Long-Term Plan, 2003-2005
Mission Statement
The primary mission of the Department of Mathematics
is the transmission, discovery, creation, and expansion
of mathematical knowledge. Its curriculum is designed
to encourage: learning based upon rational inquiry,
problem solving, creativity, and intellectual initiative.
Its instructional thrusts run the gamut from basic skill
development designed to create a mathematically literate
undergraduate populace, to meeting specific educational
needs of students outside the science and technology
establishment, to the creation and delivery of innovative
and effective teacher-training programs, to the engendering
of a strong mathematics knowledge base among those who
will be charged with contributing to both the regional
and national scientific enterprises. In addition, the
members of our graduate faculty are also charged with
the development of new and innovative curricula, with
the expansion of the frontiers of mathematical knowledge,
and with sharing their results with the community at
large via publication and presentation.The undergraduate
program serves students primarily from the southern
region of the state. The students are predominantly
the first members of their family to attend college.
The graduate programs serve a constituency that is broadly-based.
Students are drawn both regionally and internationally.
Vision Statement
The department envisions being the regional leader in
its undergraduate and master’s programs. It will,
with help, creatively and effectively continue to meet
its service obligations, which run the spectrum from
basic skill development to provide specific mathematics
needs of various student groups within and without the
college. It envisions collaboration with scientific
computing in order to create a viable computational
sciences entity, one able to compete successfully in
the region and interact productively with the college's
research efforts.
Goal 1: Attract and maintain a quality,
satisfied undergraduate and graduate body
| Objectives |
Tactics |
| Increase the number of majors in the
undergraduate program by 5%. |
Develop B.S. degree program that mirrors
some of the features of the Potsdam program, like
double-majoring. (Undergraduate Program Committee)
Develop a satisfaction survey of graduates to annually
assess the program's effectiveness. (Chair) |
| Increase enrollment in undergraduate upper-level
courses. |
Develop and offer courses that count in the major
and appeal to students in physics, polymer science,
etc. (Undergraduate Program Committee) |
| Increase enrollment in master’s
level courses. |
Revamp master’s program so that courses
are accessible by both first and second year students.(Graduate
Program Committee)
Increase the number of TAs by utilizing unfilled
TA positions in the college. (Chair)
Designate a faculty member to recruit statewide.
(Chair) |
Goal 2: Encourage scholarly activity
of the graduate faculty
| Objectives |
Tactics |
| Maintain and strive to increase scholarly
activity. |
Papers, presentations, and research efforts are
tracked during annual evaluation and are used in
merit pay and teaching load recommendations. (Chair) |
Goal 3: Recognize the importance of
effective teaching
| Objectives |
Tactics |
| Value quality teaching efforts. |
Recognize teaching during annual evaluation on
a par with scholarship in merit pay decisions. (Chair)
Recognize innovative curricular development, integration
of technology into the curriculum, etc. (Chair)
Value undergraduate research as a major teaching
thrust. (Chair) |
Goal 4: Reinvigorate
Scientific Computing
| Objectives |
Tactics |
| Attract diverse, quality student body. |
Develop tools-based core with as few prerequisites
as possible.(S.C. Coordinator)
Grant certificates to nonscientific computing students
completing the core. (S.C. Coordinator)
|
| Maintain and increase the number of faculty participating
in scientific computing. |
Recognize and value scientific computing efforts
in annual evaluations. (Chair) |
| Maintain and strive to increase research activities. |
Use scientific computing as a mechanism to obtain
external funding for the department. (S.C. Coordinator)
Piggy-back on proposals from polymer science, chemistry,
etc. (S.C. Coordinator) |
Goal 5: Maintain quality service effort
| Objective |
Tactic |
| Have sufficient number of instructors. |
Class Schedule for AY 2003-2004 and past enrollment
data will be used to buttress the claim that this
department needs to increase its staffing. (Chair)
Use TAs to run recitation sections for MAT 099 and
MAT 101. (Chair) |
Goal 6: Assess Student Outcomes
| Objective |
Tactic |
| Graduates of the B.S. programs and M.S. program
will demonstrate that they meet their respective
program objectives. |
Develop an assessment instrument for the MATHBS
program. (Chair and Graduate Faculty)
Develop an assessment instrument for the MATHLBS
program. (Chair of the Mathematics Education Committee
and Graduate Faculty)
Develop an assessment instrument for the MATHMS
program. (Graduate Program Coordinator and Graduate
Faculty) |
| It is expected that 80% of the students outside
the science and technology establishment will improve
their mathematical thinking and communication skills. |
Develop an assessment instrument. (Mathematics
Faculty) |
| It is expected that 80% of the elementary education
majors will gain competence in required mathematics
content and be able to apply appropriate technology. |
Develop an assessment instrument. (Mathematics
Education Committee) |
