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.

Drop-In Tutoring available for Math and Computer Science courses

Ashland University’s Center for Academic Support provides tutors and other tools to help students succeed.  Drop-in tutoring is available for many of the courses students tend to struggle with, including math and computer science classes.

Drop-in tutoring sessions for Math are available in Kettering Science Center, room 219 for all 100 and 200 level math courses. Drop-in tutoring for Computer Science 121 and 122 is available in Patterson Hall, room 211. Times are listed below.

Visit the Center for Academic Success for a complete list of all tutoring services available to AU students. Don’t forget to ask your instructor for help too!






Computer Science Drop-in Tutoring

Sessions held in Patterson Hall Room 211.

CS 121 and 122 - Computer Programming
3-4:30 p.m. every Wednesday & Thursday



Math Drop-in Tutoring 

Sessions held in Kettering Science Center, Room 219.

Math 111 PreCalculus
7-8:30 p.m. every Tuesday

Math 202 Calculus with Applications
7-8:30 p.m. every Wednesday

Math 206 Calculus
1-3:00 p.m. every Tuesday
7-8:00 p.m. Thursday
7-8:30 p.m. every Monday & Wednesday

Math 208 Elementary Statistics
2-4:00 p.m. every Wednesday
7-8:30 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday & Thursday

Math 217 – Theory of Arithmetic & Geometry
7-8:30 p.m. every Monday & Thursday

Math 218 – Geometry for Middle grades
7-8:30 p.m. every Tuesday

Math 224 – Discrete Math II
3-5:00 p.m. every Tuesday
8-9:00 p.m. every Thursday

AU to Host Hour of Coding Event for High Schoolers

The AU Math and Computer Science Department will host an Hour of Coding event for Ashland High School students on Sunday January 26, between 2 and 4 p.m.  University faculty and students will be on hand to help out as needed. 

Anyone can complete one of the code.org tutorials at http://csedweek.org/learn.  They are made for beginners, so don't be shy. More than 22,000,000 students have already done an hour of coding!

Code.org is a non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science. Their vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer programming. Find out more at code.org. 

Code.org logo used by permission. Want to wear it? 

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

 The deadline to submit abstracts for the College Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) Symposium is January 17.  Information on this and other opportunities for undergrad research follows.

Richard A. Good Endowment for Undergraduate Research Support. 

Any Ashland University Mathematics and Computer Science department majors may apply for these funds.  The purpose of the endowment is to provide educational opportunities for students involved in undergraduate mathematics research projects.  Funds can provide stipend support, travel for conferences, materials for presentations, and will be designated at the discretion of the Dean of Arts and Sciences. You must identify and contact a "faculty sponsor" to apply.   If you are interested, please contact any department faculty member to discuss your project and fill out an application. 

The 5th annual Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity Symposium will be April 1, 2014. This annual event gives undergraduate students a chance to share research, scholarly and creative endeavors. All students who are declared majors in a program within the College of Arts and Sciences are encouraged to participate in this year’s symposium.  Presenters may choose to give an oral presentation, poster presentation, exhibition, or performance.  All presentations should have a significant research or creative component; examples include, but are not limited to summer research conducted at Ashland University or elsewhere, results of independent study projects, thesis work, literary readings or analysis, musical or theatrical performances, and exhibitions of artwork.  The deadline for submitting abstracts is 5:00 p.m. on January 17, 2014.  More details.

Amgen Scholars Program celebrates scientific inquiry by providing undergraduates with faculty-mentored summer research opportunities in science and engineering fields, including statistics.  Summer 2014 will mark the eighth year of this exciting initiative.  Applications for the ten U.S. host universities are now online.  The application close date is February 3, 2014.   Eligibility requirements, as well as site-specific programming information, is available via http://www.amgenscholars.com.  For more information contact: Michael Bergren, Director, Amgen Scholars U.S. Program Office.

2013 Department news available

During winter break, the department sent out the 2013 Math & Computer Science 2013 newsletter.  Click here to read the fall 2013 newsletter for the Ashland University Mathematics & Computer Science Department.  

In it you'll find information about student activities such as internships, contests and awards.  Who knows what familiar faces you will encounter!  You can also read news about our faculty, including a feature story about Dr. Tom Dence who will retire this spring after 30 years with AU.  

Additional news is posted on the math and computer science department page throughout the year. You can even sign up to receive new postings by email on the department blog site.