UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES COMMITTEE MINUTES
2002:Feb 5, Mar 5, Apr 2, Sept 23, Oct 30, Dec 4,
2003:Feb 19
26 March 2003
Members Present: Hensley, Larson (chair), Lima-Filho, Lowe, Mogilevsky, Pilant, Stecher
Members Absent: None
Special Guests: David Manuel
The meeting began at 10:00 a.m. There were six topics put up for discussion: Career Fair, Outreach/Mailing Campaign, Freshman Faculty Mentors Program, Syllabus for Math 171 sequence, Economics and Scientific Computation Areas of Emphasis, Other Business. Below is a summary of each.
Career Fair. Dr. Larson handed out schedules for the spring Career Fair that will be held on Thursday, April 3 starting at noon. There are 10 presenters slated for the event , up from 6 last year. As a token of appreciation, the department is hosting a dinner at Cafe Eccel for the presenters. Dr. Larson made members aware that approval had been given to excuse students from classes that afternoon so that they may attend the fair.
Outreach/Mailing Campaign. Dr. Larson reported that information packets consisting of several flyers about our program have been mailed to over 250 high school students this spring. In addition, those that have registered online for more information about our program are receiving a personal e-mail response from Dr. Bruce Lowe. Committee members were advised to let Donna Hoffman know of any contacts, even teachers in out of state high schools, that would benefit from receiving information about our program. Visitations to high schools has not happened as of yet, and hopes are that the mailings to the schools will generate an interest in a visit by a member of the committee. If not, further attempts to contact high schools for a visit will be pursued next fall. Another outreach goal is to have the undergraduate poster ready by the end of the spring semester. Plans are to send out about 500 per year.
Freshman Faculty Mentors Program. Dr. Larson expressed the need for faculty mentors among the freshman scholarship holders to make sure that they get off on the right foot with their classes. Plans are to extend the mentoring to all incoming freshman who entered starting in Fall 2002. There are approximately 60 freshman that entered in Fall 2002 who will be divided up in groups of 5 or 6 per mentor. When the students have been assigned a mentor, Donna Hoffman will let the students know who they have been assigned to. The mentor would meet with the student periodically and discuss any problems the student is having, etc.
Syllabus for Math 171 sequence. Dr. Stecher circulated a handout of a poll that was taken amonst Physics and Chemistry instructors and some students. He voiced his concern that the current course format does not allow enough time to cover concepts. After a brief discussion it was decided to establish a subcommittee consisting of Dr. Stecher (chair), David Manuel, Bruce Lowe, and Mila Mogilevsky. Plans are for the subcommittee to meet and report back to the Studies committee by the end of the spring semester.
Economics and Scientific Computation Areas of Emphasis. In addition to the current options, an Economics and Scientific Computation Area of Emphasis has been approved. A brief description of these two new Areas of Emphasis will appear in Catalog 126 to be used next fall. A detailed degree plan is still in the development stages. This information will also need to be posted on our website in the near future. Dr. Pilant will work on developing the Scientific Computation course requirements with the help of Dr. Bart Childs in Computer Science. Hopes are that these two new plans will aid in recruiting efforts because of the added diversity.
Other Business. Dr. Larson informed the committee that we currently have 318 majors and 242 students minoring in math. He also announced that we will offer three VIGRE courses this upcoming summer. The three instructors are Drs. Larson, Walton, and Yan.
The meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna L. Hoffman