Mission & Goals

Mission The Mathematics Division serves its diverse student population by providing a creative, learner-centered, and high-quality educational environment. Goals To provide effective mathematics courses which utilize technology and innovative pedagogies To enable students to attain their diverse educational goals To enable students to become better-informed and productive citizens To respond to the changing needs of students and the community by basing program adoption and faculty hiring on those needs most critical to student success and the economic well-being of our service area To enhance student success by providing quality academic support services outside the classroom To develop course schedules based on the needs of our students Objectives (adapted from The Mathematical Association of America) Students should achieve mastery of a rich and diverse set of mathematical ideas. Students should experience mathematics as an engaging field with contemporary open questions. Students should be able to think analytically and critically, formulate and solve problems, and interpret their solutions. Students should understand and appreciate the value and validity of careful reasoning and precise definition. Students should have experience applying knowledge from one branch of mathematics to another and from mathematics to other disciplines. Students should be able to use a variety of technological tools. Students should be able to communicate mathematics both orally and in writing. Students should be able to read mathematics. Defining Characteristics Creativity means striving to provide an environment inclusive of a variety of effective pedagogies that meet the diverse needs of our students. As a division we strive to accommodate these needs by: Making the learning of mathematics fun Communicating clearly and concisely Using innovations in technology Using real world applications Being a learning community Developing new pedagogies Using reform materials Being flexible Taking risks A learner-centered environment considers each student as an individual with his/her own needs. As a division we strive to accommodate these needs by: Providing tutoring and other support services Offering a variety of courses and times Responding to changing needs Using appropriate technology Showing care and concern Being flexible and ethical Acting as role models Showing enthusiasm Being available Quality teaching and learning will enable students to acquire the skills needed to identify problems, isolate facts related to the problem, generate multiple solutions using a variety of resources, display sound reasoning to justify their proposed solution, and make ethical decisions. As a division we strive to accommodate these needs by: Providing a safe learning environment Responding to community needs Designing solid course content Recognizing diversity Practicing excellence Encouraging success Being innovative