Dr. Ron Henderson

ronh@physics.mtsu.edu

Robert Carlton

Physics & Astronomy

Discipline specific equipment

WPS 212

New Technology

The request is new technology in the sense that we need additional sets of existing technology to handle increasing numbers in our electronics courses

We recently (1999) partnered with the Recording Industry (RI) department to offer a minor in Electro-Acoustics, targeted for RI majors. The numbers are now increasing in electronics courses for that program with the result that we must expand the numbers we can teach in a scheduled lab section. Currently we have only 7 equipment sets, that will serve 14 students, and it is extremely crowded. We have obtained funds to restructure several of our first-priority rooms to maximize our efficiency (essential, with only 9000 sq ft for a program justifying 36,000). These electronics courses will be offered in a room triple the current size. To teach the increasing numbers optimally we need to purchase electronic equipment for 5 additional stations. Student numbers have grown from generally 3-10 per semester to 28 this past semester. With over 200 degrees awarded in RI annually, our numbers will surely grow. We are understaffed by 15-20%. To service this important segment of the university population inefficiently is very counterproductive and will make it increasingly difficult for Physics & Astronomy to maintain its strong focus on undergraduate research that is critical to the academic quality we all seek.