ISMT Task Force Meeting Notes
Oct. 22, 1999

Present: R. Roberds, R. Amenta, S. Frysinger, J. Herrick, G. MacDonald, R. McKown, R. Rice, J. Sochacki, J. Steele, C. Talley, G. Taylor, C. Welter, T. Wood, P. Henriksen taking notes. Present for introductory remarks: Dean Benson, Dean Gilje
Absent: R. Abel, R. Kolvoord

General notes

The meeting began with comments from Dean Benson: In general, the mission of the group is to gather ideas from the University as a whole on how we can strengthen the collaboration among science, technology, and mathematics at JMU. We will then sift through the ideas to recommend a few that we feel are the best. We are not to review existing programs, but suggest new ways to collaborate. We will make recommendations to the Academic Council and act to guide the allocation of resources.

Dean Gilje then provided comments emphasizing that we want to open dialogues and build on our strengths.

Important Points/Action Items

The group decided to meet on Fridays from 8:00 to 9:30 am in the Gibbons Conference Room with an occasional meeting on Wednesday from 5:00 until 6:30 p.m. so that Bob Able could attend.

First task (phase one) is to gather all the ideas we can. We have to reach out to the departments and get their ideas. We can do this by each of the Task Force members taking the question to their own department and bring the replies back to us. We will also set up a web board for the discussion. (Jim Herrick volunteered to set up the web board and be the overall moderator.) Finally, we will plan some focus meetings or forums where faculty can come and address the Task Force directly. This idea-collection phase of the effort will last until Dec. 15th or so, i.e., the end of this semester.

There are other task forces for information technology and for health and human services, so our ideas may involve overlapping with these areas. This will be O.K. at this point. Eventually, the findings of our group will be coordinated with those of the other task forces. We should not worry about overlapping, but try not to duplicate the work of the other groups.

The three task force efforts will have a web page to facilitate the dissemination of ideas and the gathering of ideas.

The following general questions will be used to guide our discussions in the near future. We need theories to guide the questions, but also pointed questions to get the right kind of answers.

General questions that need to be posed on integrating science, mathematics, and technology are:

1. Overall Mission Question: In what ways can JMU integrate programs in the sciences, mathematics, and technology to best serve the students and faculty in the basic and applied sciences and to better equip the University to face the challenges of the 21st century?

2. In what areas do the current science facilities need to be improved, and is there a way that these problem areas can be improved through integration?

3. The traditional sciences (disciplinary sciences) are an essential element of the science, math, and technology programs of the future. How can the integration of science, technology, and mathematics enhance the traditional disciplines at JMU?

4. Would your particular idea for an integrated or interdisciplinary effort call for a change in the organizational structure? If so, what is the appropriate organizational structure for your proposal?

5. What should be the general nature of the science, mathematics, and technology programs at JMU in the future, i.e., undergraduate vs. graduate programs (undergraduate, undergraduate with selected graduate programs, interdisciplinary centers with graduate and undergraduate research, etc.)?

Phase two will involve our examining the ideas and deciding upon which ones show the most promise. Sub task forces will be formed to address each specific area in appropriate detail, and this will be a time when the other faculty can be pulled in who would like to be part of the task force.

ISMT Task Force Meeting Notes
Oct. 22, 1999

Present: R. Roberds, R. Amenta, S. Frysinger, J. Herrick, G. MacDonald, R. McKown, R. Rice, J. Sochacki, J. Steele, C. Talley, G. Taylor, C. Welter, T. Wood, P. Henriksen taking notes. Present for introductory remarks: Dean Benson, Dean Gilje
Absent: R. Abel, R. Kolvoord

General notes

The meeting began with comments from Dean Benson: In general, the mission of the group is to gather ideas from the University as a whole on how we can strengthen the collaboration among science, technology, and mathematics at JMU. We will then sift through the ideas to recommend a few that we feel are the best. We are not to review existing programs, but suggest new ways to collaborate. We will make recommendations to the Academic Council and act to guide the allocation of resources.

Dean Gilje then provided comments emphasizing that we want to open dialogues and build on our strengths.

Important Points/Action Items

The group decided to meet on Fridays from 8:00 to 9:30 am in the Gibbons Conference Room with an occasional meeting on Wednesday from 5:00 until 6:30 p.m. so that Bob Able could attend.

First task (phase one) is to gather all the ideas we can. We have to reach out to the departments and get their ideas. We can do this by each of the Task Force members taking the question to their own department and bring the replies back to us. We will also set up a web board for the discussion. (Jim Herrick volunteered to set up the web board and be the overall moderator.) Finally, we will plan some focus meetings or forums where faculty can come and address the Task Force directly. This idea-collection phase of the effort will last until Dec. 15th or so, i.e., the end of this semester.

There are other task forces for information technology and for health and human services, so our ideas may involve overlapping with these areas. This will be O.K. at this point. Eventually, the findings of our group will be coordinated with those of the other task forces. We should not worry about overlapping, but try not to duplicate the work of the other groups.

The three task force efforts will have a web page to facilitate the dissemination of ideas and the gathering of ideas.

The following general questions will be used to guide our discussions in the near future. We need theories to guide the questions, but also pointed questions to get the right kind of answers.

General questions that need to be posed on integrating science, mathematics, and technology are:

1. Overall Mission Question: In what ways can JMU integrate programs in the sciences, mathematics, and technology to best serve the students and faculty in the basic and applied sciences and to better equip the University to face the challenges of the 21st century?

2. In what areas do the current science facilities need to be improved, and is there a way that these problem areas can be improved through integration?

3. The traditional sciences (disciplinary sciences) are an essential element of the science, math, and technology programs of the future. How can the integration of science, technology, and mathematics enhance the traditional disciplines at JMU?

4. Would your particular idea for an integrated or interdisciplinary effort call for a change in the organizational structure? If so, what is the appropriate organizational structure for your proposal?

5. What should be the general nature of the science, mathematics, and technology programs at JMU in the future, i.e., undergraduate vs. graduate programs (undergraduate, undergraduate with selected graduate programs, interdisciplinary centers with graduate and undergraduate research, etc.)?

Phase two will involve our examining the ideas and deciding upon which ones show the most promise. Sub task forces will be formed to address each specific area in appropriate detail, and this will be a time when the other faculty can be pulled in who would like to be part of the task force.