Department Academic Awards and Activity Recognition Reception will be April 8, 2014

The Department of Mathematics & Computer Science will have their 2014 Academic Awards and Activity Recognition Reception on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Faculty Room of the John C. Myers Convocation Center.

This annual event will recognize students who have displayed excellent academic and/or leadership skills.  Recipients of the 2014 Outstanding Student Awards will be announced.  We will also recognize all department majors or minors with a math and computer science GPA of 3.5 of higher.  Others to be honored include graduating seniors, student organization officers, contest participants, scholarship recipients, and more.

Honorees and their families should be receiving personal invitations to attend this reception soon.  RSVP is requested by April 1 to cbrown44@ashland.edu or 419-289-5790.

Two Students Inducted into Upsilon Pi Epsilon Computer Science Honorary

Seniors Morgan Mirtes and Chris Yocum were recently inducted into the Ashland University chapter of Upsilon Pi Epsilon honor society. Mirtes is a senior from Norwalk, Ohio double majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. Yocum is a senior from Ashland majoring in computer science. The induction ceremony was conducted on March 13, 2014, by current UPE members Marissa Uhrig, Kenny Bogner, and Kees Edwards.

Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE), is an international honor society for the computing and information disciplines, first organized at Texas A&M University in 1967. Today, this international organization consists of chapters at colleges and universities throughout North America and overseas. The mission of UPE is to recognize academic excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the computing and information disciplines.

Ashland University’s UPE Chapter was formed in January 2002. Sophomore, junior and senior computer science majors who meet the eligibility requirements are invited to join this prestigious honorary. Eligibility is based on progress in computer science coursework, grades earned from computer science courses, and a student’s cumulative grade point average. The chapter’s faculty advisor is Dr. Paul Cao.

Pictured (left to right) are Morgan Mirtes, Kees Edwards, Marissa Uhrig, Kenny Bogner, and Chris Yocum.

Three Math & Computer Science Students to Participate in This Year's URCA Symposium

Ashland University’s College of Arts and Sciences is hosting an Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium that will feature the works of approximately 46 students from 12 departments in the College.

According to Dr. Diane Bonfiglio, assistant professor of psychology, the April 1 symposium, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the John C. Myers Convocation Center. The symposium will feature oral presentations, performances, poster presentations and art exhibitions.

Read full article.

The following Math and Computer Science students are participating this year.

Kees Edwards and Kenny Bogner – The Art of Strategy
Poster/Exhibition Session 1-2 p.m. in the Alumni Room
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mark Nadler, Economics/Finance

Stacee King – Sub-rectangles and Super-rectangles: Creation and Properties
Oral Session 3:30 – 4:30 pm in the Faculty Room
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Chris Swanson, Math

Visit the URCA blogsite for updates.

Download a full schedule of URCA presentations. 

Students and faculty members are encouraged to attend the day's activities.  To foster participation, Dean Weber suspends daytime CAS classes so our faculty and students can attend the various events.

International Pi Day is this Friday (March 14)

This Friday, 3-14, the world celebrates the 26th Annual Pi Day.  Pi Day was created in 1988 by Larry Shaw, staff physicist for the Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco. The Museum again has all day activities planned to celebrate including a pi parade. Check out these resources from their website and elsewhere for your Pi Day pleasure.

A Brief History of Pi 

Suggested Activities for Pi Day

Article about the creation of Pi Day and its Culinary Implications 

Math 341 Approved by Society of Actuaries for Validation by Educational Experience credit

Actuary candidates are required to complete “Validation by Educational Experience” (VEE) requirements for economics, corporate finance, and applied statistical methods in addition to passing exams and completing other membership requirements. The Society of Actuaries recently approved Math 341 (Applied Regression Analysis) to meet the regression component of the VEE requirement for Applied Statistical Methods. The approval is retroactive, applying to any students who have taken Math 341 since 2006.

Ashland University now offers courses which satisfy all the VEE requirements except the time series component of the Applied Statistical Methods requirement. To qualify for VEE credit, the candidate must earn a grade of B- or better.

For more information, you can visit the Society of Actuaries FAQs on Validation by Educational Experience at http://www.soa.org/education/exam-req/resources/edu-vee-approval-faq.aspx


What is an actuary?
It’s the number one job of 2013 – if you don’t know, you should! CareerCast.com ranks careers on the basis of work environment, income, job growth outlook, and on-the-job stress. Actuary has been consistently in the top 10 for the past several years.

Actuaries are trained in risk management. They solve a variety of problems related to risk, such as determining premiums for insurance companies, helping companies establish their retirement plans, developing life insurance products and assisting banks in managing their assets and liabilities and developing ways to manage their financial risk.

Actuary Science takes a combination of strong analytical skills, business knowledge and understanding of human behavior. Interested in learning more? Check out the links below.

Be an actuary.- an overview of the career.
Ashland University's actuary program
sample curriculum

Time for Summer Planning

It may be cold and snowy outside, but it’s not too early to think about your summer plans!  

Here are some opportunities to create a summer experience that will heat up your career path. 

• This Wednesday’s on campus Job, Internship and Graduate School Fair

• American Mathematical Society’s Research Experience for Undergraduates summer programs.

• Ongoing tools offered by AU Career Services

Details below.

2014 Spring Job, Internship, and Graduate School Fair

Wednesday, February 19th, 1-4 pm 

(come and go as you please)

Upper Convocation Center

Every AU student should attend!

Freshmen and Sophomores: Search for your next summer job or internship!

Juniors and Seniors:  Find your next internship or secure full-time employment!

All Students:  Obtain information about graduate programs across multiple states!

For more information, use the links below to…

register for the Event with AU Career Connect

View quick details 

including a list of employers attending the fair.

View or download the 

Participant Guidebook 

for more details about participating companies and schools.

American Mathematical Society

Research Experience for Undergraduates summer programs

If graduate school could be in your future, check out the American Mathematical Society’s Research Experience for Undergraduates summer programs.  This program provides opportunities working with a variety of ongoing research projects with experienced university researchers.

Miami University of Ohio is accepting applications through March 1 for its Summer Undergraduate Mathematical Sciences Research Institute. https://www.mathprograms.org/db/programs/245

A number of other opportunities are out that at universities all across the U.S.   Most offer a stipend, along with rewarding experience.

http://www.ams.org/programs/students/undergrad/emp-reu

Ashland University Career Services

Even if you can’t attend this Wednesday’s event, be sure to check for summer internship and job opportunities with AU Career Services.   AU Career Connect, NEOIntern and great tools are available to all Ashland University students and alumni. Visit their homepage for more information. 

Integrated Math Programs Receive National Recognition

The Ashland University Integrated Mathematics program recently received National Recognition by NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education). The Integrated Mathematics program prepares students to teach mathematics in grades 7-12. Both the undergraduate and bachelor’s plus programs of integrated mathematics were approved for this distinction.

The NCATE accreditation process for mathematics teacher preparation programs requires a review of the institution’s programs by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). To receive national recognition, the program must demonstrate that it meets at least 80% of the professional standards and indicators used by the review board. Institutions must provide evidence that teacher candidates know their subject and how to teach it effectively. The NCTM reviewed the curriculum, teaching methods, use of technology, and student’s knowledge and skills before making their decisions.

Because of the rigorous standards used by NCATE, teacher candidates who graduate from NCATE-accredited schools will be better prepared for initial licensing and advanced board certification. Learn more about NCATE.