JLH-Math-Class

Colloquium

The Mathematics and Statistics Colloquium, held weekly during the academic year, offers students and faculty the opportunity to learn about each other’s interests and projects and introduces them to professionals from outside Valpo who work in mathematics, data science, and related disciplines. As students progress through their major, they take on increasing responsibility for the colloquium’s content by moderating discussions, giving feedback to their peers, and giving presentations of their own.

The Mathematics and Statistics Colloquium appears in the course catalog as MATH/STAT 299, 399 and 499. These courses are generally taken in the sophomore, junior, and senior years, respectively.

Mathematics majors:

  • During the sophomore year, students participate in MATH 299 by developing and delivering a brief (8-to-10-minute) mathematical presentation on a topic of their choice — this is usually done in coordination with MATH 266; in fact, concurrent enrollment in MATH 299 and MATH 266 is recommended.
  • During the junior year, students earn credit for MATH 399 by participating in co-curricular activities, such as attending a mathematics conference, participating in service learning opportunities, or taking the national Putnam Exam. Students identify and begin researching the topics on which they will give presentations for the following year’s colloquium.
  • During their senior year, students earn credit for MATH 499 by delivering a professional-style 18-to-20-minute presentation on an advanced mathematical topic and submitting a companion written paper on the same topic.

Data Science majors:

  • During their sophomore year, students in STAT 299 conduct peer review of project proposals written by STAT 399 students and peer evaluations of project presentations by STAT 499 students. These peer review and evaluation assignments help STAT 299 students prepare for when they will have to do their own capstone projects.
  • During their junior year, students in STAT 399 write a formal proposal for their capstone project.
  • During their senior year, students in STAT 499 deliver a professional-style 20-minute oral presentation on their capstone project to the statistics/data science colloquium, and also have the opportunity to present a poster about their project at the annual University-wide Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression.