THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE
                         FACULTY SENATE 

                                                             
Senate Document Number   5796S
Date of Senate Approval  3/28/96

Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

    APC Document 54: General Education Special Topics Course in
Mathematics


Effective Date: Fall 1996

Proposal: The Mathematics Department requests permission to allow
students the option of taking MATH 174, Special Topics: Earth
Algebra (as described below) to satisfy their General Education
Mathematics Course.  Note, this is not a catalogue change.

MATH 174 ST: Earth Algebra 
          College Algebra through the analysis of global warming
          and the greenhouse effect.  Math-in-action.  Students
          will work in small groups, analyzing real data and
          forming real world conclusions.  No prerequisites. 
          Graphing calculator required.


Rationale: Presently students have several choices to satisfy the
general education mathematics requirement.  These include: Math
155, the sequence Math 157/158, Stat 185, or any Mathematics course
numbered 163 or above.  In short, any mathematics course other than
Math 105.  

Ms. Dot Sulock wants to teach an alternative course to the Math
155, Nature of Mathematics.  Her alternative will entail
"historical development generalizations to mathematical theory, and
applications to real life", but unlike Math 155 it will focus on
Algebra.  Since the textbook she will be using is different from
that chosen for Math 155, her course has been offered under a
different number.

The other alternative to this course is Math 163, College Algebra,
has had a precipitous decline in enrollment over these last few
years.  The major reason for this is that community colleges offer
a similar course.  Students can take College Algebra at a community
college for less money, pass it with less effort, and the credit
easily transfers.  Earth Algebra is designed to be more
intellectually stimulating and relevant than the present Math 163. 
  
Impact: There is no major impact to the university.  This course is
an alternative to the standard Math 155, Nature of Mathematics.  If
this course does not carry general education credit, it will
probably be canceled and a new section of MATH 155 will be offered. 

Students who want to take Earth Algebra but who have already taken
Math 163 or Math 155 should be allowed to do so.  The material
should be different enough to justify credit for both courses. 
However, this permission is not a recommendation. 

Students who wish to take Earth Algebra in lieu of Math 163 should
petition their department for the substitution.  The mathematics
department will allow students who pass this course to take Math
164, Trigonometry.