MUCTM

The Miami University Council of Teachers of Mathematics is dedicated to the improvement of professional preparation for teachers of school mathematics thus improving teaching and learning of school mathematics for all students at all levels. For details on membership and other activities, visit the organization's website or contact the chapter advisor, Dr. Harper.

Pi Mu Epsilon

The purpose of Pi Mu Epsilon, the national mathematics honorary, is the promotion of scholarly activities in mathematics and statistics and service to the Mathematics and Statistics Departments. At the monthly meetings, invited speakers present topics of interest to the members, generally at the undergraduate level, or discuss graduate school, jobs in industry, or material in new courses. Cash awards of up to $100 are made each year to sophomores scoring highest on an examination prepared and graded by the chapter. Members are funded to attend the national convention each summer. Each fall the chapter holds a regional student conference at Miami.

Members of the chapter are undergraduate and graduate students and faculty. An undergraduate must have completed Calculus III and either Linear Algebra (MTH 222) or Elements of Discrete Mathematics (MTH 231) or equivalents, have a cumulative average of at least 3.0 in Mathematics and Statistics, and an overall GPA of at least 3.0. Initiation dues are $35.00, which includes both the national and local levels. This also includes two issues of the national Pi Mu Epsilon Journal. There are no other dues. Undergraduates meeting the requirements are invited to join; please contact the department secretaries for details (529-5818, 123 BAC).

Student Advisory Board

The Department of Mathematics has a Student Advisory Board composed of four students, two undergraduates and two graduate students. Of the two undergraduate members, one is chosen by Pi Mu Epsilon from among students in the College of Arts and Science, and the other is chosen by MUCTM from among students in the School of Education, Health & Society. The two graduate student members are chosen by the graduate students in Mathematics. The Graduate Director will ensure that the selection of the graduate student members takes place by early September, and the faculty advisors of Pi Mu Epsilon and MUCTM will do the same regarding selection of undergraduate students from their respective organizations. One of the two undergraduate members of SAB serves on the Undergraduate Committee, and one of the two graduate student members of SAB serves on the Graduate Committee.

The Department of Statistics has a Student Advisory Board composed of two students, one undergraduate and one graduate student. The undergraduate student is chosen by the department chair and the graduate student is elected by the graduate students in statistics.

In both Mathematics and Statistics, the term of each student is for one year. Reappointment may be made. The members of the Student Advisory Board are invited to attend all department meetings except during the discussion and vote on student awards and faculty leaves. When in attendance they have full voting privileges except on personnel decisions.

Awards Night Banquet

One night each April the faculty and students in Mathematics and Statistics gather for an Awards Banquet. Faculty contributions make it possible to reduce the students’ dinner costs. Afterwards, the cash prizes and scholarships are awarded. There are also book and journal awards and accolades for all who have been recognized by the faculty.

Tutoring and Paper Grading

Various jobs are available in the Department of Mathematics, the Department of Statistics, and the Office of Learning Assistance. For further information, ask the secretaries in the department offices 123 BAC or 311 UPH.

Colloquia and Conferences

Every fall, the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Statistics host a conference focusing on some topic of interest to the math/stat community. Nationally recognized speakers are invited, and many talks are also given by other attendees. In addition, there are special sessions of talks presented by students from Miami and other universities, with no restriction on the topic. Miami students are welcome to attend all presentations associated with the conference.

Problems Seminars

Problems Seminars [MTH 330, 430; STA 471] are small informal classes concerned with challenging, nonroutine problems similar to those found on competitive exams. Problem solving skills developed or sharpened in these courses should be helpful in any mathematical research work, in consulting in business and industry, or in taking competitive exams. The mathematics courses change each semester and are open to students at all levels. STA 471 requires completion of, or concurrent registration in, STA 462. 

Competitive Exams

Each year, the department enters a team in the Putnam Competition, a challenging national mathematics examination taken by thousands of college students. See Professor Dan Pritikin (289 BAC, 529-5842) for more information. In addition we enter teams in the annual COMAP national mathematical modeling competition. See Professor Doug Ward (285 BAC, 529-3534) for details. Also, on a local note, the Patterson Examination and the Pi Mu Epsilon Examination are given each spring for first and second year Miami students.