Astronomy, Physics, and Physical Sciences

Program Director or Chairperson: Dennis Collins

Program Description: This Department offers a range of courses that satisfy the General Education requirements to courses that satisfy university transfer requirements. The Astronomy program offers a lecture course in descriptive astronomy and a parallel lab course. The Physical Science lecture and lab classes survey physics, astronomy, geology and chemistry at a level appropriate for liberal studies and elementary education majors. The Physics courses include an introductory lecture and lab for vocational education feeder courses and general education requirements, a two semester university transfer calculus based pre-med and biology majors physics lecture and lab, and a three semester university transfer calculus based science and engineering majors physics lecture and lab. The Department organizes a program of speakers and field trips for physics students, hosts an annual holography project for Grossmont High School seniors, and coordinates the Grossmont College Science Colloquia. A public Astronomy observing program is planned using the rooftop observation area. The Department has developed connections and articulation agreements with local industries, UCSD, and SDSU.

Activity #1: Remodel the Observatory and try for funding for a Planetarium located near the observatory to support the Astronomy program and establish a public observation program.

Expected Benefit: The Astronomy lab classes will once again be able to use the existing facility which has fallen into disrepair to teach the fundamentals of astronomical observing. Student enrollments would be increased because most of the astronomy students request telescope time and outreach programs will be improved.

Activity #2: Acquire two more classroom presenters, provide up-to-date laboratory supplies, computers, software, electronic optics equipment and other technologies that reflect current standards.

Expected Benefit: Updating of equipment and replacement of old out of date equipment will be necessary to keep labs current which will provide our students with a better background in state of the art equipment and better meet the transfer requirements.

Activity #3: Develop a metered tutor center in the department’s computer lab area.

Expected Benefit: A physics, astronomy and physical science tutor in the existing computer lab will enhance student learning and provide them with readily available expert advice

Activity #4: Expand department course offerings to include Distance Learning course in Physical Science.

Expected Benefit: This will allow those student that would prefer to take courses on the computer to acquire the general education credit.

Activity #5: Build a small hinged wall to block the light from the new library and parking lot lights that flood the roof top viewing
area.

Expected Benefit: To be able to use the roof top viewing for lab classes again.

Additional Planning Activities

• Improve classrooms, darkroom, workroom and storage space with better
  
• ventilation, alarm systems and accessibility.
  
• Increase student enrollments through enhanced outreach to feeder high
  
• schools, stronger articulation with transfer institutions, and enhanced
  
• linkage with industry.
  

• The department was able to hire a new tenured track instructor.
  
• The Astronomy viewing roof top area was fitted with isolation mats and the astronomy viewing labs have been using area until the new library flooded the area with light.
  
• White boards were installed in all our classrooms and a presentor for one of the classrooms was purchased.