Annual Program Assessment Report - Mathematics
Prepared by Dr. Eric Wright | 406-683-7274 | e_wright@umwestern.edu

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Annual Program Assessment Report for the Mathematics-related Areas AY 2006-07
written by Dr. Ermek Nurkhaidarov

During the spring of 2006, the program review of the mathematics programs was completed. The external reviewer provided the mathematics faculty with a report that highlighted the program’s strengths and areas for improvement as he saw them. The mathematics faculty determined the most important recommendations from this review are:

  • Expanding upper level mathematics course offerings. An upper-level calculus-based statistics course was specifically requested by math education majors.
  • Creating a full mathematics major to increase offerings and attract more students.
  • Adding a senior thesis (capstone experience) to the mathematics curriculum. This capstone experience provides students with an opportunity to see, in a broad sense, how mathematicians approach problems and how mathematics is used.
  • Pursuing additional permanent faculty members for the mathematics department, especially with the block system in place.
  • Updating the computer hardware and mathematics software in order for UMW’s mathematics and science students to be competitive with graduates from other institutions. At a minimum, the department needs several computers capable of quickly running current versions of Mathematica, and either Matlab or Mathcad.

    After discussing the results of the Math Department’s external review, the mathematics faculty decided to expand the upper level mathematics course offering by adding upper-level calculus-based MATH 333 -- Mathematical Statistics, MATH 210 -- Computer Mathematics, and MATH 304 -- Ordinary Differential Equations. Thesis requirements were added for broadfield and math majors. In order to better serve the needs of students with an interest in mathematics or science, the Math Department faculty decided to add new option in Mathematics.

    The Math Department attempted to address the last two recommendations resulting from the external review (additional permanent faculty member and mathematical software). At this time, the administration did not approve adding any more permanent mathematics faculty. The new Mac Lab in Block Hall is next in-line for newer computer hardware. MatLab software (used for applied mathematics courses) is maintained/updated annually with student computer fees. Due to the high cost associated with Mathematica software (used for pure mathematics courses), the math faculty are currently working with the Provost to purchase either 10 site licenses or 10 stand-alone copies of this program. Mathematica software should be available for UMW’s math and science students for fall semester 2007.

    The Math Department faculty were pleased with the results of the employer survey which showed that math education program graduates are performing extremely well in their jobs and are well prepared during the program. In addition, the Math Department faculty collected benchmark exhibits and provided a brief summary of initial findings.