- Encourage and facilitate social and intellectual communication between physics students, students in other fields interested in physics and the faculty of the Physics Department.
- Provide an opportunity for members to become acquainted with the various aspects of physics and related fields.
- Encourage and assist members in individual physics oriented projects.
- Provide a physics reference library for members.
- Provide quiet study facilities for members.
- Select delegates for the annual Canadian Undergraduates of Physics Association conference (CUPC).
In recent years the society has organized sponsored social events such as the Grad Class Dinner-Dance. Physsoc also provides academically oriented services to students in the form of a reference library, a fifty-seven seat carrel quiet study room, a free weekly lecture series, funds for delegates to CUPC (the Canadian Undergraduates of Physics Conference), and a tutoring program. Moreover, the society provides Problem Sets and Exam Packages for sale to students on a cost plus basis.
The executive has established an operating policy and a tutoring program.
The Operating Policy, signed by each member, is intended to provide an environment free of racist, sexist, homophobic or otherwise derogatory comments or gestures. Physsoc believes in providing a safe, inclusive, and accepting environment for its members.
The Tutoring Program was developed in response to the perceived need of first year students to contact and hire tutors. In general, first year students were found to be reluctant to seek help or to phone a number that they had found on a poster. The Physics Society established the Tutoring Program in an effort to bring students and tutors together in a safe and friendly atmosphere. The tutors that Physsoc provides are not screened, but they are required to sign a policy statement endorsing conduct consistent with the UBC Physics Society Operating Policy. In other words, Physsoc expects that Physsoc Tutors will show only the greatest respect to their employers: the students. It should be noted that the Physics Society operates this service free of charge to the students; fees exacted by the tutors are at the discretion of the tutors and the students and Physsoc will intervene only if the rates charged seem exorbitant. Physsoc provides only the forum through which the students may meet their tutors. By advertising the service and informing the professors of first year courses, Physsoc was able to successfully hold four "Meet-A-Tutor" Sessions and provide help to more than fifty students.
The society seems to be approaching an equilibrium with respect to its dual role as an academic resource and a social co-ordination centre. The future should see considerable growth in Physsoc's role in the department as a focus for students' activities.
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