The Senior Colloquium will be scheduled for late in spring semester, between April 17 and April 28. Each student with a major in mathematical sciences who plans to graduate Spring, Summer, or Fall 2006 is asked to give a short (10 to 15 minute) presentation on a topic of his or her choice, subject to certain criteria, and to submit a careful write-up of the presentation. In addition, each graduating senior will be asked to respond to an anonymous Exit Survey on various aspects of the program.
If you are a Mathematics or Applied Mathematics major and plan to graduate during 2006, please download the contact information form and return the completed form to Dr. White as soon as possible, but no later than FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2006. Further information about this requirement and various deadlines are given below.
For your Senior Colloquium presentation, you may choose a topic from any area of Pure or Applied Mathematics, but we recommend that Mathematics majors choose a topic in Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics majors choose a topic in Applied Mathematics.
A topic in Pure Mathematics should be from an upper division Mathematics course. The presentation should include at least one definition and one theorem, along with a proof of the theorem.
A topic in Applied Mathematics should either be from an upper division Applied Mathematics course or an application of upper division Mathematics to a related area. The presentation should include a precise statement of the problem or model and your assumptions, a discussion of the methods used to solve the problem, and an interpretation of the results relative to the model and assumptions.
You are also asked to submit a careful write-up of your presentation. The written version of the presentation will be due FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2006.
The oral presentation will be evaluated by the faculty members present and the written presentation will be evaluated sometime later by an assessment committee. The rubrics to be used in 2006 for both the oral and written presentations are available and help give an indication of our expectations. Please keep in mind that the evaluations are to be used only in the assessment of our programs, and will not affect you in any way.
In order to schedule the sessions for the Senior Colloquium, we will need to know at which times you will be available during the weeks of April 17 and April 24. Please download the scheduling form and return the completed form to Dr. White no later than 5:00 PM, MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2006. Please be as flexible as possible in listing the times available.
Your presentation topic will require prior approval by a Mathematics faculty member. We suggest that you discuss your proposed topic with and obtain approval from your advisor, the professor from whose course the topic is taken, or Dr. White (Undergraduate Coordinator).
The topic of your presentation and the signature of a faculty member indicating approval of your topic should be included on the scheduling form. If your presentation will require any special equipment (laptop, computer projector, etc.) please list these requirements on the form as well.
Once we have received all of the forms, we will schedule the presentations. You will be informed of the time and date of your presentation and you will receive the Exit Interview to be completed.
Please keep in mind that we consider this assessment to be an assessment of the Department's programs, and not an assessment of you. It is in no way to be considered a "final exam." The survey is an opportunity for you to let us know what we are doing well and what aspects of our programs need to be improved. The colloquium is an opportunity for you to tell us something about what you have learned and found interesting, as well as to celebrate the completion of your degree.
If you have any questions about the Outcomes Assessment or if you want to discuss possible Colloquium topics you have in mind, please feel free to contact Dr. White in his office (212 MSB), by phone at (330)672-9034, or by e-mail at white@math.kent.edu.