TO:  Mathematics Education Committee
RE:  Meeting of 13 March 1996
 
Members present:  Johnny Hill, Bob Kansky, Kristen Brennen, Joe Kennedy, Dave
Kullman, Cathie Mulligan, Bill Rouse, Jerry Stonewater, Tammy Walker
 
1.  Request for Reallocation of Alberta Wolfe Monies
 
At the request of Jerry Stonewater, the agenda was altered to first consider
his request that a maximum of $2500 of the approximately $7000 of Alberta
Wolfe monies available for Summer 1996 graduate student stipends be
reallocated for a special use in Fall 1996.  Specifically, Stonewater moved
the approval of a one-time request for the use of the Wolfe monies to support
a half-time graduate student for one semester to assist him with two projects:
(1) evaluation of the program effectiveness of the Math Institute and (2)
initiation of a calculus reform project in four Cincinnati area high schools;
Johnny Hill seconded the motion.
 
Joe Kennedy expressed concern over the loss of student stipends at a time when
summer enrollments in the MAT program are declining.  It was questioned
whether the Wolfe funds could be used for such a purpose; Dave Kullman agreed
to check the details.  Johnny Hill noted that $2500 would cover the stipend
but not a fee waiver; he suggested that funding to cover the waiver and,
perhaps, to reduce the amount drawn from the Wolfe monies, might be secured
from the Institute for Educational Renewal of the School of Education and
Applied Professions.  Hil and Stonewater agreed to pursue that option.
 
On the understanding that Kullman will investigate that legalities of the
request and that Hill and Stonewater will seek monies from the IER, the
committee recommended the one-time reallocation of a maximum of $2500 by a
vote of 8 to 1.
 
Dave Kullman noted that some of the graduate assistantships in the Department
are held by MAT students.  None are research assistantships; departmental
policy does not permit such assistantships.  However, depending upon the
credit hours of the course each is assigned to teach, remaining work hours are
assigned to other activities.  It was agreed that, especially in anticipation
of the arrival of Jane Keiser, some of these hours should be given to support
of mathematics education projects of the faculty (such as the ones being
undertaken by Jerry).
 
2.  Christofferson Prizes
 
Bob Kansky circulated copies of the announcement and application blank being
used for identification of two secondary education Christofferson Prize
recipients.  The materials have been mailed to 35 eligible students.
 
Members of the Committee expressed interest in revising the selection
procedure to eliminate the self-nomination aspect.  The general consensus was
that candidates for the prizes should be nominated by the faculty ; candidates
then should be requested to submit supporting information.  Since
"contributions to the profession of mathematics education" is a selection
criterion, the request for support materials from the nominees is necessary in
order to identify contributions that are made outside the usual university
focal points (e.g., MUCTM).
 
In the past, the two prizes awarded have been designated "first" and "second"
and have been for differing amounts based upon that distinction.  Kansky
requested that, at least for this year, the amounts be the same since
distinctions made on the limited data available are likely to be false.  It
was suggested that future announcements of the prizes might use wording such
as "one or more Christofferson Prizes," making it possible to award only one
prize if two solid candidates cannot be identified and to leave the monetary
size and order designation of the prizes to the selection committee.
 
3.  Report on Early Childhood Licensure Proposal
 
Kansky reported that letters from the Committee had been sent to
Representatives Fox and Krebs, Senator Synder, members of the Senate Education
Committee, and members of the State Board of Education.  An I-hear-you
response was received from Senator Synder.  Discussion of the matter is
ongoing in Columbus.
 
4.  Next Meeting of the Committee
 
The next meeting of the Committee will be at 4 pm on Wednesday, April 17.
Kansky urged that the Committee use that meeting to address the issues
surrounding the statistics component of mathematics education.