MINUTES
Math Department Meeting
August 29, 2000
1. Pilots for InterActive Math/Academic Systems in Spring.
Dan and Nick will teach basic algebra and intermediate
algebra in the spring, using Academic Systems. No one will
be piloting ActiveMath at this time.
2. Graphing calculator for MTH 098
Only Mary Ann's two sections of 098 will use the graphing
calculator in the spring.
3. ACT scores
Currently 23 is the ACT cutoff score to exempt students from
having to take the math placement exam. The question is
whether to change the cutoff score to 22. Cathy distributed
material relating to the question. She will bring additional
material to the next meeting to help us decide.
4. Future Math Department meeting dates/times.
Future meetings will be on Tuesdays at 2:15: October 10,
November 7 and December 5. Judy Jobe and Gloria will be
invited to the October 10 meeting. One topic of discussion
will be the math department's needs for new faculty in the next
few years.
5. Catalog changes
Cathy will present to the Curriculum Committee the following
proposed changes:
A. MTH 115 - Computer Programming, FORTRAN
Delete this course, since we no longer teach it, nor
do we intend to in the future.
B. MTH 120 - Statistics
Prerequisite and content changes to conform to the
IAI statistics course (BUS 901)
6. Subcommittees for revising course outlines
Les and Alexa will revise the MTH 096 course outline this
semester. Next semester the MTH 112 outline will be
revised.
7. AMATYC Math Contest at ECC
Three exams will be given during the school year. Students
who have completed college algebra should be encouraged to
take the exams.
8. College Night
Les and Dan volunteered to sit at the ECC Math and Science
table during at College Night this year (Oct 3). Les will
update the math brochure to offer at the table. Also, current
textbooks will be displayed, and the department will offer a TI
calculator to be raffled.
9. Summer Institute for K-12 teachers to use for recertification.
K-12 teachers who need to be recertified now must put in
hours at workshops to qualify. The math department is
encouraged to participate in offering one or more summer
workshops that would help meet this need. More information
will be coming. Gary noted that offering such workshops
raises many questions but he is interested in finding out more
about the proposal.
10. Northwestern Research
Northwestern University is doing research and will be
conducting some surveys during sessions of MTH 096 and
MTH 098: one day 096, one evening 096, one day 098 and
one evening 098. The surveys will take about 20 minutes of a
class period. Dates of the surveys will be made known
beforehand. Questions will relate to students' present and
future goals, etc. ECC will benefit from the research by
receiving a report of the results.
11. TI calculator report from MaryAnn.
Mary Ann will order 83+'s this semester. As of December 31,
only the TI 83+ will be offered gratis to us from TI.
12. Tutor-lunch
Math faculty are invited to a lunch to get to know ECC's tutors.
The lunch will be September 29, 11:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m..
13. Books on reserve
Les has placed the Angel student solutions manual and the
Angel CD on reserve in the library.
14. Retention grant
ECC has a grant to address the issue of retention. Dan told
John Coffin that he would work with Judy Mavros on how to
reduce the drop-out rate in math.