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Committee to Select the Winner of the Award for Mathematics Programs that Make a Difference

General Description

Principal Activities

The Committee recommends a winner and communicates this recommendation to the Secretary for approval by the Executive Committee of the Council. It should make its selection known to the Secretary by September 1 of the year prior to the award.

This Award for Mathematics Programs that Make a Difference was established in 2005 by the AMS's Committee on the Profession to compile and publish a series of profiles of programs that:

  1. aim to bring more persons from underrepresented backgrounds into some portion of the pipeline beginning at the undergraduate level and leading to advanced degrees in mathematics and professional success, or retain them once in the pipeline;
  2. have achieved documentable success in doing so; and
  3. are potentially replicable models.

This award brings recognition to outstanding programs that have successfully addressed the issues of underrepresented groups in mathematics. Examples of such groups include racial and ethnic minorities, women, low-income students, and first-generation college students.

One program is selected each year by a Selection Committee appointed by the AMS President and is awarded US\$1,000 provided by the Mark Green and Kathryn Kert Green Fund for Inclusion and Diversity.

Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
(as adopted by the April 2019 Council)

The American Mathematical Society is committed to promoting and facilitating equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the mathematical sciences. For its own long-term prosperity as well as that of the public at large, our discipline must connect with and appropriately incorporate all sectors of society. We reaffirm the pledge in the AMS Mission Statement to "advance the status of the profession of mathematics, encouraging and facilitating full participation of all individuals," and urge all members to conduct their professional activities with this goal in mind.

Miscellaneous Information

Eligibility: Preference is given to programs with significant participation by underrepresented minorities. Note that programs aimed at pre-college students are eligible only if there is a significant component of the program benefiting individuals from underrepresented groups at or beyond the undergraduate level. Nomination of one’s own institution or program, in permitted and encouraged.

Nomination process: The letter of nomination should describe the specific program being nominated and the achievements that make the program an outstanding success. A strong nomination typically includes a description of the program’s activities and goals, a brief history of the program, evidence of its effectiveness, and statements from participants about its impact. The letter of nomination should not exceed two pages, with supporting documentation not to exceed three more pages. Up to three supporting letters may be included in addition to these five pages. Nomination of the writer's own institution or program is permitted. Nominations will automatically be reconsidered for the award for the next two years.

Selection process: The selection committee shall consist of five members, appointed for three-year terms. It should be broadly constituted, involving individuals drawn from various areas of the mathematical profession, such as a person working outside academia, one having experience with educational issues, or one from a department devoted solely to undergraduate mathematics. In addition, the committee should include at least one mathematician with administrative experience (e.g., a current or recent department chair).

Deadlines: Nominations are due by June 30 of the year preceding the presentation of this award. The selection committee should make its selection known to the Secretary by August 1. The prize is announced on the AMS website when prize article is about to appear in the Notices, which is usually in November.

The prize amount is \$1000.

Note to the Chair

Committee chairs should be informed, at the beginning of each fiscal period, of the budget of their committees and cautioned to remain within the budget. Such items as travel reimbursement, accommodations, and meals for guests of any kind fall within these budgets.

For the purpose of archiving the committee activities, the Secretary maintains a central file system for archiving committee records. Committee Chairs are asked to submit committee records on yearly basis. Chairs can submit material at their discretion, and some materials that they may wish to provide are meeting minutes, agenda, and emails. Confidential material should be noted, so that it can be handled in a confidential manner.

Authorization

Past Members

A list of current and past members is available at:
https://www.ams.org/about-us/governance/committees/makeadiff-past.html

Past Winners

http://www.ams.org/make-a-diff-winners

AMS Webpage

http://www.ams.org/make-a-diff-award