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

5 April 2006

Members Present: Allen (chair), Geller, Lewis, Mogilevsky, Pilant, K. Smith, Stecher

Ex-Officio Members Present: Bergstresser, DeBlassie

Members Absent:  Rojas

The meeting began at 10:00a.m. There were two annoucements and eight topics put up for discussion: Announcements –  Math 302 Revisions. Topics – Graduation with "Distinction in Mathematics," Math 367 for Math Majors, Math 304 - What are we Teaching?, Math 433 - Suggested Changes, Honors Scholarship Plan, Credit for Calculus - Math 285 Connection, and Other Business. Below is a summary of each.

Announcements-

Math 302 Revisions. The Computer Science Department has requested some changes to Math 302, a course their second semester freshman take.  Committee members, Drs. Allen, Hobbs, Geller, Aguiar, Hensley, met to discuss a "wishlist" submitted by Dr. Jennifer Welch in CPSC.  After a review of their "wishlist, " a memo dated 3/10/06 has been sent to Dr. Welch outlining some revisions that we are willing to make to Math 302.  To view the memo, click here.

Topics -

Graduation with "Distinction in Mathematics."  Dr. Geller submitted the following description for a student to graduate with the internal designation of "Distinction in Mathematics." 
                                       
                            To earn Distinction in Mathematics, a student needs to have completed five of the seven required courses for honors in math including at least one at the 400 level
                                        or higher; earned at least a 2.5 GPA and at least a 3.25 in the honors courses with all grades in the honors courses being a B or an A.

Dr. Stecher suggested that the wording state, "at least one honors course at the 400 level," and to make a note that only regular courses qualify, no honors contract courses are allowed.   Dr. Geller plans to make the suggested changes and will update the Honors Webpage to reflect this new designation for graduates.

Math 367 for Math Majors.  After a discussion, it was decided that Drs. Mogilevsky and Allen would work on the development or revision of a new Eucledian Geometry course, bearing in mind that the Education Department would need to have some input and not be in favor of any major changes to the current Math 367.

Math 304 - What are we Teaching? Math 304 is a feeder course for Math 423 and students currently taking 304 are not being taught proofs, that are needed for success in Math 423.  The issue is to establish a standard level of teaching for the course that contains some theoretical aspects.  After a brief discussion, a subcommittee consisting of Drs. Allen, K. Smith, and Stecher was established to study revisions to Math 304.

Math 433 - Suggested Changes.  Dr. Petrenko is in support of following the direction of MIT and upgrading Math 433 to a 4-hour course and including a teaching assistant.  The issue with changing the course to 4 hours would be in finding a faculty member to teach the course.  After a discussion, committee members decided not to change the number of hours, since the course description is being changed in the upcoming Undergraduate Course Catalog.

Honors Scholarship Plan.  The Scholarship Committee plans to meet in the next few weeks to review eleven Honors applications and to award ~$5,000 in one-year scholarships to incoming freshman.

Credit for Calculus - Math 285 Connection.  Dr. Arthur Hobbs writes below regarding the issue of transfer credit for core curriculum math courses:
            "Several community colleges in Texas and elsewhere offer the 12 credits of engineering calculus in the form of 4 3-credit courses. Several students per semester come in with 2 of those courses, asking that the 6 credits they took be counted as the mathematics requirement of the many departments which specify the core curriculum minimum as their requirement. The two 3-credit courses until now have been listed as Math 151 plus two (useless) math credits. The students have been required to take another math course, usually Math 141 or 166. Now one of the advisors has suggested that those two extra math credits be given as a directed studies course (Math 285), thus fulfilling the 6 credit math requirement. Out of fairness to quite a few students who have taken Math 141 because they could not use those two math credits, I would prefer not to allow this usage. In addition, Math 285 is not meant to be used for teaching the first half of Math 152, to which this proposal would amount. Finally, I think it a desirable thing that the mathematics of these students be more diversified than two 3-credit calculus courses would be. But the question is really of departmental policy in the allowable uses of Math 285. I am therefore asking the Undergraduate Program Committee for a decision in this case."

After a discussion, the committee agreed that giving the students Math 285 credit will not work, but they came up with the proposal to create an exam that if passed would give the student 2 credits of Math 289.  The exam will be developed to test the student over the first half of Math 152.  It will be a reasonable test, adapted from the common exams for Math 152.  The test will be developed within the next few weeks and taken to MARS for administration.  The Regristrar's Office will be consulted to make sure that 2 credits of Math 289 will be accepted.

Other Business. The latest enrollment figures for the fall were handed out to each committee member.  The number of applications and admittances for both MATH and APMS majors (33) are down this year.  A letter of encouragement to attend Texas A&M is being sent by the College.  Dr. Allen suggested phoning prospects and Dr. Poenisch is being contacted for names.  To view the enrollment report, click here.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna L. Hoffman