Haynes Scholars Residential Learning Community

The Haynes Scholars Program is an academic residential learning community run by the JMU Department of Mathematics and Statistics. The Haynes Scholars program is for incoming first-year STEM majors at JMU who identify as Black, Indigenous American, Latinx/Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or as part of other underrepresented groups in STEM fields. All students are welcome to apply to be Haynes Scholars if they feel that they can contribute to and benefit from the goals of the program. Haynes Scholars live together in or near Hoffman Hall while taking Calculus classes in cohorts, learning skills for success in college STEM courses, and making student and faculty connections that help them become leaders in their departments. 

Haynes Scholars participate in exploratory undergraduate research projects in mathematics in the JMU Experimental Mathematics Lab, and have opportunities to connect with STEM faculty and campus facilities early on. Students in the program have a chance to use 3D printing and other digital fabrication technologies, tour labs and research facilities in STEM departments, and get acquainted with opportunities for research and scholarship in their own departments.

The Haynes Learning Community is named after Dr. Euphemia Lofton Haynes, who in 1943 became the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics. Dr. Haynes later chaired the Washington, D.C. Board of Education and helped end the tracking system that discriminated against poor and minority students in DC.

This year the Haynes Scholars will pursue exploratory mathematical research involving coding and robotics. Undergraduate research in the Haynes Scholars program is supported by the JMU Experimental Mathematics Lab, the JMU Office of Creative Propulsion, and the JMU Makery. 

All prospective STEM students are encouraged to apply to join the Haynes community for the 2023-24 academic year, including majors from Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or other STEM-related disciplines.

Students of all mathematical levels are encouraged to apply! Most Haynes Scholars will take either MATH 231-232 or MATH 235-236 in their first year, according to their JMU placement scores. 

For more information about Residential Learning Communities in general, and to apply to be a Haynes Scholar, visit the JMU Residence Life website.

Applications for the 2023-24 Haynes Scholars RLC will be available soon.

Why should you apply to be part of the new group of Haynes Scholars? 

• You’ll live together in Hoffman Hall with the rest of the Haynes Scholars, and form a community that starts with your first day on campus, and provides a support network for your entire time at JMU.
• You’ll meet and work with over a dozen current JMU STEM students of color from various majors who will be involved in the program as mentors, tutors, and part of the Haynes community.
• You will get to take your required Calculus classes together with the rest of the other Haynes Scholars, in the same sections of either MATH 231-232 or MATH 235-236. You’ll have a study group from the first day of class, right in your dorm!
• During the year, you will get to take a special course just for Haynes Scholars in which you’ll explore early, creative research projects and leadership opportunities. 
• You’ll get to meet scientists and mathematicians of color from the community and across the country, as part of the Haynes Seminar.
• As a group, you will take tours of campus and Harrisonburg, traveling together to research conferences and events, and enjoy cookouts and other fun community-building activities throughout the year.

Program Directors
Elizabeth Arnold, Mathematics and Statistics
Laura Taalman, Mathematics and Statistics

Faculty Research Mentors
2022-23: Minah Oh and Roger Thelwell, Mathematics and Statistics
2021-22: Elizabeth Arnold and Laura Taalman, Mathematics and Statistics

Department Liaisons
Celes Woodruff, Mathematics and Statistics
Kyle Gipson, Engineering
Tehani Finch, Physics & Astronomy
Shane McGary, Geology
Casonya Johnson, Biology Affiliate 
Bisi Velayudhan, Biology
Oleksandr Kokhan, Chemistry
Nathan Sprague, Computer Science

College Liaisons
Samantha Prins, College of Science and Mathematics
Bob Kolvoord, College of Integrated Science and Engineering

University Liaisons
Tripp Purks, JMU Office of Residence Life
Art Dean, JMU Campus and Community Access and Inclusion
David Owusu-Ansah, JMU Faculty Access and Inclusion

Statistical Consulting
Beth Cochran, Mathematics and Statistics
Ben Ward, Mathematics and Statistics

The Haynes Scholars program is supported by a Tensor SUMMA grant from the Mathematical Association of America, for projects designed to encourage the pursuit and enjoyment of mathematics by students who are members of groups historically underrepresented in the field of mathematics:

This year we are also supported by funding from the following internal JMU program development grants:

Provost's Faculty Diversity Curriculum Development Grant, 2021
Faculty Senate Mini-Grant, 2021

The program is also supported by many departments and offices at James Madison University: 

JMU Residence Life
JMU Office of Access and Inclusion
College of Science and Mathematics
College of Integrated Science and Engineering
Department of Mathematics and Statistics