Friend of the University of Rochester

Thomas H. Jackson, President
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY 14627

Dear Dr. Jackson:

I write on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Mathematical Association of America to express our grave concern about the recent events at the University of Rochester and about the University's plan to "service (the) need for calculus instruction (through) the hiring of non-research (adjunct) faculty and/or the redirection of other qualified faculty from other disciplines."

The Mathematical Association of America is the professional association concerned primarily with collegiate mathematics instruction. The Association and its 30,000 members are vitally concerned about undergraduate mathematics instruction and agree with your statement that "Effective teaching of calculus is an essential ingredient of a quality under-graduate educational experience at Rochester, particularly given the large proportion (over 70%) of first year students who enroll in the calculus sequences." We do not believe that these students are well served by part time instructors or by faculty who do not have a strong education in mathematics.

Mathematics and mathematics instruction are constantly changing. Recent initiatives by the National Science Foundation have, for example, resulted in major changes in the way that calculus is taught. Advances in technology have affected not only mathematics pedagogy but also the curriculum. To attract and retain the brightest undergraduates requires that those who are responsibile for instruction be active mathematicians and be aware of the ways that both the subject and its instruction are changing.

In view of this, the Board of Governors of the Mathematical Association of America at its annual meeting in January 1995 passed a resolution that makes it clear that it is a disservice to students and to the profession to relegate the teaching of mathematics to adjuncts and faculty from other disciplines. For the best mathematical education, university students need committed professors who are also committed to mathematics. I enclose a copy of this resolution and urge you to reconsider your proposed course of action.

Sincerely yours,

Kenneth Ross, President
Mathematical Association of America
Department of Mathematics
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1222

xc: Richard N. Aslin, Vice Provost and Dean
Joseph E. Neisendorfer, chairman of the Department of Mathematics
Sanford L. Segal, Faculty Senate
Executive Committee of the Mathematical Association of America
Marcia P. Sward, Executive Director of the MAA