COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO After a 30-year stay in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, the Math Department will return to its roots in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, according to the respective deans of the colleges.
The primarily administrative move will not affect current students and will take place July 1, 2006. Students who enroll for the Fall 2006 semester will follow general education guidelines for the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the largest of six colleges at UCCS.
“Historically, math is a core discipline of a liberal arts education,” Tom Christensen, dean, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, said. “This is a logical transition of math coursework and a close alignment with related disciplines, particularly in the sciences.”
A faculty committee is studying differences between student general education requirements of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Minor differences are anticipated. Current math majors will follow requirements set by the College of Engineering and Applied Science in effect when they were admitted.
“Math remains a cornerstone of a high-quality engineering education,” Jere Haefner, dean, Engineering and Applied Sciences, said. “This move is simply a better fit academically. Dean Christensen, the faculty, the staff, and I are committed to making this as seamless as possible for students.”
The Mathematics Department previously was part of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences but moved to the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences in the mid-1970s, according to university archives.
UCCS, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 25 bachelor’s degrees, 17 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 7,600 students annually.