News

Welcome!  The Mathematics and Statistics Department at JMU is dedicated to the teaching and learning of our students.  We are host to several conferences, have many opportunities for undergraduate research with our faculty, and have a few social activities as well.  You can also see previous Department Newsletters.

Colloquia

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

Tea Time

The Department invites students, faculty, and staff to Tea Time. Tea Time is held Wednesdays 2-2:45pm 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.

Conferences

• Expanding Your Horizons Conference

  The Department is hosting an Expanding Your Horizons conference on Saturday, April 26, 2008. This is a one-day event for girls in grades 9-11 and their parents/teachers to participate in hands-on mathematical workshops.

• Shenandoah Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics (SUMS) Conference

  Elizabeth Brown and Laura Taalman have received funding through National Science Foundation grant DMS-0241090, in conjunction with the Mathematical Association of America Regional Undergraduate Mathematics Conferences (RUMC) program, for the 2005, 2006, and 2007 SUMS Conferences. 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.

• Appalachian Set Theory workshop (June 2007) as part of the Appalachian Set Theory workshop series
  
  
• Mid-Atlantic Algebra Conference (April 2006).

Department Picnic

The Department hosts a picnic for faculty, staff, and students each semester.  The Spring 2008 picnic was Sunday, April 27 at Purcell Park. See Spring 2008 pictures, Fall 2007 pictures, Spring 2007 pictures.

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! See pictures from Spring 2008 (held on 3/21 - Pi + Epsilon Day).  Proceeds are donated to charity. The faculty sponsors of the math/stat club are Professor Peter Kohn and Professor John Marafino.  

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. For more information about our local chapter, see the Virginia Gamma Chapter (JMU). Professor Hasan Hamdan oversees our local PME organization.