UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES COMMITTEE MINUTES

2001:Apr 10, Sept 12, Nov 13, Feb 5, Mar 5

02 April 2002

Members Present: Allen, Boggess, Hensley, Larson (chair), Lowe, Mogilevsky, Pilant, Stecher, Straube

The meeting began at 2:15 pm. There were three topics put up for discussion: Career Fair on April 6, Summer Educational Enrichment (SEE) Math Program, Other Business. Below is a summary of each.

Career Fair on April 6. The first annual Mathematics Career Fair will be held on April 6, 2002 in Rudder 601. Dr. Larson announced that presentations will be given from representatives from Watson Wyatt, Schlumberger, Hewitt Associates, American National Insurance, Bryan High School Math Department and TAMU Math Department (Keri Kornelson.) Flyers advertising the Fair were sent to high schools in the local and surrounding area. The goal is to have about 100 in attendance and to show the presenters a good time so they will want to return in the future. Certificates will be given to each presenter along with a momento of their visit to the Math Career Fair at Texas A&M University. Dr. Larson commented that a panel-style discussion has been done by the University of Colorado. He stated that this format has worked well for them and suggested we might consider running a Fair in that manner in the future.

Summer Educational Enrichment (SEE) Math Program. Dr. Philip Yasskin has agreed to run a 2-week math camp for middle school aged children from the local and surrounding areas. The program will run from July 15-26 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Anticipated enrollment is between 30-50 children. The four participating faculty members met on Monday, March 11 and decided on a schedule for the program. Letters and applications will be sent to the middle and junior schools in the local and surrounding area. Also, Mila Mogilevsky suggested that they would like to have a reception on the final day for children and their parents. Food and drinks would be provided and various faculty members would be invited to speak to the group. Funding for the program by the College of Science has been approved.

Other Business. Dr. Larson announced that rather than invite Dr. Longnecker from Computer Science to this meeting, a subcommittee will meet with him directly to discuss the Scientific Computation option. Dr. Boggess reported that approximately 80 REU applications were received, and the selection process is underway. He added that the department has funding for 10-15 VIGRE fellowships for our majors and encouraged committee member to announce this to their students.

The meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna L. Hoffman