MINUTES TO MEETING FOR FRIDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 1998

Department of Anthropology

STUDENT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

Minutes of the meeting held on Friday 13 February 1998 at 13.00 in the Eliot Upper Senior Common Room.

Present : Chair: Roy Ellen
Sian Christian John Corbin
Jane Dunn John Fiteni
Richard Grindell Simon Platten
Helen Scott Margaret Smyth
Laura Timms Mike Walkey
Kate Webb David Zeitlyn

Apologies: Michael Fischer, Zeynep Kunt

7. Confirmation of Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 1997 were approved.

8. Matters Arising

Library

The re-shelving of books on Level 3 in the Library had improved at the beginning of term, but is now becoming a problem. Margaret Smyth regretted this situation, but unfortunately there are only enough shelving staff available to keep things under control, and no extra money available to pay for additional hours in busy periods. It was suggested that students could be employed, perhaps receiving payment by some other means rather than money. Although employing students has been considered in the past, this has not been viable. Margaret Smyth will bring this to the attention of the Librarian.

Core Course Assessment

John Corbin explained that modules are assessed by individual convenors, and there is no standard form of assessment. He would like student feedback on module assessment e.g. tests, numbers of essays. John will also look into the handbook entry for SE508: Social Anthropology II.

The teaching of SE513: Research Practices for Sociology and Social Anthropology has been raised by anthropology students, as it is being taught as a "sociology" module this year. The convenor, Margaret Flemming, is arranging additional reading for anthropology students. It is regrettable that this has happened, but with the splitting of the department, this module was taken over by Sociology. The handbook entry will be amended.

Roy Ellen reminded students that the prefix on the codes ie 'SE', does not necessarily indicate that the module belongs to that department.

9. Announcements from the Chair

i) BAe SEMA High Flyers Programme 1998

This is a series of talks organised by the Students' Union and running between 17 February-19 March 1998. Further details are available on the 'Undergraduate' notice board.

ii) Communication from the Students' Union

Some student committee members have attended the training sessions and found them very good, particularly the 'negotiating skills' training.

iii) National Network of Teaching and Learning Anthropology

Students were reminded of the workshops being held at the University of Keele (27-28 February) and at the University of Oxford (15-17 March). Bursaries and small travel grants are available - further details available from Jan Horn.

iv) Open Forum

This is to be held on Friday 20 March at 13.00 in the Eliot Theatre 2. This is an informal occasion and all staff and students are invited to attend to discuss issues.

10. Items from Student Representatives

i) Anthropology Society

The Society has been revived and events have been arranged. The Website home page is: http://lucy.ukc.ac.uk/Anthsoc/anthsoc.html

ii) EDEN Project

Simon Platten spoke briefly about the Project which has been set up with lottery money. A lecture is being organised for the Trinity Term.

iii) Video Library

Student's asked if arrangements could be made for relevant television programmes to be videoed, perhaps with a member of staff checking the Radio Times in advance. Peter Parkes will be asked if he is willing to do this, alternatively, if students let Jan Horn have times, she will arrange for them to be recorded.

iv) Computing for Social Anthropologists

Students have met and discussed various issues with the convenor of this module and hopefully these will be worked out. A copy of the comments are available from Jan Horn.

v) SIETAR and SPICE

Richard Grindell spoke briefly on the Society for Intercultural Education Training and Research, which is concerned with foreign students arriving and living in a new culture. Richard is discussing with the Students' Union and the Registry how best to set up something similar at UKC. He also spoke about the Society for the Promotion of Cultural Exchange and Anthropology Society members are invited to participate in the SPICE party next week. Richard would welcome suggestions on how UKC policy might be changed, and on specific questions that could be asked in the survey of foreign student opinion to find out how the service could be improved for individuals from such a diverse set of cultures. Richard can be contacted on rdmg1.

Students were reminded that a special hardship form for students from South East Asia, is available from the International Office or the UKC SU's Welfare Officer.

vi) John Fiteni asked about the format and distribution of appraisal forms to postgraduates, as it would have been useful at the end of last term. There is no University/Department policy on postgraduate module evaluation, but Bill Watson will be informed that something more formal is requested.

vii) The BSc Anthropology degree students would like more 'physical' anthropology. A meeting is being arranged with the students, Michael Fischer and other members of the department for this to be discussed.

11. 1 Unit Modules/Examination Revision

With more 1 unit modules becoming available, John Corbin would like student feedback on whether these should be run as 10 or 12 week periods, whilst the University retains the three x ten week term. The meeting felt that they would prefer units of 10 weeks with revision at the beginning of the Trinity term.

12. Library

As Zeynep Kunt is intermitting for the remainder of this academic year, Richard Grindell offered to represent the Department on the Library Users' Committee.

Date of Next Meeting

Friday 15 May 1998 at 13.00 in the Eliot Upper Senior Common Room.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 14.15.

Jan Horn 17 February 1998

You can email any of the Student Consultative Committee members, their email address can be found at the Anthropology Society Homepage