Liaison Newsletter

April 2006



In this issue:

2006 PREP WORKSHOPS

Please remind your colleagues that it's time to register for this year's PREP workshops. These workshops are a great chance to expand your horizons, and are a great bargain: the registration fee ($250 for most workshops) includes lodging and food.

We hope you took a look at the program and are already planning to join us for a PREP workshop that fits your interests. For more information or to register, visit www.maa.org/prep.


2006 PMET WORKSHOPS

During Summer 2006, PMET will offer four new workshops and two continuing workshops for college and university faculty who teach mathematics courses taken by prospective teachers. Each workshop will focus on preparing teachers for elementary, middle and/or secondary school mathematics. Participants will examine how pre-service teachers learn mathematics, make sense of mathematical ideas and how they integrate their knowledge of mathematics into their thinking about teaching. Participants will also have opportunities to share ideas, discuss and learn more about appropriate content and effective ways of helping pre-service teachers learn mathematics. They will explore specific topics including the use of technology and statistics education in school mathematics. In addition, various workshops will have a specific focus.

Costs of lodging and food while at the workshops are covered by the program.
PMET pays participants' room, board and tuition. Participants' only cost is travel plus incidentals. Some travel support may be available to deal with special circumstances. For information or to register visit www.maa.org/pmet or contact Bernie Madison at bmadison@uark.edu.


REGIONAL UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS CONFERENCES

The MAA has received funding from the Division of Mathematical Sciences at the National Science Foundation to provide support for institutions or groups of institutions that wish to initiate or expand undergraduate mathematics conferences. The primary objective of the grant is to provide as many undergraduate students as possible with the opportunity to present mathematically-oriented talks and to better expand their knowledge of the wide range of theory, history, and applications of the mathematics sciences at conferences that are within their geographic region.

Eighteen conferences are being supported this spring, and we are accepting proposals for the 2006-07 academic year now. For information on supported conferences or application guidelines, visit the project website, www.maa.org/rumc.


MAKE MATHFEST YOUR SUMMER DESTINATION

We hope you are planning to join us in Knoxville, TN, August 10-12 for MathFest 2006.

As usual, this year's MathFest offers a full range of programs designed to appeal to all of the mathematically inclined. Look for full details in the April issue of FOCUS, or visit the MAA website, www.maa.org, and look for the MathFest link. To submit an abstract for one of the contributed paper sessions, visit abstracts.maa.org.


SECTION GOVERNOR ELECTION RESULTS

Each spring, approximately 1/3 of MAA's 29 Sections elect a new governor. This year's results were recently posted on the MAA website. We thought we'd include the list in this newsletter.

Kansas Andrew Bennett Kansas State University Missouri Jim Bruening Southeast Missouri State University New Jersey Patricia Kenschaft Montclair St University Northeastern Ockle Johnson Keene State College Ohio Judy Palagallo University of Akron Pacific-Northwest Nancy Neudauer Pacific University Seaway Robert Rogers State University of New York Fredonia Southeastern Ellen Kirkman Wake Forest University Southwestern Janet McShane Northern Arizona University

New Governors begin their three-year term this summer, and attend their first official meeting at MathFest.


PROJECT NEXT

We expect you are already well aware of Project NExT, the MAA's professional development program for new or recent Ph.D.s in the mathematical sciences. It addresses all aspects of an academic career: improving the teaching and learning of mathematics, engaging in research and scholarship, and participating in professional activities. It also provides the participants with a network of peers and mentors as they assume these responsibilities.

Project NExT is now accepting applications for the 2006-2007 Fellowship year. Applications are due April 17, 2006. For more information, visit the Project NExT website, http://archives.math.utk.edu/projnext/.


PROJECT ACCCESS

Project ACCCESS (Advancing Community College Careers: Education, Scholarship and Service) is a joint project of the MAA and AMATYC. Now in its third year, Project ACCCESS is a mentoring and professional development initiative for two-year college mathematics faculty. The project's goal is to provide experiences that will help new faculty become more effective teachers and active members of the broader mathematical community.

We are currently accepting applications for the second group of ACCCESS Fellows. Complete applications must be received by Friday, June 30, 2006. Complete information and application materials are available at the project website, www.maa.org/projectacccess.