Fall 2006 Math Majors Meeting Tuesday, October 10th 7:15 pm, Blocker 102 Dr. David Larson, Associate Head--- > Welcome > Enrollment over the past 5 years has averaged ~300 students, and we are always looking to recruit more, so put your friends in contact with Donna if they are interested in switching to math or double majoring, etc. We have between 200 -400 math minors as well. > Our new online "contact us" (for advising and mentoring) will be up and running by the end of the week. Website is: http://www.math.tamu.edu/contact/ Mr. William Sea, Teach for America--- > William spoke briefly on the Teach for America organization. The program requires you to devote 2 years to teaching in a rural or urban school and in exchange you receive assistance on loans, etc. Three reasons to join TFA: *Great opportunity to make an impact in your field *Work with other civic-minded individuals *The skills gained through your relationship with others will help in your career or in graduate school Their 2nd Fall deadline to apply is November 5th and there will be two deadlines in Spring '07. For more details, see their website: http://www.teachforamerica.org or contact William at: williamsea@gmail.com. Dr. Mila Mogilevsky--- > GPR requirements 1. If a student gets a D in 171/151, 172/152, 221/253/251, 220, 222, 308/451 they must retake the course and receive a C or better to advance to the next level. 2. Students are not allowed more than two (2) D's in upper level (300-400 level) math classes. If a student receives a third D, then he must retake one of the three classes that he made a D in and receive a C or better. > High School Math Contest - This years contest is on Saturday, October 28th from 8-3pm in the Wehner Building on West Campus. We will need volunteers for proctoring, grading, lobby monitoring, and running errands. If you are willing to help out, breakfast and lunch will be provided. Contact Donna by e-mail if you would like to volunteer. > Degree Audits - Done the semester BEFORE you plan to graduate. Dr. Stecher has no idea who wants to graduate until he is contacted by the student. So, contact him the semester before you plan to graduate so he can review your degree plan and make sure you are set to graduate. Plan also to touch bases with him before the end of the first week of the semester you plan to graduate, so if you need an additional class at the last minute, it can still be added that week. If you have questions about your degree audit at any time, e-mail him at: stecher@math.tamu.edu > Career Fair - The Math Career Fair is Tuesday, October 17th from 1:00 - 4:00pm in Blocker 156. "The best time to LOOK for a job is when you do not NEED one!" Plan to attend panel discussions from 7:00 - 8:30pm at the Math Club meeting on Monday, October 16th and visit company booths in the hallway outside of Blocker 156 on Tuesday. > If you plan to take ENGL 104 here at TAMU, you must take it **BEFORE** you have 60 credit hours. > If you are in catalog 124 or later, you need only 2 KINE's. One 199 and one 198. KINE 199 must be S/U and KINE 198 can be either S/U or for a grade. >Core Curriculum - If you are in catalog 125 or later, you must complete 6 hours of International and Cultural Diversity core requirements. If you are on the BA Math Certification plan, these 6 hours are built into your curriculum. Otherwise, there are courses that will double up and count for other core requirements. Free elective hours are increased if you choose courses that double up. For a list of these courses, see the department webpage: http://www.math.tamu.edu/teaching/undergrad/degreeRequirementsFrame.html > Q-drop deadline is Friday, Nov. 3 > See department webpages at: http://www.math.tamu.edu/ugs for sample degree plans and semester by semester plans to aid in choosing classes for spring. The key is to keep your scheduled balanced between technical classes (math and science) and non-technical classes (core courses, etc.). Having to take 4 upper level math classes your last semester is not recommended! > Preregistration for Spring '07 starts on November 16th and goes through December 5th. > Advising Hours Monday/Wednesday 2:00 - 4:00pm. > Forces---The Math Department handles all forces for math classes with an online force request page. The page will be activated about 2-3 weeks prior to the start of spring classes. Watch for an email from Donna letting you know when the page is active. If you need a force into a course other than math, you should contact that department. All departments handle their own forces and they set their own forcing policies. > First Year Grade Exclusion Policy --A freshman student currently enrolled as "first time in college" may elect to exclude from his/her undergraduate degree and cumulative GPR calculation grades of D, F, or U. This exclusion shall be permitted for up to a maximum of three courses taken for credit at Texas A&M University during the twelve month period beginning with the student's initial enrollment at Texas A&M. Dr. Sue Geller, Honors Program--- > Dr. Geller introduced herself as the first Director of the Mathematics Honors Program. She noted that the Major in Mathematics with Honors is the first such program on the A&M campus. Other departments will be follow our lead in setting up their departmental honors programs. Her goal is to get more people involved in the honors program; she wants APMS and BA majors to become involved as well as BS majors who plan to attend graduate school. Our honors program requires a cumulative 3.5 overall GPA, and a 3.25 and no grade lower than a B in the 21 required courses. Even if one has not taken an honors course in the past, see Dr.Geller for assistance getting a class. Anyone with interest or questions about our new honors program, can contact Dr. Geller at geller@math.tamu.edu or stop by her office in Milner 128. You can view the full Major in Mathematics with Honors plan online at: http://www.teaching/undergrad/ugs/honorsmajor22march05.html > Introduced Justin Wilson, Math/Physics Double major, as the 2006-2007 winner of the College of Science's John Beckham Award. The college honors 2 students each year with this award. > All sophomores and juniors with overal gpr's of 3.7 and higher are asked to send their current resume to Donna to keep on file for future award nominations and scholarships. Oftentimes the lead time to prepare for submitting a nomination is very short, so we would like to gather as many resumes as possible in advance. If you need a sample resume to look at, see Donna. Dr. Philip Yasskin, Math Club Sponsor --- > Math Club Math Club is looking for new members! Its fun, and a good way to meet fellow math majors. > October Math Club meeting - Monday, October 16th at 7:00pm in Blocker 156. Program: Employer and Former Student Panel Discussion. Panelists are listed on the Career Fair Website: http://www.math.tamu.edu/ugs/careerfairFrame.html FREE PIZZA and SODA..ALL MAJORS WELCOME!!! > Suggestions for future math club meeting speakers can be sent to Donna or myself at yasskin@math.tamu.edu. > The Math club is in need of volunteers to work at the concession stand at the High School Math Contest on Saturday October 28 from 8am - 3pm. Contact Donna if you are available to work. > Problem of the Month Contest Each month's problem will be posted in the math lounge and on the Math Club bulletin board on the 1st floor of Blocker. The first to answer the problem correctly wins a free Math t-shirt. Top problem solver for the year is eligible to attend the Problem solving contest at the national Mathfest meeting. > Math T-shirts-- A new shipment of shirts is on order due in by October 20th. See Donna in Blocker 605 to purchase one. Colors: Maroon, navy blue, light blue, grey, midnight blue, dark brown, and light pink. > Pi Mu Epsilon new members were announced and all members asked to stand. Eligibility to join: Sophomores: 1. Must have completed 3 semesters at a 4-year university. 2. Must have taken Math 221 and 220 (or equivalent courses). 3. Must have a 4.0 GPR in all math classes. 4. Must have a 3.25 overall GPR. Juniors and Seniors: 1. Must have a 3.0 GPR in all math classes. 2. Must have a 3.0 overall GPR. If you have not been notified this semester and you feel that you meet these requirements, please contact Donna via email and she can review your transcript. > All students are eligible to join the MAA (Mathematical Association of America) and the cost is $30.00 per year and you receive the Math Horizons magazine and a Focus newsletter with a paid membership. Membership forms were distributed and the Chapter number for the form is 00300453. Dr. Doug Hensley--- > The Putnam Contest is a national competition open to all universities in the US and Canada. Our team has placed in the top 20 the past three years. This year's competition is on Saturday, December 2 from 9-12 and then a long break for lunch (to rest your brain!) and resuming from 2-5pm. Even if you did not enroll in the 1 hour Putnam Challenge Course (Math 490), you can still join the team on Tuesday nights at 7:00pm in Milner 317 to practice solving problems. Just meet at the back of Milner from 6:45 - 7:00 and Dr. Hensley will let you in the building. Free pizza is provided. You can also audit the Putnam Challenge class on Tuesdays from 9:10 - 10:00am in Blocker 202. For more info on the Putnam Contest, see Dr. Hensley's webpage at: http://www.math.tamu.edu/~doug.hensley/putnampage.html > Freshman/Sophomore Math Contest Each spring, typically in April, Dr. Doug Hensley sponsors a Freshman and Sophomore Math Contest. The contest is open to all students up through Math 308. Donna will send an email when it draws near to remind you to enter. There are cash prizes for the winners. Dr. Ellen Toby--- > Dr. Toby introduced herself as the advisor for students pursuing the BS APMS STAT option degree plan. Dr. Toby spent severa years teaching in the Math Department and is now with the Statistics Department. If you have any questions or interest in learning more about a career in Statistics, please contact her at either e-toby@tamu.edu or ellen@stat.tamu.edu. Students pursuing a MS in STAT are averaging one job offer per day, so there are definitely alot of opportunities if you receive a MS in STAT...but she also added that STAT is not for everyone (alot of Linear Algebra!), but if it is, then be sure to contact her and get to know her, she is an experienced advisor. Donna Hoffman--- > Introduced student worker, Ashley Hubble. Ashley is a senior BA math major with teacher certification and has helped tremendously with the coordination of the meeting and the Career Fair. > Career Fair flyer was displayed showing all of the companies coming to the fair on the 17th and the panelists coming to the math club meeting on the 16th. Encouraged all students to attend as many events as possible, since the employers and panelists are giving up their valuable time at work to be here to talk and meet students. >Math Tshirts and decals are as always for sale in Blocker 605 >Text and reference books are available in Blocker 605 for students to check out at any time. >If you want to change your email address, be sure to note the new address on the sign - in sheet. The meeting adjourned at 8:45pm. Respectfully submitted, Donna Hoffman