USA Foundation Professorship
Mathematics and Statistics - 2001/2002

STUDENT ACTIVITIES - $3,300+

Project 01-A

Administrator:Department Chairman

The Department Chairman is charged with the administration of the following projects.

00-A1 Mobile Math Circle and Olympiad: $3,300 - Flath and Prokhorov

The Circle, which will meet at USA, will be a problem solving group of high school students. In addition to the sundry supplies that will be used in regular meetings, the support will be used to cover the cost of bringing two visiting experts to speak to the USA Math/Stat Department and to the Circle. The money will also be used for prizes to be awarded at the Mobile Mathematics Olympiad to be sponsored by the Circle

00-A3 Student Travel:

Money will be available to support travel for undergraduate and graduate students to present research at conferences and to participate in competitions in mathematics, statistics and modeling or other appropriate activities. Faculty would be funded from other sources.

2000/2001 USA FOUNDATION LECTURE SERIES in MATHEMATICS and STATISTICS - $8,000

Project 00-B

Administrator: Colloquium Committee

The Departmental Colloquium Committee will be charged with all management of the Lecture Series. In general, the committee should actively seek scholars that can attract a wide University audience of both students and faculty, and speakers that can address innovative, controversial or timely, approaches to mathematics and statistics and their dissemination.

Speakers appropriate to the purpose of this Series will be funded and, in particular, the following specific projects will be accomplished.

01-B1 History of Mathematics - Cruthirds

A nationally known scholar in the area of the history of mathematics or statistics should give a presentation suitable for an audience of undergraduate mathematics students. Such a presentation could provide historical facts about some of the individuals of importance in our disciplines, as well as, information about the historical development of some of the important ideas and topics. This activity was funded last year resulting in the visit of Dr.\ Ed Sandifer.

01-B2 Mathematical Art - Flath

This project was funded last year, but the speaker Prof. Helaman Ferguson was unable to come during that academic year. He has expressed a desire to come next year.

01-B3 General Colloquium Support

Advisory Committee recommendation: "Foundation money should be used for honoraria and travel for speakers whose presentations are concordant with the goals of the Foundation money. Specifically, we recommend that the Colloquium Committee invite suggestions from the faculty for colloquium speakers whose talks would be accessible to first-year graduate and undergraduate students"

EQUIPMENT- $5,000

Project 01-C

Administrator: Department Chairman

The following are expenditures for technology recommended by the Advisory Committee and are approved.

01-C1 Projection Screens

Projection screens in ILB classrooms should be replaced with permanently installed screens.

01-C2 Technology modern classroom

The recent award of $4,500 from the Arts and Sciences Technology Committee and the Smarter Kids grant from NEC should be supplemented as needed so that a ceiling mounted projector, a computer, and screen can be installed in ILB 370 (or other designated classroom) to assist in classes and colloquium presentations. The Department should consider other items (e.g., whiteboard, opaque projector/object veiwer) that would enhance such a facility.

CONTINGENCY FUND

Project 01-D

Administrator: Department Chairman

Any funds remaining will be held as a contingency to take advantage of opportunities that might arise during the year. These may be specifically requested from the Chair at anytime.

THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS will not be funded at this time, but will be reconsidered as indicated.

Digital Whiteboard

It is felt that this equipment is too experimental and not sufficiently justified. The Advisory Committee recommends that need for the digital whiteboard be revisited after the electronic renovation of ILB 370 to see if one would be appropriate for installation there.

Scholarship program

It was proposed the Department investigate the wisdom, feasibilty, and logistics of setting aside Foundation money on a permanent basis for the establishment of a scholarship program for Mathematics and Statistics majors, such as that in place in the Chemistry Department. The Advisory Committee endorses this idea and would welocme a specific plan or program for funding.