Mathematics
News and Events
2006 - 2007
Clayton State's Professor's Disguised as Angels
By Leigh G. Wills,
University Relations
Clayton State University’s College of Information and Mathematical Sciences (CIMS) may seem like an innocent group of professors and professionals, but don’t be deceived by the pocket protectors and the argyle sweaters; this motley crew, holed up on the third and fourth floor of the Baker Center is nothing better than a gang of angels in disguise!
It seems they’ve been involved in some covert activity for several years now. Not wanting to skew the stalwart image of the College, especially before their colleagues or their students, they’ve managed to keep the activity under wraps, but there’s a mole in the organization, a mole with wings, and the word is out; CIMS professors and staff – including the dean, are really angels in disguise and they have been giving generously from their hearts and their pocket books for the past two-plus years to an organization called Angel Tree, sponsored by the Salvation Army.
It all started seven years ago when the Math Department used to swap gifts and someone suggested putting the money spent toward a more worthwhile cause. When the University reorganized and the College of Information and Mathematical Sciences was created in 2004, it is rumored the Information Technology angels couldn’t wait to climb on to the Angel Tree!
The way the Angel Tree works is quite unique… it’s not just about giving money and gifts. An organization literally “adopts” a local family and with the help of local retailers and the Salvation Army, that family’s “wish list” is filled and delivered in time for Christmas. This year, CIMS will be helping a family with six children, and they’re as excited as ever.
“The program here is voluntary and donations are made anonymously,” says Mary Hudachek-Buswell, our infamous mole and coordinator of the project for CIMS.
According to Hudachek-Buswell, Kohl’s in Fayetteville generously supports the project and for the past three years they have gotten items together and offered discounts on all the purchases.
CIMS faculty and staff raised $800 in cash last year in addition to items donated and this year they hope to raise even more. Several faculty and staff met on Friday to pack up the gifts for delivery to The Salvation Army. From there, the gifts are wrapped and secretly delivered to the family’s parents; the children don’t have a clue – a true Christmas miracle.
“As a college student at GSU, my family of seven received gifts and sometimes cash,” says Halemma Rabia, part-time instructor in the Mathematics. “We were blessed by the generosity of others. I give because it makes me feel good; I pray next year I can do more.”
“We had so much fun sorting the clothes and toys into big black bags. We felt like Santa Claus had come to see us!” says Dr. Annita Hunt. “We were so excited just imagining the children’s reactions on Christmas morning. To me, that is the true spirit of Christmas… helping to fulfill the needs of those less fortunate than we are.”
Congratulations to the new math majors!
Math Majors and Math
Faculty at Fall Commencement 2006.
Standing (left to right): Dr. Aust, Stephen Forth (B.S.,
Mathematics), Dr. Williams, Ashley Askew (B.S., Mathematics),
Dr. Giovannitti.
Seated: Daniel Shubow (B.S., Mathematics)
CIMS Hosts PTE-M Workshop
By Leigh G. Wills,
University Relations
The College of Information and Mathematical Sciences at Clayton State University was recently selected for funding to host a Pre-service (student) Math Teacher Educator (PTE-M) Technology Workshop for students in middle-grades mathematics and science education programs. The workshop, sponsored by the Teachers Teaching with Technology College Short Course Program at The Ohio State University, was designed for pre-service teachers currently involved in both the content and methods courses and consists of a series of modules designed to help students implement technology enhanced lessons in their classrooms.
The Teachers Teaching with Technology (T3) College Short Course Program (T3CSC) is the college division of the International Teachers Teaching with Technology™ Program. It was founded in 1994 and is partially funded through a grant from Texas Instruments, Inc. Program emphasis is placed on enhancing teaching and learning through using hand-held technology. The College T3CSC Program offers free, one-to-three day PTE short courses on campuses all over the United States throughout the year.
The workshop was held on Sept. 15 and Sept. 16 at Clayton State with 22 Middle Level Education students from Clayton State and two students from Kennesaw State University participating. Dr. Nathan Borchelt, assistant professor of Mathematics at Clayton State, organized the workshop and hosted visiting instructor Dr. Judy O'Neal from North Georgia College & State University.
Upon completion of the workshop, each pre-service participant received a free TI-84 Silver Edition graphing calculator with accessories along with a packet containing numerous classroom activities to be used when they begin their teaching careers. When the students are hired for their first teaching position, they will be eligible for additional free products from Texas Instruments including one TI EXPLORATIONS™ Series book and their choice of one of a ViewScreen Panel, CBR, CBL2™, TI-Presenter™, or free registration for one T3 Online Professional Development Course.
2005 - 2006
CIMS Names New
Outstanding Graduate Award After Founding Dean Dr. Cathie Aust
By Leigh Duncan, University Relations
The College of Information and Mathematical Sciences’ newest student award -- The Catherine Cowan Aust Award -- has been named after founding Dean of the College, Dr. Catherine Aust, who celebrates 31 years at Clayton State University this spring.
The College faculty unanimously voted to name the award after Aust, who in turn headed the committee to create the criteria for the award. It will honor the best all-round performance in a CIMS major and will include a certificate, plaque and cash award, plus a perpetual plaque displayed in the College.
“I love to give people their flowers while they can still smell them,” says Dr. Charles Ford, dean of the College. “I made the recommendation to the faculty because of Cathie’s leadership and contributions to the College as the founding dean. She has been a tremendous help to me and more than deserves this honor.”
Candidates for the award will have a minimum of a 3.5 GPA in all their CIMS courses (Math, Information Technology and Computer Science) and a minimum 3.0 overall GPA. They must be scheduled to graduate within the calendar year and be nominated by a faculty member. Each nominee was asked to fill out a questionnaire that included career goals and extra-curricular activities and be interviewed by the award committee.
“It’s important that a faculty member nominate the student,” says Aust. “This isn’t just about grade point average. It’s also about attitude and citizenship; it’s about character.”
Eligible candidates were chosen from students that had 75 hours or more last fall and who conceivably could earn 15 hours each semester for Spring, Summer, and Fall and graduate in December. There were two candidates for the first Catherine Cowan Aust Award; Ashley Askew, a Math major who won the Chancellor’s Academic Recognition Award in 2005 and Dianna Knight, an IT major, working mother of two and active volunteer for her church and community. Askew was named as the first Aust Award winner at the Academic Honors Convocation on Apr. 6.
Aust, a professor of Mathematics, began her Clayton State career in 1975 as assistant professor of Mathematics and moved to the head of the class as the first dean of the College of Information and Mathematical Sciences in 2003. After graduating with a B.S. in Mathematics (Magna cum Laude) from the University of Georgia in 1968, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics from Emory University in 1973.
She served as an instructor and assistant professor of Mathematics at Georgia Tech from 1972 to 1975, before taking the same position at Clayton Junior College. In 1977, Aust was named coordinator of Mathematics, promoted to associate professor in 1980, and to professor in 1985. In September 1994 she was named acting head of the Department of Mathematics, becoming department head in 1996.
Aust has served both the University and the University System of Georgia on more than 20 committees and task forces while making more than a dozen professional presentations. She currently serves on the Georgia Department of Education High School Mathematics Advisory Committee, allowing her to contribute to the development of the new Georgia Performance Standards for High School Mathematics. She is a member of seven professional societies, including the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, the Mathematical Association of America (where she has served as chair of the Southeastern Section), the American Mathematical Society, and the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (a Life Member).
Aust was named an Outstanding Young Woman of America three times, included in the 10th Edition of Who’s Who of American Women, the 13th Edition of American Men and Women of Science, and recently selected for inclusion in the Ninth Edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
In January 2005, having lead the faculty from the departments of Information Technology and Mathematics in the work of establishing the College of Information and Mathematical Sciences, she left administration to return to the classroom and focus on what she loves most, teaching. Since returning to the classroom, she has been involved in faculty focus groups devoted to active learning and collaborative learning and has developed considerable expertise with the use of electronic classroom response systems. Her next new teaching venture will be with Clayton State’s Learning Communities as an instructor for one of the fall 2006 sections of the orientation course, CSU 1022.
Aust is married to Tomie Randolph Aust, a retired Clayton County School Teacher who taught at Lee Street Elementary School from 1963 to 1993. At his retirement the administration named the drive in front of the school “Aust Drive.”
Cathie Aust’s father and mother were both involved in education. Orris W. Cowan was a member of the Clayton County Board of Education for more than 30 years, serving as Vice Chairman for most of the time and Frances King Cowan was an active volunteer at East Clayton Elementary School for many years helping especially with the Book Fair each year. East Clayton named a reading room after her.
CIMS Celebrates
First Awards Ceremony and Dinner
By Leigh Duncan, University
Relations
On Apr. 21, 2006, the Clayton State University College of Information and Mathematical Sciences celebrated its outstanding award winners for 2005-2006, highlighting the nominees for and winner of the first Catherine Cowan Aust Award, named after founding Dean of the College, Dr. Catherine Aust, who celebrates 31 years with Clayton State University this spring. Most of the awards were received at the annual Convocation Ceremony on Apr. 6, but all were recognized at this first dinner.
The evening began with a covered dish banquet and a welcome and recognition of guest by Aust, founding dean of the College. Current Dean Charles Ford recognized all 62 of the Dean’s list students before others of the faculty took the podium to recognize the individual awardees.
Awards recognized were the Experiential Learning Students of the Year, Frances Fernandez and James Carroll, Outstanding Scholars, Patrice Richmon and Luca Yearsovich, the Billy R. Nail Mathematics Award winner, Eric S. Turner, CIMS Chancellor’s Academic Recognition, John A. Shaffer, and the Catherine Cowan Aust Award Nominees, Dianna L. Knight and winner, Ashely Askew.
The criteria for the Aust award included having a minimum of a 3.5 GPA in all their CIMS courses (Math, Information Technology and Computer Science) and a minimum 3.0 overall GPA.
Dr. Aprillya Lanz, one of Askew’s professors said, "I am very proud of Ashley, she’s a wonderful student. I’m too young to be her mother, but I feel that close to Ashley. She’s been like a sister to me and I will miss her."
"Thank you all for everything," said Askew. "You are the reason I’ve been so successful and why I can go on to pursue my career goals."
2004 - 2005
January
8th-10th 2005
The Department
of Mathematics played host to a national workshop sponsored by
the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) which focused on
assessment of undergraduate mathematics programs.
Professors from 28 colleges and universities from around the country converged on the Clayton State University campus. The attendees were very impressed with our campus and facilities. With support from the National Science Foundation, the Supporting Assessment in Undergraduate Mathematics (SAUM) project aims to assist faculty develop effective methods of assessing courses, blocks of courses, or entire programs within the mathematics department, not only to answer the external calls for accountability, but even more important, to assist faculty as they make critical decisions about course and curricular revision.
Click here for more information on the SAUM workshops.