[Academic] Changes to our teaching provision

[Physics-HOD]

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, the Department is taking on an additional 80 credits of 
teaching by bringing the maths courses in-house. The feedback from the 
1st year students so far is very positive - they really appreciate the 
links made between the maths and physics. In response to previous 
feedback from students, we have also introduced additional computing 
classes in years 1 and 3, and increased the proportion of continuous 
assessment in years 1 and 2 to 40%.

As a result of this significant additional teaching load, there are 
knock-on effects when assigning lecturing duties and we are going 
through a necessary period of change to accommodate this. As some people 
are taking on 20 credits of brand new material not taught in the 
Department before, we are trying to distribute the teaching load for 
everyone in as fair a way as possible, taking into account their 
experience for particular class topics and their other non-teaching 
duties where possible. Note that it was agreed by the Teaching Committee 
that the average teaching load per academic would be up to 40 credits.

By taking on the teaching of maths and responding to the students' 
requests for more integrated computing and more continuous assessment, 
we aim to improve the student experience. By tailoring the maths being 
taught to the requirements of the physics courses we also hope to see an 
improvement in overall performance. Bringing the maths courses in-house 
also contributes significantly to the Department's accounts.

I ask for your support in implementing these important changes to our 
teaching provision and to try to accommodate the requested changes to 
your individual teaching portfolio. If you feel the requested changes 
are not suitable, please discuss this with the Director of Teaching in 
the first instance. Thank you.

Regards,

Paul

----------------------------------------------
Prof. Paul McKenna
Head of Department
Department of Physics, SUPA,
University of Strathclyde,
Glasgow G4 0NG
U.K.

Tel: 0141-548-3132 (secretary) / 5712 (direct)
Email: paul.mckenna at strath.ac.uk
----------------------------------------------