EPC minutes for Nov. 30, 2004

 

Members present: Kim Bennett, Kari Rogers, Dan Zeimet, Ragene Gwin, Tom Hill, Dave O’Connell, Martin Hansen, Barb Wiese, Lori Rodriguez-Fisher, Brenda Peters, Jeremy Burke, Bill Hixon, Corinne Winter

 

Absent: Mara Adams

 

Guests: Mike Hustedde, Debbie Detrick, Kathy Potter, Victor Vega, Brad Thiessen, Tom Anderson

 

I.                    Clarification – The following proposal by DBA has passed by email discussion and vote:

DBA: 990 Dissertation 12 credits*

The dissertation is the culmination of the student’s academic achievements, and represents an original contribution by the student to the field of management.  The dissertation is the student’s major research project.

 

  • The dissertation requires a minimum of 12 credits.  Students who have successfully completed written and oral comprehensive exams are in the dissertation phase of the program.  Students in that phase must register for at least 2 credits during fall and spring semesters until the dissertation is completed.  If a student is actively engaged in dissertation work during summer months, that student must register for a minimum of 1 credit hour during that time period.  If a student has earned 12 dissertation credits and has not yet defended the dissertation, he or she must register for either 1 or 2 credit hours until the dissertation is completed.  A student who has substantial work to complete on the dissertation (e.g., collecting data, analyzing data, substantial writing to be completed) will be required to register for 2 credit hours.  A student who has only minimal work to be completed (e.g., minor revisions to the dissertation) will be required to register for 1 credit hour.  The number of required registration credit hours will be determined by the dissertation chair after discussion with the student as to the remaining work to be completed.  In the event that 12 credits have been earned and the student has completed the dissertation with the exception of the oral defense, the student does not need to register for course credits if the defense will occur in the following semester. 

 

The DBA proposal is an elaboration of requirements already in the catalogue.

 

 

II.                 Math Department Program Review

 

Motion to approve – Barb Wiese,  Second – Dave O’Connell

 

 

The following proposed actions are included in the review:

 

Create five new courses

1)      Math 220  Introduction to Logic and Proof, 3 credits, WI. 

2)      Math 230  Topics in Mathematics, 3 cr.

3)      Math 305, Data analysis, 3 cr.

4)      Math 375 – Complex analysis, 3 cr.

5)      Math 395 – 396 Mathematics Seminar, 1 cr. each, WI.

 

Eliminate

1)      Math 350 – History of Mathematics  3 cr.

2)      Math 601 Topics in Mathematics Education 3 cr.

3)      (Proposal to eliminate Math 499 – Internship -- withdrawn by email)

 

Change titles

1)      Math 171 – Elementary Functions  to Math 171, Precalculus

2)      Math 290 – Linear Algebra, to Math 290 Elementary Linear Algebra

 

Change pre-requisites

1)      For Math 290 change from Math 192 to Math 191

2)      For Math 370  Change from Math 192 to Math 192, Math 220, and Math 290

3)      Math 380  Change from Math 192 (or consent of instructor) to Math 220 or Math 290

 

Change of credits  - Math 152 from 2 to 3 credits

 

Renumber Math 121 to Math 095 and change credit status to match that of Math 090

 

Transfer the WI responsibilities from Math 300 to Math 220 and Math 395-396.

 

 

Change to Mathematics major 

 

Currently – at least 35 credits in mathematics.  With six specified courses:  Math 191, 192, 290, 300, 370, 380.  Students then choose 5 electives.  Two computer science courses are also required

 

Proposed changes:  Increase the number of specified math courses to include Math 220, and Math 320.  Decrease the number of electives from 5 to 3.  Add math 395 and 396 – Math seminar to the requirements for a net addition of two math credits. 

 

Further, eliminate one required computer science course and substitute

 

For Mathematics education, eliminate Math 350 and substitute Math 220.  Increase electives from 2 to 3 for a net increase of 3 credits in the requirements for the major. 

 

For Math minors, add Math 290 and Math 300 as required courses and reduce electives from 4 to 2 for no change in the number of credits in the minor.

 

 

Discussion:

The proposed actions represent the Math Dept’s work to tighten the major which they saw as including too many electives, some of which were poorly chosen by majors.

 

Question – what is the difference between MATH 090 (currently on the books) and the proposed 095 – a re-numbering of 121? 

 

Math 090 is a review of material generally covered in intermediate grades.  The numbers who need such severe remediation are going down, but a need for the course persists.  MATH 095 still covers material that is not yet at a college level.  The comparable course at Scott Community College is numbered 096 and many other colleges offer a similar course similarly numbered, demonstrating a conviction that a course basically reviewing high school level math should not count toward college graduation.   Like MATH 090, the course will count as 3 credits toward eligibility for financial aid.

 

Will this affect other departments?  Not likely since the general education requirement is for a course above the current 121 in any case.

 

Concerning the new WI courses, Mike Hustedde spoke of his work with the Math department on what he describes as a unique proposal to address writing skills in the field of mathematics.  He approves the proposal.   There was a brief discussion of the fact that the 300-level WI in Math will be only 2 credits.  That does not violate the WI policy which simply calls for a 300 (or above) level WI course in the major.  Nursing has a 2-credit course.  Could the use of 395-396 suggest that a transfer student could use the one 2-semester seminar to cover the 2-course WI requirement? Dan Zeimet said that could happen and the proposal was changed to use the number 395 for both semesters of the seminar.  Dan Zeimet said it could be worked out in the graduation audit to make sure a math major had both semesters of 395. 

 

Should the pre-requisite for MATH 395 be MATH 220 since both are WI and 395 should build on 220?  The department agreed that would be a good idea.

 

How many majors does the department serve each year?  The estimate is that the numbers are in the low 20’s with 4 – 6 of those being MATH majors and the rest being math education. 

 

Question – what was the problem with MATH 350?  The course called Math history ended up having neither a solid math content nor a solid history content and was sometimes taken as an elective for the wrong reasons.

 

Question – how should pre-PT students be advised to fulfill the MATH requirement?  Do any of the new courses qualify?  The sense is that PT wants MATH 152 – Trigonometry.

 

Question – The review proposes that MATH EDUCATION majors should select a science course from a list that includes the first semester of a two-semester sequence in Biology or Chemistry.  Is that a good idea?  The desire was that every student would take a serious science course intended for science majors since they receive a BS.  The department amended its proposal to require all their majors to take one two-semester sequence in a science.  It would be ideal for all MATH majors to take Physics 251/252 as it offers the best example of mathematics application, but the department wants to be somewhat more flexible. 

 

The Director of General Education stated that the materials required for that portion of the review were complete.  Courses marked as Gen Ed include MATH 131, 151, 171, 210.

 

Regarding the assessment plan, the department has dropped its earlier use of a computer program.  It has been found less useful that it was earlier, not only at SAU but elsewhere. 

 

The review lists teaching objectives.  How are those assessed?  They are not.  They stand as goals for members of the department. 

 

Are there any problems with the portfolios?  For example, given that some declare a major late in their careers, could they end up missing materials from earlier courses?  The instructor for MATH 220 will retain the final exams for all students so that those will be available to students if they declare a major later in their career.    Also, with the addition of MATH 220, the department hopes to encourage earlier declaration of majors. 

 

The department stated their intention to assess their assessment plan every other year.

 

The review was passed with the following revisions:

 

MATH 395 (WI) will have a pre-requisite of MATH 220 (WI)

The seminar will be numbered MATH 395 – to be taken twice.  The number 396 will not be used.

Math Education majors will be required to take one of the science sequences just as the Math majors are.

The department will send the 4-point outline for MATH 499 (Internship)

 

The meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.  The next meeting will be in the Spring semester.