Department of Mathematical Sciences
Highlights of Program Review conducted Spring 2002
During the 2001 - 2002 academic year, the then Department of Mathematics and Computer Science conducted a self-study of the mathematics programs. As part of the self-study, an external reviewer visited the campus during the Spring Semester, 2002, and examined the Mathematics programs in detail. The reviewer of this Self-Study was Dr. John D. Fulton, Professor of Mathematics and Project Director of Institutional Research and Planning Analysis at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. The following quote [page 2] is taken from the opening paragraph of the summary of Dr. Fulton's report to Dean Roger Byrne:
From his reading of the Self-Study document and from his visit to Fredonia, the consultant found a Math programs faculty with high morale, approving of their leadership, greatly appreciated by their student majors, and justifiably proud that they are architects and deliverers of model undergraduate programs in the mathematical sciences. It was outside the consultant's experience to have visited a Department where the faculty members hold each other in high regard; interact easily, freely and often with each other and with their student majors; and exhibit such care and concern for students. The consultant in his meetings with students, faculty, staff, and administrators received only praise of the Math programs faculty members when evaluative remarks were made in response to his questions.Dr. Fulton observed that the "faculty members exhibit a culture of devotion to promoting and striving for excellence in teaching" [page 2]. He also observes that majors in mathematics "are accustomed to an unusual level of regular, easy and frequent access to faculty for service of their academic cares and concerns" [page 3]. In commenting on the major programs, Dr. Fulton observes that there are [pages 4-5]:
many attractive and innovative features in the tracks and options of their BS Mathematics degree program. These programs should serve as models for departments seeking to structure their bachelor of science-mathematics degree programs along the lines of recommendations from the CUPM of the MAA.Among the innovative programs to which Dr. Fulton refers are the Applied Mathematics track with degree options in Economics and in Statistics and Operations Research. In his comments on these programs, Dr. Fulton says [page 31]:
The consultant also salutes the Math programs faculty for taking advantage of one of their greatest strengths, being a faculty with expertise in all of the mathematical sciences, to fashion the Statistics/Operations Research option for the Applied Mathematics track in the BS Mathematics degree.Complementing the faculty's strength in academic areas, are its contribution in the area of co-curricular activities, such as student participation at MAA Seaway section meetings and at meetings of the Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York State, a colloquium series for undergraduates,and student participation in research experiences for undergraduates (REUs). Again quoting from the report [page 40]:
The consultant considers the Math programs majors as being extremely fortunate for being mathematical sciences majors at SUNY College at Fredonia. The care and consideration given them and the obvious concern for their academic success by the Math programs faculty members is in the consultant's experience truly exceptional. There is no better example of this exceptional care, consideration and concern for student success by the faculty than in the effort they devote to co-curricular activities for students.These are only a few highlights in Dr. Fulton's report. A complete text of the report will be made available at the reserve desk of Reed Library. You may also contact the department by phone at 716-673-3243 or by e-mail to straight@cs.fredonia.edu.
Last Update: September 30, 2002.
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