UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES COMMITTEE MINUTES

2001:Apr 10, Sept 12, Nov 13

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, Dec 7,

2005: Jan 27, Mar 10, Oct 26, Dec 9

2006: Feb 15 , Apr 5 , Oct 25 , Nov 15 ,

2007: Jan 30 , Feb 27, Apr 10, May 1 Oct 1 Nov 1

2008: Jan 1

4 March 2008

Members Present: Allen, Howard, Larson (chair), Petrova, Stecher

Members Absent:  Geller, Mogilevsky

Ex-Officio Members Present:  DeBlassie

The meeting began at 3:30 p.m. There were three topics put up for discussion: Topics –  Change of Math Electives in BS Math Degree Plan, Senior Projects, and Discusion of APMS Degree Plan.  Below is a summary of each.

Topics-

Change of Math Electives in BS Math Plan. Dr. Larson reported on changes made to Catalog 131 for the BS in Math degree plan. There were two major changes, one being the reqirement of Math 415 rather than an option of either Math 415 or 433. The decision to make this change was approved at the January 31 meeting. Due to time constraints, approval for the second change was done via email with committee members. The statement, "Students are required to take at least one of math 427, 431, 436, 439" was added. This change will not only allow students to take a true "topics" course, it also helps with enrollment management in clases that have previously had low enrollments, leading to cancellation of the course offering. Each of the four courses will be taught every two years. Effort will be made to schedule the 4xx level courses at times that do not conflict with each other.

Senior Projects. The departments of Chemistry and Engineering both require graduating seniors to have completed a senior project. Requiring a senior project would put the department at this same level and boost the image of the degree plans. After a discussion, the following courses could potentially fulfill this requirement. These are:
*Math 442 - Math Modeling
*Math 491 - Research
*Math 482 - Research Seminar
*Math 419 - Introduction to Actuarial Science
*Math 490 - Putnam Challenge (taken twice)
*Math 414 - Fourier Series Wavelets
*Math 417 - Numerical Analysis
*TEFB 429 - Student Teaching

The senior project would be fulfilled with enrollment in classes designated as senior project classes, nothing further is required of the student. Dr. Allen suggested that a request go out to faculty for volunteers who would be willing to be a project mentor if a student prefers to do a one-on-one project with a faculty member. Another idea to promote faculty involvement in teaching a project course would be to give them preference in selection of instructors for the courses on the project list. No definite decision was made on making the project a requirement, further discussion will continue at the April meeting. This requirement can not be added until Catalog 132, or Fall 2009, so there is plenty of time to discuss the proposal.

Discussion of APMS Degree Plan. Dr. Larson led brief discussion on loosening the restrictions on the APMS degree plans. Further discussion will continue at next month's meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna L. Hoffman