The department will insure that all curricula meet current professional standards and will insure that the rigor of these curricula are monitored and modified appropriately
Objective
State Board Of Educator Certification (SBEC) Standards
The department will align its curriculum with the SBEC curriculum standards for MATH 3381
KPI
SBEC Standards
The department will offer MATH 3381 in alignment with the State Board of Educator Standards. There will be a one-to-one correspondence with at least two of the SBEC standards for a mathematics generalist.
Result
MATH 3381 In Fall 2014
In the Fall 2014 semester, we opened 5 sections of MATH 3381 (Foundations of Math III). These 5 sections have a total of 132 students enrolled.
Goal
Procure Appropriate Resources To Facilitate The Academic Mission Of The Department
The department will monitor the classroom, laboratory, research, and out-reach (service) needs of the unit. Budget requests will reflect these needs.
Objective
Procurement Of Technology
The department will procure hardware and software relevant to the research and instructional needs of its faculty.
KPI
Requests For Equipment
The department will submit budget requests for new technology equipment.
Result
The Sage Server
Last year -- with the assistance of IT@Sam -- we were able to install two racks of servers for departmental use. Both racks of servers were installed with the freely-available mathematics software package Sage: one for teaching use (so that many users may have access, with limits to individual processing availability) and the other for research (few users, but large processing power).
This welcome addition to the department will aid in teaching and research.
Goal
Provide Appropriate Personnel Resources For The Unit
The department will assess the personnel (staff and faculty) needs of the unit on an annual basis. Annual funding requests will reflect these needs and hiring decisions will be based on these needs. The department office will provide appropriate resources and encourage faculty and staff to participate in development opportunities.
Objective
Procurement Of Personnel
The department will maintain personnel to effectively manage all three areas: mathematics, mathematics education, and statistics.
KPI
New Hires
The department will submit Preliminary Budget Request forms requesting hires for the department's personnel needs.
Result
New Mathematics Position
Considerable time and effort was spent attempting to protray the need for more faculty in the department. Last year we requested two new positions in mathematics (and one additional statistics position). We were granted one new mathematics position. The faculty is grateful for this decision.
This new mathematician will allow us to open additional sections of full courses each semester. It will also alleviate the pressure on our graduate faculty.
Action
Hiring For Fall 2015
A job announcement has been placed, with plans to fill the positions with two new faculty members: an applied mathematician and an analyst.
Goal
Provide Support Of Faculty Activities
The department will insure that the faculty have sufficient input in issues related to teaching schedules and professional development opportunities.
Objective
Faculty Travel
The Department will closely monitor the amount of money allocated for faculty travel in 2013-14. In particular, a survey of the faculty will be performed, asking if the current amount allocated is sufficient. Adjustments will be made accordingly.
KPI
Travel Allocation
The Department will increase the amount of money allocated for faculty travel to conferences. Our goal is to raise travel stipends by 20%.
Result
Increase In Travel Money Spent
Faculty travel to conferences and seminars/workshops is essential for research in mathematics and statistics. While our O&M budget has not increased in more than a decade, demand for annual travel funds has increased from $40,000 to almost $70,000 in ten years. We have handled this increase in demand by successfully using travel funds from the dean's office.
So while we have not accomplished our goal of increasing local travel funds, the amount spent on faculty travel has increased, using the generosity of the dean's office.