POLICIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

The department has instituted certain policies that relate to students in order to help our courses run smoothly and to help students succeed. Some of these policies are outlined here. For further information, please contact the department office or academic adviser. Additional information is given in the section of Miscellaneous items.

1. Rumors

This is not a policy but a statement. There seems to be a persistent rumor among Oakland University students that the Department of Mathematics and Statistics is "on probation" because of its teaching. There is absolutely no truth to such an idea (nor is it even clear what it would mean if it were true -- put on probation by whom? with what consequences? with what instructions?). It is no secret that student success rates in mathematical sciences courses are not as high as in courses in some other disciplines, nor are they as high as we would like them to be. (On the other hand, they are not anywhere as low as rumors would have it.) This is not a phenomenon unique to Oakland University; our student success rates are comparable to those around the country, from OCC to large state universities. There are many reasons for this, from poor preparation in high school to the inherent difficult nature of the subject matter.

In fact, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics has an excellent teaching record, and we are constantly taking steps to improve our courses. Three members of our department have won the university's Teaching Excellence Award over the past several years, and one was selected as the best college mathematics teacher in the state in 1994. Student end-of-term evaluations of our faculty (used in reappointment and salary decisions) are uniformly very good. We work with the Academic Skills Center and other university offices to help insure student success in all our courses. There is no reason why anyone who has the prerequisites for a course, works at it conscientiously, and seeks support from the instructor and other sources of help when the going gets tough can't earn a satisfactory grade.

The departmental advisers and chair would be glad to discuss these issues at any time.

2. Departmental Final Examinations

Certain courses with multiple sections each term and large enrollments have a common final exam (daytime sections only). The purpose of this policy is to create more uniformity among sections and be fair to the students. These common finals are made up through a joint effort of the instructors teaching the various sections of the course, and for quality control they are "test-piloted" by a faculty member who has taught the course in previous terms. Midterm exams in multiple section courses are usually made up by the individual instructors, but close coordination among them guarantees that the exams are comparable from section to section.

3. Incompletes

A grade of incomplete (I) causes much confusion among students and faculty. Regulations governing its use are given in the catalog and should be followed. Questions should be directed toward the Associate Chair. In particular, a form (available in the main office) containing the exact agreement between the student and the instructor as to how the course will be completed must be filled out and signed by both. Normally the incomplete must be made up within the first few weeks of the following semester.

4. Independent Study

1. Permission from a Department member is needed for a student to register in MTH 290, MTH 490, MTH 590, or MTH 690 or analogous courses with other department rubrics. A form is available in the main office for this purpose. This emphasizes the fact that an independent study course is an agreement between the student and a faculty member.

2. Independent study is not usually to be offered in courses which are taught on a regular basis.

3. MTH 290 is restricted to sophomores, MTH 490 (normally) to juniors and seniors and MTH 590 or 690 to graduate students. In all cases, a student who registers for independent study should have a GPA of at least 3.00.

4. The P grade is authorized for use in the Independent Study Courses 290, 490, 590, 690.

5. Course Competency

The Department abides by the rules governing course credit by examination, so-called competency course credit, as stated in the University catalogs and in the Schedule of Classes. Its policy, however, is that course competency credit is not available in MTH 011, 012, 141. These courses are preparatory to regular sequences of courses leading to various major programs. Furthermore students who have failed a course or who have obtained a low grade may not repeat the course via competency examination.

6. Resolution of Academic Scheduling Conflicts

Examination are an important part of most mathematics courses, and students are expected not to miss examinations. Senate regulations do not require instructors to excuse students who are absent because they participate in athletic events or other University-sponsored activities. It is each student's responsibility to request, well in advance, any special treatment he or she desires. These guidelines are issued in order to ensure fairness to the students and instructors, and academic integrity for the courses.

1. Instructors will not make special exceptions unless the student has notified the instructor in writing, before the end of the first week of classes, of his or her desire for special treatment. Such requests must include full details. The final decision will be made by the instructor, in a timely fashion.

2. If an instructor wishes to allow a student to make up an examination, the examination will normally be made up within one week after the regularly scheduled examination.

3. Examinations may be proctored only by members of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

7. Calculator Policy

It is Department policy that students are permitted to use calculators freely in all Department courses. This includes their use in homework and on examinations. We especially encourage the use of graphing calculators. It is considered cheating on a test, however, for a student to use a calculator to store facts, data, or formulas that the instructor has indicated need to be memorized. The Department may need to revisit or partially restrict this policy as hand-held computers become more prevalent.

8. End-of-term Student Evaluation Questionnaires

All instructors are required to administer end-of-term student evaluation questionnaires (except in spring and summer terms). Sufficient quantities will be provided near the end of the term by the secretarial staff. Courses should be exchanged for this purpose, with the first (or last) 20 minutes or so of a class near the end of the term being used by two instructors to administer the questionnaires for each other. Completed questionnaires are to be returned to the secretaries, and the instructor does not have access to them until after final course grades have been turned in. At that time instructors are encouraged to read the forms; they remain the property of the Department, however, and are used in salary and reappointment decisions.

9. Awards and Honors

Majors in the department may receive departmental honors based on the criteria given in the Undergraduate Catalog. In addition, the Department will normally present the Louis R. Bragg Graduating Senior Award each year to the most outstanding graduating mathematics or statistics major.

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Last updated: August 24, 2006. Send comments or corrections to Professor Grossman