The minutes of the Fall Semester 1987 are not available. Undergraduate Affairs Committtee Meeting of February 12, 1988 The Committee met at 1 P.M. in 143 Altgeld Hall. Present were: Benson, Dornhoff, Evans, Helms, Paley, Peressini, Uhl, Wetzel, and Weinberg. 1. Organization. There was a discussion of matters of procedure and organization of the committee for the semester, as well as topics for future consideration. Nominations were taken for a student member. A decision was made to request a replacement for D'Angelo who is on leave. 2. Specialized Curricula. The proposed Specialized Curriculum in Mathematics and the Sciences has been returned to the department with letters detailing the objections to the proposal from Dean Prokasy and Assistant Dean Peck. The committee expressed support of this or some suitably modified special curriculum and agreed to request the subcommittee that made the original proposal to prepare a reply to the college. Arguments were made in support of some stronger degree program in Mathematics. A request that the department propose a specialized curriculum in Actuarial Science was deferred for consideration at a later date. 3. The Calculus. There was discussion of the possibility of revision of the Calculus sequence. This might include an alternative third semester in discrete mathematics as proposed by a joint committee with engineering last year. 4. Major and Minors in Mathematics. One committee meeting will be devoted to this topic later in the semester, after which the detail work will be turned over to a subcommittee. 5. Math 134. In response to an objection by Larry Dornhoff to the undemanding text, a subcommittee was established to look into this course. The subcommittee is to include Dornhoff, Paley, Peressini, and two graduate students. The meeting was adjourned at 1:52. The next meeting will be held on Friday, February 19, 1988. Subsequent meetings will be held biweekly. Respectfully submitted by Elliot Weinberg. Undergraduate Affairs Committtee Meeting of February 19, 1988 1 P.M., 143 Altgeld Hall. The meeting was called to order by the Chair, Professor Wetzel. Present were: Appel, Benson, Dornhoff, Evans, Helms, Odle, Paley, Peressini, Uhl, Wetzel, and Weinberg. 1. The new undergraduate representative on the committee, Ms Connie Odle was introduced. Ms. Odle is a senior in the combined program of Arts and Letters and Math Education. 2. The membership of the committee to study Math 134 was announced: L. Dornhoff, E. Portnoy, H. Paley, A. Peressini, D. Evans, and R. Thurmond. 3. It was proposed that credit be allowed for both Math 311 and Math 383. Although 311 may not be offered in the future, the question is of concern because students who have already taken the course would benefit from 383 in preparing for an actuarial exam. Since the proposal would effect only a few students, it was felt that this could be handled by petition. The proposal was returned to Professor Portnoy for further consideration. 4. The publication of a new edition of Salas and Hille provoked a brief discussion of the calculus sequence 135-245. It was suggested that a reduction of the standard calculus sequence from 11 to 10 hours might eventually be in order (see the discussion of Discrete Mathematics in paragraph (4) ) and that any changes proposed could be considered independent of the proposal for the calculus grant which is in the works, 5. There was an open discussion of a prospective freshman-sophomore level course in discrete mathematics and elementary matrix algebra. This would be based on a report by the Task Force on Discrete Mathematics of May, 1987. Professor West has written to the committee indicating that a text may now exist for such a course. This course could satisfy several needs on campus. It would make available several alternative paths beyond the calculus for students Calculus... \b\lc\{(\a\al( Discrete Math..., 343(for Engineers) or 247(for Mathematicians)..., Differential Equations...)) It would allow us to eliminate Math 225. The task force actually recommended a new Mathematics core for Engineering consisting of 10 hours of calculus, discrete math, and differential equations. The difficulties inherent in staffing 5 hour calculus sections were mentioned. There is a feeling that the Discrete Math course can be introduced on an experimental basis before any changes in the calculus are instituted. The discussion is to be continued. 6. EE/CS 362 (formerly Math 391) is to be cross-listed with Mathematics. 7. Tentatively agreed to cap Math 319 at 3 sections in the fall. The meeting was adjourned at 1:50. The next meeting is planned for Friday, March 4, 1988. Respectfully submitted, Elliot Weinberg. Undergraduate Affairs Committtee Meeting of March 4, 1988 1 P.M., 143 Altgeld Hall. Present: Appel, Dornhoff, Evans, Helms, Odle, Paley, Uhl, Weinberg, and Wetzel. 1. The committee approved the following resolution: The last sentence of the published description of Math 311, Actuarial Linear Techniques, which reads "Credit is not given for both Mathematics 311 and either 315 or 383." should be changed as of the date of creation of the course in the spring of 1983 to read "Credit is not given for both Mathematics 311 and 315." 2. A proposal by Professor Rotman to consolidate the syllabus for 242 was referred to the course captain for comment. 3. The summer book list was approved with one change: The Math 361 text will be replaced by Elementary Probability Theory with Stochastic Processes, 3rd ed. Chung Springer-Verlag 4. Professor Uhl used the appearance of a new text to propose that a more computationally oriented version of Math 315 be considered. This will receive further consideration along with 225. 5. The calculus sequence and discrete math discussion continued. Professors Paley, Wetzel, and Weinberg will go through the current syllabi to see if there is a reasonable way to trim the existing sequence to 10 hours. The syllabus for the proposed discrete math course was criticized for being so inclusive as to exclude the possibility of anything but superficial coverage of the topics proposed. Professor Helms reported on the reaction of the Engineering-Math liason committee to the report of the Task Force on Discrete Mathematics. It evoked a mixed response, some welcoming a reduction of the calculus sequence, but many concerned about whether the topics of interest to them would be lost. There was a feeling that the discrete math course would not find much interest outside of computer science. One member of the liason committee said that the Dean of Engineering has committed himself to providing staff for Discrete Math. Professor Helms suggests that these proposals together with the elimination of boundary value problems from Math 285 would each have their detractors depending upon the department concerned. Apparently a broader based task force in engineering might look into the effect of such changes on their college. The meeting was adjourned at 1:50. Respectfully submitted, Elliot Weinberg. Undergraduate Affairs Committtee. Meeting of March 25, 1988. Attending: Benson, Dornhoff, Helms, Odle, Paley, Weinberg, Wetzel. 1. Changes in Math 371& Math 372 have been proposed by Professor Portnoy in order to bring these courses into line with current practice in the actuarial profession: Math 371 becomes a 4 hour course, Math 308 is added to the list of prerequisites, the content has been modified, and catalogue descriptions of the two courses have been changed. The proposal was approved. Math 371. Actuarial Theory, I. Distribution of the time-to-death random variable for a single life, and its implication for evaluations of insurance and annuity functions, net premiums, and reserves. Prerequisites: Mathematics 308 and 310. 4 hours or 1 unit Math 372. Actuarial Theory, II. Extension of the ideas of Math 371 into other areas of actuarial mathematics, such as multi-life functions, multiple- decrement models, pension valuations, expense margins, nonforfeiture benefits, casualty contingencies. Prerequisite: Mathematics 371. 3 hours or 1 unit. 2. The proposal from Dean Peck for a course outline for Math 103, Intermediate Algebra Review, was discussed. Problems were raised concerning wording. It was suggested that 103 be interweaved with 112 in a special section for Transition students. The proposal was returned to Prof. Peck for clarification. 3. The ad hoc committee on the calculus reported that the current text could not be stripped to a 10 hour course. The possibility of doing so with another text was left open. 4. The report of the task force on Discrete Mathematics was 'rediscussed'. The consensus is that the sweep of recommendations of the task force are interesting but not feasible and that the lack of a request from Engineering for implementation or further consideration relieves pressure for immediate action. An experimental section of a freshman discrete math course is a possibility. 5. Professor Dornhoff reported the 134 committee's text choice for Math 134: Applied Calculus, An Intuitive Approach. Faber, Freedman, and Kaplan; West Publ. Co. 6. Other texts mentioned: 247 Marsden and Tromba. A 3rd edition is due out this spring. Moreover, the text and indeed the course content are still under review. The text will be listed as undecided. 347 Ross. Professor Helms currently teaching the course indicates that he would oppose a change in the text. The text will be retained in the fall. 344 Protter and Morrey. The text is being used for the first time and is still being evaluated. The text will be listed as undecided. 352 Professor Osborn has announced the choice of Spivak, Calculus on Manifolds, for the fall semester. Respectfully submitted, Elliot Weinberg. Undergraduate Affairs Committtee. Meeting of May 6, 1988. Attending: Appel, Benson, Evans, Odle, Paley, Peressini, Weinberg, Wetzel. 1. The chair reported that Math 103, Intermediate Math Review, has been approved by the LAS Committee on Courses and Curricula. Professor Peressini suggested that the course be retitled Elementary Algebra Review. The proposal was approved. 2. The ad hoc committee for Math 134 suggested replacing exponential growth in the syllabus by some work in statistics. The UAC rejected the proposal. Professor Appel reported that a course captain would be assigned to 134 in the fall. This should decrease the very large spread in testing and grading standards applied to the course. 3. The ad hoc committee for Math 225 reported on the choice of a text for next year: Elementary Linear Algebra, Edwards and Penney (Prentice-Hall 1988). The UAC discussed the chaotic sequence of linear algebra courses: 125, 225, 315, 318. The pair 225, 315 cause the most concern. With the strengthening of 225 it becomes more difficult to countenance credit for both 225 and 315. Various options for handling this problem were proposed. The matter was left for next years committee. 4. The algebra area committee forwarded a proposal that the prerequisites for Math 318 be changed to read: Math 317 or consent of the instructor. The proposal was approved. 5. The committee expressed its opinion that Math 285 be counted as an acceptable optional course in the mathematics curricula (options: general and graduate preparatory) Respectfully submitted, Elliot Weinberg.