AMS Chairs Workshop Modernizing Mathematics and Mathematicians Kevin Knudson University of Florida Jennifer Zhao University of Michigan Dearborn January 14, 2020 Denver Why modernize Math and Mathematicians? Meet rapid demographic and
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01
AMS Chairs Workshop
Modernizing Mathematics and Mathematicians
Kevin Knudson
University of Florida
Jennifer Zhao
University of Michigan – Dearborn
January 14, 2020
Denver<br>
02
Why modernize Math and Mathematicians?
Meet rapid demographic and technological changes.
Respond to increased computational power and changing market demands.
Serve a more diverse student population.
Junior faculty may have different work-life balance expectations; proper mentoring required.<br>
03
I. Embracing and contributing to computational/quantitative programs
launched on campus
At UM-Dearborn, the following new programs were added within the past 5 years
Undergraduate Applied Statistics program
Undergraduate Data Science Program
Undergraduate Integrated Actuarial Study Program
Master Data Science Program
Certificate in Math for Finance<br>
04
I. Embracing and contributing to computational/quantitative programs
launched on campus
At UF, a new undergraduate data science program will launch in Fall 2020
Joint effort between math and statistics (with a little help from computer science)
The UF Informatics Institute launched in 2014, pulling together researchers across campus<br>
05
Group discussion
15 minutes
What is the most challenging curricular issue your department faces?
Have you faced external pressures to alter your curriculum?<br>
06
II. Open access texts and online homework systems may help us better serve students from lower income families
At UM-Dearborn, we have
used WebWork for most multi-section courses.
adopted free online open-source textbook for Differential Equations and Linear Algebra.
encouraged instructors to use eBook, free to students, for many upper and graduate levels courses.<br>
07
II. Open access texts and online homework systems may help us better serve students from lower income families
At UF:
built our own instance of the Ximera platform for online homework, saving students approximately $250K per semester
moved to open-source texts in college algebra, precalculus, and calculus<br>
08
Group Discussion
15 minutes
Has your department made any move toward adopting open source materials?
Are there sufficient resources on your campus to help you do this?
What are the barriers?
Do your faculty even want to do this?<br>
09
III More robust mentoring along with more flexible work assignments can help guide
junior faculty to a positive tenure decision
At UF:
We have hired 9 tenure-track faculty and 9 permanent lecturers in the past two years
This has created a lot of opportunity to expand course offerings and reduce class sizes
Also gives the chair a lot of flexibility in scheduling
Junior faculty get reduced teaching loads, the first two years as part of their startup from the college and beyond by departmental agreement
Junior faculty get priority for schedule flexibility. Teaching may be shifted among terms. Time of day can be adjusted easily.
All junior faculty have senior faculty mentors and the chair checks in occasionally to ensure things are going well.<br>
10
Group Discussion
15 minutes
What steps has your department taken to help junior faculty achieve proper work/life balance?
What role do chairs play in this?
Are there effective strategies for communicating this to deans and other administrators?
Has your department altered its T&P criteria in recent years to reflect this?<br>
11
Closing Remarks
The issues are likely to become more prevalent.
It would be best for you and your department to get out in front of them.
Think proactively instead of waiting to deal with problems when they arise.
Engage your colleagues in conversation about it now.
