UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES COMMITTEE MINUTES
2002:Feb 5, Mar 5, Apr 2, Sept 23, Oct 30, Dec 4
2003: Feb 19, Mar 26, Apr 23, Sept 17, Oct 22
2004: Feb 10, Mar 9, Apr 13, Oct 12 , Nov 9
7 December 2004
Members Present: Allen (chair), Geller, Lewis, Mogilevsky, Pilant, Sivakumar, Stecher
Ex-Officio Members Present: Aurispa, Manuel
The meeting began at 10:00 a.m. There were nine announcements and seven topics put up for discussion: Announcements - Enrollment Data, Sigma Xi Nominations, Math Majors Survey, Grade Exclusion Policy, Career Fair, Math 436 – Topology, Regents Scholar Mentors, Atriculation Agreement with Wharton Co. Junior College, Spring Meeting Time. Topics – Math 171-172 Request from POLS, High School Math Contest Report, New Actuarial Science Course Options, Math 482 – Research Seminar, Permanent Scholarship Committee, Honors Program Proposal, Who's Going to College. Below is a summary of each.
Announcements -
Enrollment Data. Dr. Pilant reported on enrollments in our math courses for fall. Enrollment in ENGR service courses is down, the math major sequence enrollment is constant, and math education is up substantially. Upper division enrollment is up substantially due to increases in number of math majors and math minors. Graduate enrollment is up due to Engineering, and Distance Education is up as well. The department faces challenges to cover these increases. Hiring more lectures will be a tough sell with the ongoing faculty reinvestment program.
Sigma Xi Nominations. Dr. Fulling is accepting nominations for Associate Members of Sigma Xi Research Society. Good candidates are those students who have participated in an REU or some other form of research. The nomination form was distributed to each committee member. They should be turned in to Dr. Fulling, as only a current Sigma Xi member can make the nomination.
Math Majors Survey. A hard copy of the online survey form was distributed to the committee. Several changes were suggested, including adding a drop-down menu for students to select their specific major and area of emphasis, and requesting their minor. An email will be sent to the majors in early spring. The online survey will assist in the tracking of our majors for possible scholarship and awards nominations. The link to the survey is: Online Survey
Grade Exclusion Policy. Dr. Gates approved the Grade Exclusion policy that allows students to do up to 3 q-drops postfacto for the 12 month period starting from their first semester here. Graduating seniors in May '05 will be able to see their advisors starting in February 2005 for a grade exclusion. Forms are still in the development stage and will be made available next spring. A link to the full First Year Grade Exclusion Rulecan be found at: Grade Exclusion Policy
Career Fair. The format for the Spring 2005 Career Fair will change from previous years. This years fair will be held on Thursday, February 3rd in the afternoon hours. There will be 2 panel discussions held in rooms on the 6th floor of Blocker. One panel will be from industry and the other made up of former students. Math movies will run all day with popcorn served. Companies will also be able to set up booths outside Blocker 156. For the full career fair plan, see: Career Fair Plan
Math 436 – Topology. After discussion at the November meeting, the prerequisites for Math 436 were changed from Math 409 or consent of instructor to Math 220 and 221 or consent of instructor. The committee unanimously agreed to approve the new course request with this new prerequisite. Dr. Geller did voice concern that the course too closely resembles Math 446. Dr. Stecher asked that substituting Math 436 for Math 410 in the future be brought up at the next meeting. A link to the Math 436 syllabus can be found at: Math 436 Syllabus
Regents Scholar Mentors. For the first time this fall, the university admitted about 20,000 Regents Scholars, who are first generation college-attenders. In an effort to retain these students, departments are able to get their grades earlier, and a Mentor program was established. Committee members were encouraged to go online and sign up to be a Mentor. Mentors are assigned a specific Regent Scholar to mentor.
Atriculation Agreement with Wharton Co. Junior College. David Manuel reported on the atriculation agreement with Wharton County Junior College that is designed to give their students an idea of what courses to take there to best prepare for transferring here. The agreement is a degree plan that will allow their students to complete two years there and automatically transfer here, providing they meet our minimum requirements for admission. This plan should allow them to meet these requirements. David suggested in the math degree plan that students take Math 2318 their last semester as a background course, as no credit is given here for that course. David will change the Math 151/152 listed on the current version of the plan to Math 171/172. A degree plan for both Chemistry and Physics was also developed. For a copy of the degree plans in the agreement, see: BS Math Degree Plan
Spring Meeting Time. Committee members were asked to e-mail Donna Hoffman with their availability for next spring, so a meeting time can be established.
Topics -
Math 171/172 Request from POLS. Pat Hurley, advisor from POLS, requested a special block of Math 171/172 for their majors. This would entail adding at least 3 sections just for POLS majors. Upon further discussion, it was suggested and accepted by POLS that their BS majors enroll in the Math 151/152 series. There are about 25-50 POLS students affected, and the 151/152 sections can easily accommodate them. Dr. Pilant will consider setting up a certain block of sections for their majors.
High School Math Contest Report. This year's contest was held on Saturday, November 20th. Approximately 330 students participated, down from 470 last year. The 20th being the Saturday before Thanksgiving decreased attendance. Dr. Stecher is looking at November 5th for next year, but there is an SAT test and several UIL meets that weekend. The total cost of the event came to $1,866.00. Books were purchased this year that were not purchased last year, otherwise, costs remained about the same. Dr. Stecher will look into raising costs of exams next year, and perhaps a corporate sponsor. Suggested sponsors included Brooks-Cole, or other book companies. Admissions and Records often has money for such outreach events, so a subcommittee will be formed to investigate other funding options for the contest.
New Actuarial Science Course Options. Dr. Lewis has been gathering information on Actuarial Programs at other major universities around the country. He reports that the exams have been renamed to Exam P, FM, and M. Exam P – Probability is the old Exam 1 and we are in good shape preparing our majors for this exam. Math 411 does a good share. Only UT and Florida have programs that prepare students for Exam M, the old Exam 3. They offer seminars and have good success rates. These are very intense seminars. Our goal in establishing an Actuarial Science Program was for recruitment purposes. The committee discussed and the consensus was to go forward with the creation of a Math 489, Actuarial Math course. This course would be designed to focus on helping students pass the first two exams, rather than the third one. An email will be sent out to majors asking those who are interested in this type of course to respond. For a copy of Dr. Lewis report on Preparation for the First Three Actuarial Exams, see: Preparation for First Three Actuarial Exams
Math 482 – Research Seminar. Tabled until next meeting.
Permanent Scholarship Committee. Tabled until next meeting.
Honors Program Proposal. Tabled until next meeting.
Who's Coming to College. Tabled until next meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna L. Hoffman