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Grand Valley State University

GVSU Math Major Newsletter

This newsletter comes to your inbox each week from the GVSU math department. You can find past newsletters and information about previously announced events and opportunities at the newsletter webpage.

 

Featured math event

Math meet and greet: Friday September 11, 1 pm, in the Peer Collaboration Space (MAK A-2-610).

Are you a new math major? Want to see old friends and meet new people? Just interested in having a snack or playing a game? Come to the math meet and greet! You – yes you! – should stop by to say hi. Everyone is welcome. Snacks and games will be provided.

Questions? Ask Dr. Clark: clarkdav@gvsu.edu or MAK A-2-104.

 

Upcoming math events

Find these on the calendar of math major events (add it to your calendar at http://gvsu.edu/s/25s).

  • This Friday! Friday 9/4 Tea time! at 1 pm in the Peer Collaboration Space (MAK A-2-610). Relax on the first Friday of classes with tea, cookies, and a chance to chat with peers and faculty.
  • Friday 9/18: Applied Math Seminar at 1 pm in the Peer Collaboration Space (MAK A-2-610) or via Zoom. Dr. Stacy DeRuiter from Calvin University will present "The Wild Side of Calibration". 
  • new! Monday 9/21: GVSU Math Major Internship Presentations and MTH 490 information session from 2-3 pm in the Peer Collaboration Space (MAK A-2-610). Come learn about internships fellow math majors completed over the last year. Also learn more about the Applied Math capstone option, MTH 490 - Internship Seminar. 
 

Join the GVSU Math and Stats Club! 

Interested in connecting with the Mathematics and Statistics community at Grand Valley? Join the Math and Stats Club! They meet the first Thursday of every month from 6-7pm. Meet new friends, learn math, and play games! Pizza is provided at every event. Email us at mathstat@mail.gvsu.edu, or at dykhuism@mail.gvsu.edu! 

Come join the Math and Stats Club on Thursday, September 3rd 6-7pm, for our first meeting of the year! We will be holding a scavenger hunt to help you get familiar with Mackinac Hall, Math and Stats resources, and connect you with friends! Pizza will be provided.

 

Important applied math capstone information

Register soon for MTH 498 - Project-based Applied Mathematics (Capstone): If you are an applied math major and intend to graduate by Fall 2027, then you will need to complete your capstone course in the next year. MTH 498 is the standard option for your capstone and it is only offered in the Winter semester. There are limited seats available in MTH 498 for the Winter 2027 semester, so please register ASAP!

Capstone credit for your internship (MTH 490): Applied math majors who are planning to do an internship might be able to earn capstone credit! If your internship is "mathy" and meets some other requirements, you can get capstone class credit (MTH 490) for that internship. Click the link for more information. The process to get approved for MTH 490 takes time -- if you intend to apply for a MTH 490 internship capstone, email or talk to Dr. Short in MAK B-2-204 right away to get the process started. Don't wait!

 

Scholarships, career, and internship opportunities

What can you do with a math major? Check out job and salary info from GVSU alumni:

What can you do with a math major?
  • Resources to find internships and jobs: Handshake, the Career Center, LinkedIn and Indeed, plus the Career & Internship fair.
  • The GVSU Career Center can help you find career and internship opportunities via their many events, including Career Communities and CareerLab.
  • ScholarshipUniverse is GVSU's main website for finding and applying for scholarships. You can search by all kinds of filters and find matches for your major, minor, or other criteria.
  • Unpaid Internship Support. If you find an internship and register for MTH 490 but aren't paid for it, you can apply for up to $1500. There are many details; click the link for more.
  • Community-Based Work Study: If you are eligible for work study, this is a chance to earn money and make a difference in your community.
 

Education and outreach opportunities

  • MI Future Educator Stipend. Applications are now open for this $9,600 one-time stipend is for students in their student teaching ("internship") semester.
  • MI Future Educator Fellowship. Applications are now open for a $10,000 scholarship for future educators, renewable for up to three years. There is a commitment to teach in a Michigan school as part of the fellowship.
 

Research and grad school opportunities

  • new! 52nd Annual Miami University Mathematics Conference will take place September 18-19th at Miami University's Oxford Campus. This conference is being held in conjunction with The 66th Midwest Graph Theory Conference as well as the 51st Annual Pi Mu Epsilon Conference. You can give a talk about your research - they are accepting submissions for presentations until September 9. Funding is available to support travel. Contact Dr. Keough if you are interested in going. 
  • new! NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited, nonprofit U.S. institutions of higher education. Secure three years of full graduate funding and a $37,000 annual stipend - applications are due Oct. 23 for mathematical sciences. 
  • new! Michigan Biostatistics graduate program. Discover how biostatistics and health science data turn quantitative reasoning into health impact. There are in person and virtual prospective student events scheduled for October. 
  • new! Michigan Student Math Conference. All students interested in research in mathematical sciences are invited to attend the first annual Michigan Student Math Conference (MiSMaC) on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at Hope College in Holland, MI. The day will feature two plenary talks and student presentations. 
  • 2027 Pi Mu Epsilon (PME) National Meeting will be held at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Chicago, IL, January 12-15, 2027. PME will be organizing student poster sessions, student paper sessions, and is pleased to offer up to $900 to defray travel, housing, and subsistence expenses for eligible PME student speakers. This is a combination of $400 in subsistence and up to $500 for transportation. To be eligible:
    • Speakers must submit an abstract to the AMS-PME Student Poster Session or to the PME Contributed Sessions on Research by Undergraduates through the AMS abstract portal no later than Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
    • Complete the application for travel grant, including abstract number if speaking, no later than Saturday, October 17, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET).
    • Be enrolled as (1) a full-time undergraduate student or (2) a first-year graduate student.
    • Be a current member of PME (PME initiation takes place once a year in April).
  • Graduate school information: Interested in graduate school? Did you know that most math graduate programs are funded (that is, they pay you to complete a masters or doctorate)? Talk with your advisor (or Dr. Short) and use these resources too.
  • Finding graduate programs: Looking for graduate programs to apply to? Here are two websites that will help find and filter graduate programs that are right for you: USA/Canada Math PhD Programs GRE Requirements and AMS Find Grad Programs.
  • Learning about graduate school: Want to learn more about what graduate school is and how to prepare for it? Try these sites: Grad Guide (advice on applying to graduate school), STEM Graduate Programs website (help creating resumes, applying to fellowships, and more). 
  • Fellowships for STEM Majors: Check out this list of fellowships -- funded programs for studying, research, and more -- offered to GVSU students. Check them out now; deadlines are throughout the year. Also check out Roadmap to Fellowships, which offers advice on how to obtain and prepare for a fellowship. 
  • International Undergraduate Research opportunities: Check out this page for information about study-abroad, online, and other opportunities to do research internationally.
 

Save the Date

Put these dates on your calendar!

  • Every Friday at 1pm in the Peer Collaboration Space. The math department hosts events throughout the semester on Fridays at 1pm. Keep this time available so you can attend! 
  • Monday September 7: Labor day - no classes!
  • Thursday September 10: Non-Profit Volunteer and Internship Fair. 1 - 3 pm on the Kirkhof Center North Lawn.
  • Wednesday September 23: Study Abroad Fair. 10 am - 3 pm in 2250 Kirkhof Center (the Grand River Room).
  • Tuesday October 13: GVSU Career & Internship Fair! 1 - 5 pm in DeVos Place, downtown Grand Rapids.
 

One important thing to know:
Add or drop classes by Friday at 5 pm!

You can add or drop your classes via Banner up until this Friday (9/4) at 5 pm. Dropping a course by Friday is "free", you'll get a 100% refund, and it won't show up on your transcript. But dropping a class could still affect financial aid and other items.

After Friday at 5 pm, if you drop a course it will show up as a "W" grade on your transcript (and you won't receive a full refund).

If you are thinking of adding, changing, or dropping a class, talk with your advisor first! You can find your math advisor's name on Banner, or drop in to CLAS Advising which has drop-in hours this week (9 am - noon and 1 - 4 pm).

CLAS Advising center information
 

If you have any questions about the newsletter, suggestions for things to add, or general advising questions, please email me!

 

Taylor Short

shorttay@gvsu.edu

Mathematics Advising and Engagement Coordinator

GVSU math social media

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1 Campus Drive

A-2-178 Mackinac Hall
Allendale, MI 49401

 

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