College of Arts & Sciences: Department of Mathematics

Collection

Identifier: UA-004-002

Staff Only

Scope Content

This collection contains files relating to Department of Mathematics and its various associations. The majority of this collection was compiled by Chairman Kenneth Schraut. Most of the material dates from 1940 and later.

Department of Mathematics files include restricted faculty files, student and alumni files, departmental minutes, and other office files. The faculty, student, and alumni files are mostly correspondence to and from Chairman Kenneth Schraut.

The following Department of Mathematics associations also have records in this collection: the University of Dayton Mathematics Club, National Mathematics Honor Society of Secondary Schools, the Mathematical Contest in Modeling and Phi Mu Epsilon.

Dates

Creation: 1912-2011
Creation: Majority of material found within 1940 - 2011

Creator

University of Dayton. Department of Mathematics (Organization)

Access to Material

The materials in this collection are open and accessible to the public for use in the University Archives and Special Collections reading room, with the exception of restricted faculty files and restricted alphabetical files. All materials are non-circulating.

Copyright Notice

Copyright to the official records of the University belongs to the University of Dayton. Non-official records in this collection may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). The materials are available for personal, educational, and scholarly use. It is the responsibility of the researcher to locate and obtain permission from the copyright owner or his or her heirs for any other use, such as reproduction and publication.

History of the Department of Mathematics

The Department of Mathematics was among the first departments established within the College of Arts and Sciences when St. Mary's College was renamed the University of Dayton in 1920. However, courses in mathematics had long been offered at St. Mary’s College (previously known as St. Mary’s Institute).

Today, the Department of Mathematics offers a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics, and a Bachelor of Science in applied mathematical economics (in collaboration with the Department of Economics and Finance). Students may also participate in the mathematics teacher licensure program, offered through the School of Education and Allied Professions. Available minors include mathematics and actuarial science.

The Department of Mathematics also offers several graduate programs, including Master of Financial Mathematics, Master of Mathematics Education, and Master of Science in Applied Mathematics degrees.

Other key events

1935
: First meeting of the mathematical society.
1938
: William Joseph Bellmer becomes the first head of the Department of Mathematics.
1942
: Mathematical club alumni offer an award for advanced mathematicians in junior and senior classes.
1945
: Dr. Kenneth C. Schraut forms the National Mathematical Honors Society.
1960
: First Biennial Seminar on Employment Opportunities in the Mathematical Sciences; Graduate programs in mathematics begin
1974
: First faculty award of excellence in support of mathematics given to Connie Begovich, Don Steiner, and Michael Hemler.
2000
: First year of the Kenneth C. Schraut Memorial Lecture, an annual event at the University of Dayton. This lecture, which brings noted mathematicians to campus, is made possible by the generous support of alumni donations in memory of Dr. Kenneth C. Schraut, who taught mathematics at the University of Dayton for many years.
2002
: First Conversations Among Women in Mathematics is organized by Wiebke Diestelkamp and Arparna Higgins with the help of a generous grant from The Women’s Center Programming Fund at UD.