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.
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Screening of the film Counted Out. The mathematics department is organizing a screening of the new film Counted Out on the evening of March 20 at 7:00pm (location to be announced). This film makes the case that mathematical literacy is vital for citizens to have agency in our society as it grapples with issues such as climate change, political misinformation, and racial justice. It also examines who has access to mathematics and how we must and can do better in providing more effective mathematical training. You can view a trailer at the film's website and read a conversation with the director, Vicky Abeles, Why Democracy Lives and Dies by Math, in the New York Times.
This event is free and open to all. It is not required, but please consider signing up for a free ticket. This will give us a sense of how many people will be attending and will send you a (non-annoying!) reminder about the film. See this flyer for more information.
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new! MTH 431 Non-Euclidean Geometry. Are you interested in taking MTH 431? Please fill out the form on this flyer!
Mathematics Student Research and Travel Funding. The math department has created a new fund to support students majoring in mathematics in their engagement in research, other scholarly activities, and in their pursuit of graduate school admittance for further research work. There are two application cycles, the first of which are due by March 15. For more information, see this flyer.
Mathematics Department Scholarship. If you have a GPA of 3.2 or more and have completed at least 45 credit hours, then you may qualify for the Math Department Scholarship. This award of at least $1000 is meant to provide all students of math with a resource to invest in their education. Eligibility requirements and more details can be seen on this flyer. Application deadline: Saturday March 1, 2025.
Donald and Barbara VanderJagt Scholarship. If you have an overall GPA of 3.0 and have completed at least 4 classes that count towards your math degree, then you may qualify for the Donald and Barbara VanderJagt Scholarship. This award of up to $2000 is meant to recognize and reward students who are working towards a math degree. More details about eligibility requirements can be seen on this flyer. Application deadline: Saturday March 1, 2025.
Student Volunteers Needed for Campus Tours during Science Olympiad: GVSU will host the Regional Science Olympiad Tournament on Saturday, March 29, bringing over 1,500 students, parents, and educators to campus. The Regional Math and Science Center (RMSC) is asking departments to showcase their programs at the Industry Expo from 2–4:30 p.m and are seeking student volunteers to lead STEM-focused campus tours and assist during the Expo. Tours will highlight labs, small class sizes, academic resources, and opportunities like undergraduate research. It’s a chance for you as a math major to share your GVSU experience with future Lakers! If interested, please contact Jess Sudy (sudyje@gvsu.edu RMSC Program Manager) or scan the QR codes on flyers in STEM offices and the MAK first-floor bulletin board to sign up.
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Internship, career, and job information |
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tomorrow! GVSU Winter 2025 Career and Internship Fair. Thursday, February 20, 2025 from 1-5pm in the DeVos Place Convention Center (303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI). The Career & Internship Fair is an excellent place to kick off your job or internship search, or to begin networking with organizations looking to hire Grand Valley students and alumni of all majors! Before the fair:
- Register - Register for the Fair in Handshake.
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Update your resume - be sure to bring along hard copies to the fair (Need help? Stop by CareerLab).
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Do your research – Check out the list of attending employers and figure out which organizations you are interested in and spend time doing some research on them. What information does their website or Handshake have? What types of positions do they have available? How do your skills and experiences match what they’re looking for?
- Download the Handshake app - the career fair event within the app has information on participating employers as well as a map of where they are located in the ballroom at DeVos Place.
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Develop questions - Narrow down your list of organizations then list some questions you would like to ask the representative at the fair.
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Prepare an introduction - Having a polished 30-second or less speech to introduce yourself to the employer will help you to initiate conversation. In your introduction, you should include your name, major/minor(s), year in school, career goals, and why you are interested in the particular organization. Listen to our podcast episode on How to Introduce Yourself which includes lots of great tips!
- Prepare what you'll wear - plan to dress for success: suits are not required, but dress in the best you have
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SULI Internship program. Are you an undergraduate student who is ready to use your major in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) field or science policy to help make a difference in the world? Then the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) is for you! SULI is a 10- to 16-week summer or semester-long internship program for college sophomores, juniors, or seniors majoring in STEM fields or science policy. Selected students perform research under the guidance of scientists or engineers on projects supporting DOE missions.The application for the summer term has closed already, but the application for the Fall semester opens in March. Here is a link with more information: https://bit.ly/3TXP4oo
- STEM Community Jobs on Handshake. This is a GVSU-curated collection of STEM internships and jobs. There are many opportunities for math majors here!
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E.R.I.S.A. Inc. Retirement Plan Services is looking to hire a mathematics major for a full time position starting in June 2025 and/or possible intern for Summer 2025. This is a small Illinois-based company, where 4 out of the 8 employees have a bachelors degree in mathematics, including the president and owner of the company. This company has hired 2 recent GVSU graduates in 2021 and 2023 and has reached out because they would like to hire more! E.R.I.S.A. is a third party administrator for 401(k) and pension plans. The company's role is primarily with compliance which can include complex testing, government filings, interpretation of law, reconciliation of assets and income, etc. If interested, please send your resume directly to the president and owner of the company, Richard Perlin at richard@erisainc.com.
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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 right away to get the process started. Don't wait!
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GVSU Joint Applied Math and Data Science & Analytics MS degree program: Did you know about this combined bachelors-masters degree program you can take right here at GVSU? You can complete both an Applied Math major and a Data Science and Analytics MS degree together at GVSU! There's significant overlap between these degrees, and with careful planning they can take as little as 5 years together. If you'd like to make this happen, now is the time to plan. See Dr. Ortiz-Robinson for more information!
- The Student Public Research Interest Group has internship opportunities that may involve data analysis and other mathematical skills.
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Auto-Owners internships and jobs: Auto-Owners Insurance has hired several GVSU math graduates in the past. Click the link to see their current job and internship openings, including some in Grand Rapids and Lansing!
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The GVSU Career Center can help you find career and internship opportunities:
- Employer Showcases: Every week, different employers come to campus to talk about jobs and internships. Check out the STEM showcase in front of the Mackinac POD!
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Career Communities: Receive direct communication about job & internship postings, events, and resources related to the industry area you are interested in.
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CareerLab offers drop-in hours virtually and in-person.
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Scholarships and Fellowships |
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.
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Alayont Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Mathematics. The Alayont Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Mathematics has been developed to provide financial support to students pursuing rigorous, independent scholarship during the academic year, mentored by a faculty member.
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MI Future Educator Fellowship. The MI Future Educator Fellowship offers 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.
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MI Future Educator Stipend. This stipend is for students in their teaching apprenticeship and student teaching internship semesters. Click the link or contact CECI's Office of Certification and Accreditation (OCA) details.
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Research and graduate school opportunities |
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REUs and Mentorship Programs. Most REU applications for Summer 2025 are due in January or February 2025. If you are interested in doing a REU next summer, start working on your applications now!
- Opportunities to present your research: Here are some upcoming conferences and events where you could share your work! Talk with a research advisor or Dr. Short if you have questions.
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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Department of Mathematics 40th annual Undergraduate Mathematics Conference will be held on Saturday March 29, 2025, on the campus of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. This conference is a great opportunity for undergraduate students to present their work, network with fellow math-interested students, and listen to excellent speakers. Presentations can be a great place to showcase class projects, independent projects, REU work, and/or senior theses. Undergraduate presenters coming from all areas of mathematics are welcomed. We invite interested undergraduate students to present a 15-minute talk. Deadline for Priority Consideration for Travel Support: March 1. Abstract Submission Deadline: March 15. Online Registration Ends: March 25. Additional information about the conference can be found at http://www.rose-hulman.edu/mathconf.
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The GVSU Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS) provides travel grants for students. These are available for both students presenting at academic meetings and conferences, as well as for students who will be attending a conference with their faculty mentor. More information is available at the Academic Conference Fund and the Academic Professional and Educational Fund websites.
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Underrepresented Students in Topology and Algebra Research Symposium (USTARS). Date: April 4 - 5th, 2025. Deadline: December 13, 2025. Location: Portland, Oregon. Dedicated to furthering the success of underrepresented students, USTARS seeks to broaden the participation in the mathematical sciences by cultivating research and mentoring networks. USTARS is open to all people interested in the topological and algebraic fields.
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Latinx in the Mathematical Sciences Conference. Date: March 6 - 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California at the University of Los Angeles, California. “IPAM will host a conference showcasing the achievements of Latinx in the mathematical sciences. The goal of the conference is to encourage Latinx to pursue careers in the mathematical sciences, to promote the advancement of Latinx currently in the discipline, to showcase research being conducted by Latinx at the forefront of their fields, and, finally, to build a community around shared academic interests.” Apply here (through mathprograms.org). Deadline: 11:59pm Eastern Time on February 7, 2025. Travel funding is available. Deadline: 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 22, 2024.
- 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.
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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.
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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).
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Extracurricular and other opportunities |
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10th Lake Michigan Workshop on Combinatorics and Graph Theory will be held at University of Illinois Chicago on April 5 and 6, 2025. With the support of the NSF travel support is available for students. If you intend to seek such support, please register on the conference website before March 5. Registration is open now!
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Math Medic Foundation Pi Day Pi K 2025 Presented by NumWorks. Join us for the second annual Math Medic Foundation Pi Day Pi K Presented by NumWorks! Each participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher medal with this year's one-of-a-kind race logo. Participants can choose to run virtually with their friends and family OR choose to run in-person at one of our 6 locations around the country. Check the details of each location to see if one of them is right for you.
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DataFest@GVSU. March 21–23, 2025, hosted by the Department of Statistics! DataFest is an opportunity to win prizes, meet other students who share an interest in data, and learn more about data science and statistics. This event will challenge you to find your own story to tell with the data – one you think will be meaningful to the (secret) data donor. Participants spend the weekend working in small teams (2–5 individuals), around the clock, for 48 hours (5 pm Friday–5 pm Sunday), to find insight and meaning in a large and often messy dataset. Attached is the events flyer, FAQ document and you will also see information posted around MAK. You can register as a team of up to five (5) members or as an individual and we will help place you into a team. You can register using this Google Form (you will need to be signed in with your GVSU email account): https://forms.gle/5Vt6hVq1F7pvPt298. More details about DataFest can be found here: https://www.gvsu.edu/stat/datafest-50.htm.
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2025 Data Analytics for Science Immersion Experience (DASIE) Summer Program is now accepting applications. DASIE provides a hands-on, immersive opportunity to explore how data analytics intersects with science. For more information and to apply, visit the DASIE website here. All applicants will be notified of their application status no later than April 25, 2025. Dates to Know: Priority Application Deadline: February 14, 2025. Application Reviews Begin: February 17, 2025. Final Deadline: March 28, 2025
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Mathematical Sciences Semesters in Guanajuato (MSSG) is a study-abroad opportunity. “Our semester based programs are an excellent option for STEM focused students to have a study abroad experience without putting their academic goals for the semester on hold.” Students can choose from the following courses in Mathematics during Summer 2025: (1) Data Driven Dynamic Modeling, (2) A Journey Through Data Science. Electives are available in all levels of Spanish and Mexico Culture and History as well. The MSSG also organizes a cultural calendar throughout the semester. Together these educational opportunities provide the students with a well-rounded academic experience while here in Guanajuato. Learn more about the upcoming program and potential future ones here, and apply here. Applications for the Summer and Fall terms have an early bird deadline on April 1, 2025 and a final deadline on April 15, 2025.
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Infinite Possibilities Conference (IPC) (April 11-12, 2025). The Infinite Possibilities Conference (IPC) is a national conference designed to broaden participation in the mathematical sciences. IPC aims to foster a sense of community in mathematics among women from underserved populations and welcomes all mathematicians who feel they may contribute to or benefit from this event. Conference sessions are designed to showcase the infinite possibilities of mathematics to participants at all stages of the pipeline, from undergraduate and graduate students to professionals in academia, industry and government. IPC 2025 marks the 20th year of IPC programming! Registration Fee: There is a registration fee of $25 for students and $60 for non-students. There is a separate fee of $25 to attend the Saturday night banquet which includes the presentation of the Etta Z. Falconer Award for Mentoring and Commitment to Diversity. The fee(s) are payable after the application to attend is accepted. March 7, 2024 is the application deadline if you are requesting funding. Travel and Lodging Support: There is financial support available to help cover travel and lodging expenses for participants based in the United States. They can indicate their need for support when they apply.
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Free professional memberships! GVSU students can get a free membership to the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), the world's largest community of mathematicians, students, and math enthusiasts. This membership looks good on your resume, gives you access to MAA journals and articles, and helps you build a network. To join for free, go to maa.org and click "Login" at the top right of the webpage. Choose to create a new account (or simply log in if you already have an account), add your school email address and other demographic information, and enter your institution's name as Grand Valley State University. Then go to portal.maa.org, click "Join MAA", select "Student Membership - $35 ($0 if at Departmental Member Institution)", and proceed to fill out your information, skip adding "Math Horizons - Print, etc." as these cost extra, and on the final screen verify that you have "Total: $0.00" and click "Complete Payment".
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MTH 313 - Teaching Probability and Statistics in Grades 5-12. As a part of certification changes from the state, we are finally offering a course we have long wanted to teach, MTH 313, Teaching Probability and Statistics in Grades 5-12. Starting in the 24-25 catalog year it is required for secondary math education. But for those from a previous catalog year, the department is allowing this course as a substitution for the Math Elective. This is a great option for anyone interested in secondary math teaching. The prerequisites are MTH 229 and STA 312. It will be offered Fall 25 for the first time.
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Hey Doc! Questions for the MAA Math Horizons. Do you have a burning question you've always wanted to ask your math professor? Now is your chance! Math Horizons, an undergraduate magazine of the MAA, is collecting questions that will be answered by our resident staff mathematician. All questions submitted are anonymous and may be answered in a Math Horizons issue.
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Put these dates on your calendar!
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- March 2-9: Spring break
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April 19: Classes end
- April 19-26: Final Exams
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One important thing to know:
Pre-registration advising meetings
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First year and new transfer students must meet with a Professional Advisor before you can register for classes. This means your CLAS advisor (located in C-1-120 Mackinac).
Schedule this meeting through Navigate or by calling CLAS Advising at 616-331-8585.
If you don’t meet with a CLAS advisor, you cannot register for classes. Meeting times fill up fast in March and April, so make an appointment as soon as possible (in February)!
Reminders for everyone about advisors: You have two (or more!) advisors: Your Professional Advisor works in CLAS Advising and can help you with your whole schedule, including general education classes -- this is the one you must meet with to be able to register. Your Math Advisor can help with math classes, career advice, research, and more. You also have an Education Advisor if you have an Education major.
No matter when you plan to graduate, you should contact your advisors soon to make a class plan for next year.
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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
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1 Campus Drive
A-2-178 Mackinac Hall
Allendale, MI 49401
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