UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES COMMITTEE MINUTES
2002:Feb 5, Mar 5, Apr 2, Sept 23, Oct 30, Dec 4,
23 April 2003
Members Present: Hensley, Larson (chair), Lowe, Mogilevsky, Pilant, Stecher
Members Absent: Lima-Filho
Special Guests: David Manuel
The meeting began at 10:00 a.m. There were six topics put up for discussion: Enhanced/Focused Math Minor, 2+2 Program, Endowed Scholarship, Utilizing Departmental Honors Funds, Area of Emphasis Certificates, and the Undergraduate Program Poster. Below is a summary of each.
Enhanced/Focused Math Minor. In a meeting with Engineering faculty, Dr. Pilant was asked about the possibility of other majors receiving an area of emphasis in math. This prompted the idea of an Enhanced or Focused Math Minor that is more course work than the traditional 18-hour minor and less than the ~ 30 hours of coursework to receive a double major in math. Dr. Pilant and the faculty members are still in the discussion stages of the plan to institute the new minor. It was suggested that the enhanced minor build on the traditional minor with the addition of three 300-400 level courses. It was recommended that this new minor require a minimum GPR of 3.0 in order to apply. Hopes are that this new minor would fit well for Computer Science majors who choose math as an area of emphasis and will help in the funding of 400-level courses.
2+2 Program. David Manuel reported that last summer Dr. Tim Scott in the Deans Office asked him to work on a BA certification degree plan whereby Blinn students could transfer to TAMU after two years. The program has been coined as the "2+2 Program". David circlulated to the committee two handouts, one a proposed 2+2 program and the other a 2+3 program. The major concern that David Manuel and Dr. Larson have with the 2+2 program is the success a Blinn student will or will not have upon entering TAMU having not taken Calculus II here at TAMU. Dr. Larson did some checking of transcripts of senior students who transferred in having taken Calculus II at another institution and over most did not do well their first semester here. The committee agreed it would be more beneficial to Blinn students if they could take one class here at TAMU each semester, rather than starting after two years. David Manuel will review the transcripts as well and report back the committee's concerns to Dr. Scott. Plans are to work on 2+2 plans for our other degree plans as well.
Endowed Scholarship. Each year the department receives royalties from the sales of several text books written by math department faculty. The royalties are in the past have gone into an account managed by the Development Foundation. Dr. Stecher is in the process of working with the authors of the Smith Fund, a locally managed account that has no service fees. The Smith Fund is currently used to compensate winners of the Freshman and Sophomore Math Contest and the participants in the Putnam Challenge. Dr. Hensley, one of the authors of the Smith Fund, explained that the Smith Fund can be divided in two, so that the current Calclab account can be merged and managed separately. The two funds can be given different names if necessary. The committees reasoning behind this move is that scholarships count against grants, so it is preferable to give students awards. Dr. Stecher also proposed the idea to the committee of taking a percentage of the royalties and setting it aside as an Endowed Scholarship. No specific amount was decided upon pending a check with University legal office to clarify the differences between scholarships and awards.
Utilizing Departmental Honors Funds. The department is given $200 per credit hour for each honors class that is taught and over the past 10 years we have accrued approximately $80,000 that is now being used to cover budget shortfalls. The funds are to be used to enhance our Honors courses and in the future Dr. Larson suggested that we look into using the funds to support several of our top honors students by paying them an hourly amount for mentoring and developing new honors class curriculum.
Area of Emphasis Certificates. Dr. Larson explained to the committee that since our options are now referred to as areas of emphasis that in the future students will receive certificates generated by the department rather than a designation on their diploma. Donna Hoffman will check with the registrar's office to see if students graduating in May will have an option designated on their diploma. If not, certificates will be printed. Plans are to work with Dan Lewis to get the areas of emphasis "certified" so they will appear on diplomas in the future.
Undergraduate Program Poster. Dr. Larson informed the committee that the Undergraduate Program poster is set to go with the exception of some candid pictures of our majors that need to be taken later in the week.
The meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna L. Hoffman