Welcome!  The Mathematics and Statistics Department at JMU is dedicated to the teaching and learning of our students. In addition to coursework, students can engage in a variety of activities outside the classroom to further their learning and education. We are host to multiple conferences, have many opportunities for undergraduate research with our faculty, and have a few social activities as well.

Activities

Colloquia: The Department hosts weekly colloquia, open to all faculty and students. Talks are almost always on Mondays at 3:45 in Roop 103.

Social Times:

• Tea Time is held Wednesdays 2-2:30pm in Roop 103. Come and enjoy tea and cookies and the company of others! You may also be surprised by delicious homemade goodies as well.
• Departmental picnics are held every fall and spring semester to welcome and bid adieu to our students. All food and beverages are provided!

Problem of the Week: The Department offers a Problem of the Week during the fall and spring semesters.  All students regardless of their major are welcome to participate. Please see Dr. Jason Rosenhouse for more information.

Math/Stat Club: The Department has an active Mathematics and Statistics Club that meets regularly throughout the regular academic year.  They organize activities such as panels on attending graduate school and getting jobs, as well as organizing various activities for students and faculty. These include a student/faculty bowling tournament as well as organizing the annual Pi Day tradition (3/14 1:59pm) where students get to throw pie at their favorite professors!  Proceeds are donated to charity. The faculty sponsor of the math/stat club is Dr. Roger Thelwell. 

Pi Mu Epsilon: Pi Mu Epsilon is an organization whose purpose is to promote scholarly activity in mathematics among students in academic institutions. For more information see the National PME website. Our local chapter, Virginia Gamma Chapter (JMU), oversees our local PME organization and the faculty advisor is Dr. Hasan Hamdan.

Association for Women in Mathematics Student Chapter:  The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) is a national organization whose purpose is to encourage women and girls to study and to have active careers in the mathematical sciences, and to promote equal opportunity and the equal treatment of women and girls in the mathematical sciences.  The JMU AWM Student Chapter organizes monthly meetings and service opportunities, including tutoring at local schools and volunteering at the Expanding Your Horizons conference.  All students are invited to participate in the AWM chapter’s activities.  The faculty advisor of the AWM Student Chapter is Dr. Katie Quertermous.  

Opportunities

Find or Become A Tutor: In addition to office hours offered by course instructors, students can visit the Science and Math Learning Center during open hours for help in most lower-level mathematics courses.  If desired, students can also hire a mathematics tutor for individual help.  A list of mathematics tutors can be picked up from the math department office directly outside Roop 308. If you are interested in becoming a tutor, please fill out the application available outside Roop 308.

Conferences:

• Shenandoah Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics (SUMS) Conference Each fall, SUMS hosts about 250 people from 35 colleges, universities, and high schools around the country, and features invited talks, panel sessions, and about 25 undergraduate talks and 30 student posters.
• Expanding Your Horizons Conference Late each spring, the Department hosts an Expanding Your Horizons conference for middle and high school women. This one-day event is a chance for the young women and their parents/teachers to participate in fun, hands-on, mathematical workshops.

Undergraduate Research:

• NSF REU Program: JMU has been chosen for a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site in mathematics. All qualified undergraduates are encouraged to apply for this eight-week program, in which students will work in groups of two under the supervision of their faculty mentor. More information and how to apply.
• In addition to the REU program, there are many opportunities for undergraduate research both over the summer and throughout the academic year. Graduate schools, employers, and educational organizations like to see undergradiate research experience on resumes.  Such an opportunity is a unique and enlightening experience, independent of your future career path. Interested students should speak to a Mathematics/Statistics faculty member about undergraduate research opportunities. To see summaries of faculty reseach interests check out the faculty listing or individual speciality areas.

Honors College and Senior Honors Project: All current students are eligible to apply for the honors program if the cumulative GPA is at least 3.25. For more information, contact the University Honors College. Students with a GPA of at least 3.25 may choose to satisfy 6 credits of their mathematics elective requirements by completing a Honors Capstone Project (HCP). The HCP involves directed independent study with a faculty member and culminates in a written Honors thesis. Honors theses represent “substantial scholarship” and should not be undertaken lightly. Track I and II Honors students are required to complete an HCP. Other qualified students may elect to do so, which admits them to Track III of the Honors College. More information on Honors College options. Interested students should read the details specific to the HCP.

The COMAP Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) is an annual international contest for high school students and college undergraduates. There are two problems, Problem A (continuous) and Problem B (discrete), and teams of three students have from 8pm Thursday night until 8pm the following Monday to work on the problem of their choice. Typically, around 800 teams representing 250 institutions from eleven countries submit solution papers. JMU has had teams entering the competition since 1990. In that time, we have had four Honorable Mention and four Meritorious awards. Our best ever result was achieved in 2001 when JMU was the only institution to have two teams each do a different problem and both be awarded Meritorious.  If you are interested in participating in COMAP, please contact Prof. Hasan Hamdan or Prof. Roger Thelwell.

Graduate School, Internships, and Career Information: The JMU Career and Academic Planning office has information on employers, internships, job planning, resumes, interviewing, and more.  The following links contain career and graduate school information from various mathematical and statistical professional organizations:

• Graduate study, summer programs, and more (AMS)
• List of Graduate Programs in Mathematics
• Mathematical Sciences Career Information (AMS)
• Mathematical Sciences Career Information (MAA)
• Internships and Jobs in Mathematics (AMS)
• Careers in Statistics (ASA)
• Careers in Operations Research (INFORMS)
• Careers in Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
• Material on becoming an Actuary
• Opportunities with Teach for America
• Career profiles of recent Mathematics major graduates (MAA)
• How important is math in real life? (MAA/BYU)
• Mathematics REU (research experience for undergraduates) programs