The UR SIGMAA was chartered after a discussion by members of the governing council of the Council on Undergraduate Research’s Division of Mathematics and Computer Science. We held our first elections in 2018, and have already started a tradition of holding events at the Joint Mathematics Meetings and MathFest. We aspire to offer programming at the MAA section level, and more generally to meet the changing needs of the MAA community.
The stated focus and purpose of the SIGMAA, as laid out in our charter, is to promote and broaden participation in undergraduate research in mathematics by supporting faculty serving as mentors and by supporting interested students. Specific objectives include:
Chair. Lauren Rose, Bard College.
The Chair will preside at all UR SIGMAA business meetings, will organize and direct the activities of the SIGMAA, and will serve as its chief spokesperson. The Chair will serve as liaison with the MAA Committee on SIGMAAs and with other organizations. The Chair will also regularly communicate with UR SIGMAA members about the activities of the Executive Committee and the SIGMAA in general. The Chair will also perform other duties as may be directed from time to time by the Executive Committee. Elected position, 3 years.
Past Chair. Brandy Wiegers, The College of Idaho.
Chair-Elect. None.
The Chair-Elect will serve as vice-chair, assisting the Chair in UR SIGMAA activities. One of the primary duties of the Chair-Elect is to become familiar with the operations of the SIGMAA, so that the transition to their position as Chair will occur as seamlessly as possible. The Chair-Elect will become the Chair upon completion of the latter's term of office. Elected position, 1 year followed by 3-year in the Chair position.
Secretary/Treasurer. Violeta Vasilevska, Utah Valley University.
The Secretary/Treasurer will keep records of official meetings of the UR SIGMAA and its Executive Committee, and will hold and disburse funds as directed by the UR SIGMAA Executive Committee. Other duties include keeping a record of the affairs of UR SIGMAA, handling correspondence, preparing written reports for submission to the MAA as required, being responsible for all finances of the UR SIGMAA and for preparation of financial reports as required by the UR SIGMAA Executive Committee. The Secretary/Treasurer will also perform other duties as may be directed from time to time by the Executive Committee. Elected position, 3 years.
Program Coordinator. Vinodh Chellamuthu, Utah Tech University.
The Program Coordinator will solicit proposals for special sessions at the Joint Mathematics Meetings, workshops, conferences, etc., from the UR SIGMAA membership, and present proposals to the Executive Committee. The Program Coordinator will coordinate, with the MAA Associate Secretary, the implementation of those proposals approved by the Executive Committee. Criteria for accepting proposals will include whether the objectives of the proposed sessions are concordant with the missions of UR SIGMAA and the MAA. The Program Coordinator will also perform other duties as may be directed from time to time by the Executive Committee. Elected position, 3 years.
Outreach Coordinator. None.
The Outreach Coordinator will be responsible for publicity, outreach, and advocacy activities of the UR SIGMAA. The Outreach Coordinator will be responsible for distributing information about undergraduate research in mathematics to the SIGMAA membership, to other MAA members, and to institutions and forums outside of the MAA. The Outreach Coordinator will also perform other duties as may be directed from time to time by the Executive Committee. Elected position, 3 years.
Electronic Resources Coordinator. Cara Sulyok, Lewis University.
The Electronic Resources Coordinator will be responsible for dissemination of information to the UR SIGMAA membership, primarily through electronic media. The Electronic Resources Coordinator will assist the Secretary/Treasurer, as needed, with correspondence, and with recording and disseminating the activities of the UR SIGMAA. The Electronic Resources Coordinator will also perform other duties as may be directed from time to time by the Executive Committee. Appointed position.
Newsletter Editor. Yunus Zeytuncu, University of Michigan-Dearbron.
The Newsletter Editor publishes a newsletter and maintaining a webpage of links related to undergraduate research. Appointed position.
Elections are held each fall, and terms are 3 years starting in January. The positions of Electronic Resources Coordinator and Newsletter Editor are by appointment; let the SIGMAA chair know if you are interested in a position. Business meetings are held quarterly via videoconference, with an annual business meeting on site at either JMM or MathFest.