other years reported that second year students were generally happy.

COMP SCI/LAW - Kirsten Frederiksen forwarded the following report:

- There are concerns about when the CSE3322 assignment 3 will be given out so we can begin work on it. Given it is due in the first week back after the mid-semester break, some people are concerned that they will not have enough time to complete it if it is not given out early this week (especially if they are going on holidays or have other work due in that week)

It is expected that Dr Bernd Meyer will hand out the assignment before the break. A discussion took place on whether the mid-semester break is a teaching break or a holiday and if students are expected to work on assignments during this time. Unless an extension has been given, assignments are not set to be due during the mid-semester break.

- There are queries about when the CSE3323 assignment 1 will be returned (I'm pretty sure Dr. Ronald Pose said he'd try to have them completed by Thursday). Students think it's important to get feedback on their work before they complete their next (and final) assignment due on Monday 3rd.

Dr Ronald Pose advised that marked assignments will be returned to the students before assignment 2 is due and that students who request it will be given feedback on assignment 1.

THIRD YEAR -

CSE2316/CSE3316 Database Management System - students asked when they will get marked assignment 1. Dr Medahalli Ramakrishna advised that assignments had now been marked and should be returned in the next day or so.

A discussion took place about the marking of assignments. Students have the right to have all assessments marked and returned within a reasonable time. Staff responsibility is to mark work promptly and accurately. Students responsibility is to submit work on time, and to ask for extension only when the student has made every reasonable effort to complete the work on time.

Dr Nicholson asked for lecturers to be reminded about timely marking and that marking assistance is available if necessary.

CSE3302 Software Engineering Project -

Third year rep presented the following report:

"Students have expressed concerns regarding discrepancies amongst supervisors and felt that it would be better if some of the supervisors had a better understanding of what was required of the group. Given that we have not had to do 'client documentation' before, some sort of guidelines should be in place. "We're not asking to be spoon-fed, but it is rather ridiculous that groups are only told what is required for submission the day before it is due. Feedback from supervisors leaves a lot to be desired and hence groups have tended to not be able to learn from their mistakes. There seems to be a lot of "passing the buck" in this unit and no-one wants to take responsibility for anything; this sends a very unprofessional message to the students as a whole. "

Dr Peter Tischer advised that students are free to ask group supervisors for guidance and that he is available as Unit Co-ordinator. It appears that problem is a matter of timing and students comments will be taken on board.

FOURTH YEAR -

CSE4333 Parallel Systems. Students asked about assignment 1 marks for Parallel Programming component. Action: Prof Heinz Schmidt

Fourth Year Software Engineering rep reported that he had no complaints and thanked all supervisors for their help and support during the project and for making themselves available. Students doing the Honours stream have been given assistance with honours deadlines.

He thanked Dr Sita Ramakrishnan for re-adjusting the CSE4431 System Validation and Verification ... assignments 1 and 2, and giving topics for assignment 3 early on.

CSE4333 Parallel Systems - He congratulated Prof Heinz Schmidt for a good job with Parallel Programming and giving an extension for assignment 2. He reported that Parallel Architectures is very informative and interesting and noted however that not many students were attending lectures.

COMPUTER SCIENCE HONOURS -

The scanner in the Honours lab does not seem to be useable. The problem is that the computer that it is attached to does not seem to have scanner software installed. Action: Students were advised to lodge a request with tech@help.csse.monash.edu.au

Several students found the room temperature in the new Honours lab too high, even when coming early in the morning with hardly any computers running. Maybe the AC could be adjusted slightly. Action: As we have no control over the AC, students will be supplied with a room fan to see if this helps.

UPDATE -

Dr Nicholson updated the student reps on the introduction of the new degrees and thanked them for fulfilling their roles as Student Reps in 2005.

Dr Nicholson closed the meeting at 1.45pm and thanked everyone for their attendance.

Outcomes [in progress]