A-Senate votes to eliminate mathematics minor, adds seat for Global Campus representative

Senator Thornton writes notes during the Academic Senate meeting in Pearce 138 on Tuesday, October 2. (Zach Wittman/Staff Photographer)

The Academic Senate voted Tuesday to eliminate  the B.S. and B.A. mathematics minor from Central Michigan University’s undergraduate curriculum.

The decision to delete the program was part of a discussion brought before the Senate by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee on whether to delete mathematics minors along with the Computer Science and Mathematics major, B.S. and B.A.

“We feel coerced to do that,” said Donna Ericksen, a mathematics professor. “We wish we did not have to delete it. We’re following what we’re supposed to do, whether we like it or not.”

Lal Singh, a computer science professor, explained the minor will be dropped because of priorities within the department. He said there is low undergraduate enrollment in the minor and that it takes very little department effort to run the program.

“Very few students are enrolled in it, and it takes zero extra resources,” he said.

The decision concerning the deletion of the Computer Science and Mathematics major was voted to be postponed to the next Academic Senate meeting.

In other action, the A-Senate approved the creation of a senator position on A-Senate for a member of CMU’s Global Campus.

Andrew Spencer, a music professor, said he felt that Global Campus should be represented in the university decision-making processes.

“It is wise to include someone who is in charge of that significant chunk of our students,” Spencer said in favor of the motion.

A-Senate did not pass the inclusion of a senate seat for the Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services.

Academic Senate also approved electronic balloting for future amendment voting.