department of mathematical sciences family orientation
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Department of Mathematical Sciences Family Orientation. Welcome to the Best Math Department in the Army!. Agenda. Overview / History of USMA Things to know about the Department Tour of the Department Mathlete Luncheon. West Point (a strategic goal). - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Department of Mathematical SciencesFamily Orientation
Welcome to the Best Math Department in the Army!
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Agenda
• Overview / History of USMA
• Things to know about the Department
• Tour of the Department
• Mathlete Luncheon
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•Oct. 6, 1777 Battle of Ft. Montgomery
•Oct. 7, 1777 Battle of Saratoga
•Washington wanted to prevent British from splitting the colonies. He considered it “key to the continent and “the most important post in America”
•Jan. 1778 work begins on Fortress West Point
West Point (a strategic goal)
The post itself, at 16,000 acres, is slightly larger than Manhattan
USNA = 338 acresUSAFA = 18,000 acres
History of West Point • In 1780, the commander of the post, Maj.
Gen. Arnold offered it to be traded to the British port 10,000 gold pounds and a general’s commission in the Royal Army
• In 1793 Washington held a Cabinet meeting to discuss an academy.
“The establishment of a military academy, upon a respectable and extensive basis, has ever been considered by me to be an object
of the highest national importance.”
-George Washington (Dec. 12, 1799)
• March 16,1802 − Academy founded under Jefferson− The Army established the Corps of Engineers as a separate, permanent
branch, and gave the engineers responsibility for finding and operating the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. (caused problems that were changed in 1812)
Congress had concerns about creating a military aristocracy.
Sylvanus Thayer, USMA 1808“Father of the Military Academy”
• Assistant Professor of Mathematics USMA, 1809-1811
• Knew WP did not have quality mathematicians, scientists, and engineers to meet the requirements of a top-notch engineering school (America’s 1st engineering school).
• Visited technical and military schools in France and England, 1815-1817
• Superintendent (1817-1833)– In less than a decade, established
the Academy as one of the premier educational programs in the world.
The Thayer Method of Teaching“a quiet revolution in American education”
• Cadets prepare; no lectures• Every cadet is graded every day• Small sections of 10-12• Sections grouped by performance• Professors have to turn in weekly
reports
• Instituted demerits which were based on conduct in military training and academic effort
• Limited summer vacations to once – between 2nd and 3rd year.
• By 1823, applications lead to over 1000 a year for 250 openings
• A major problem in Thayer’s merit system (Jefferson Davis and Edgar Allan Poe)
Thayer’s Legacy
• After Thayer resigned, he left a school that had become world-famous – a model for other American schools in science and engineering.– Virtually all 19th century
American engineering schools were started with West Point-educated faculty or adopted its texts.
• Founded the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, 1867
Robert Edward Lee, USMA 1829
• Taught mathematics as a cadet as a third and second classman.
• Superintendent 1848-1852
• Civil War General– Acknowledged as one of
the Army’s best officers.– Offered command of the
Union Army in 1861.
• Applied four times to become an instructor in Mathematics, but was turned down.
• Prof Church believed Grant’s mediocre performance in mathematics did not qualify him to teach in the department.
• “It is easier to become President of the US than to become an instructor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.”
Ulysses S. Grant, USMA 1843
Douglas MacArthur, USMA 1903* (Superintendent 1919-1922)
• If Sylvanus Thayer was the Father of the Military Academy, then MacArthur was its “savior.”
− “How long are we going on preparing for the war of 1812?“ - MacArthur
– "During the great war, West Pointers were unable to adapt to new methods in the field... because of their stifling training.” President emeritus of Harvard University, Dr. Charles Eliot.
• The country’s needs had changed.– A new type of officer was needed, one possessing
• An understanding of human feelings • A comprehensive grasp of world and national affairs.
• MacArthur made reforms in an institution that was highly resistant to change.– Modernized the curriculum– Formalized the honor code - Truth was
always expected but it was never written down and there was no investigating or enforcing agency
– Created a system of intramural athletics– Liberalized regulations; more privileges,
ensured they came in contact with civilians, gave them $5 / month to spend, granted upperclassman leave on weekends…
– Changed the basis for final class standings. • Grades included military bearing and
efficiency, leadership, personality, athletic performance, and cadet participation in extracurricular activities.
He bought a new spirit to the Academy, a willingness to experiment, to break with tradition, to question everything.
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Omar N. Bradley USMA, 1915
"Whatever the case, I know I benefited from this prolonged immersion in math. The
study of mathematics, basically a study of logic, stimulates one's thinking and greatly
improves one's power of reasoning. In later years, when I was faced with infinitely
complex problems, mathematics helped me think more clearly and logically."
- Instructor of Mathematics at USMA, 1920-24
ROBERT E.LEE
Class of 1829
H. NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF
Class of 1956
ULYSSES S.GRANT
Class of 1843
JOHN J.PERSHING
Class of 1886
DOUGLASMACARTHURClass of 1903
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWERClass of 1915
OMAR N.BRADLEY
Class of 1915
GEORGE S.PATTON, JR.Class of 1909
“Much of the history we teach was made by people we taught.”
“Much of the history we teach was made by people we taught.”
MARTIN E. DEMPSEY
Class of 1974
DAVID H. PETAEUS
Class of 1974
JOHN P.ABIZAID
Class of 1973
RAYMOND T. ODIERNO
Class of 1976
STANLEY A. MCCHRYSTAL
Class of 1976
REBECCA S. HALSTEADClass of 1981
ANNE F. MACDONALD
Class of 1980
Two West Point Grads served as US President:President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877) USMA 1843
President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961) USMA 1915
Four Heads of State:Jefferson Davis USMA1828 (1861-1865)
Anastasio Somoza Debayle USMA 1946, Nicaragua (1967–72, 1974-79)Fidel V. Ramos USMA1950,. Philippines (1992-1998)
José María Figueres USMA1979, Costa Rica (1994-1998)
Only Five “5 Star Generals” Title - “General of the Army”:Douglas C. MacArthur USMA 1903
Henry H. Arnold (Gen of Air Force*) USMA 1907Omar N. Bradley USMA 1915
Dwight D. Eisenhower USMA 1915 George C.Marshall * VMI 1901
18 Astronauts
West Point, 1980 - Present• Better problem solvers, decision makers, critical and creative
thinkers, and more culturally diverse…• Changed the overarching intellectual goal:
Graduates anticipate and respond effectively to the uncertainties of a changing technological, social, political, economic world.
• Summer programs - 519 Cadets in 37 Countries• Semester Abroad - 140 Cadets in 10 countries,
(up from 1 cadet in 2001)
West Point Leaders
USMASuperintendentLTG Huntoon
USMAChief of StaffCOL Stafford
DirectorStrategic Communications
Ms. Fitzgerald
G-1 G-3 G-5 G-6 G-8 PAO Protocol BAND DAA AOG
SJA IG Chaplain DiversityEO
DeanOf the Academic Board
BG Trainor
CommandantUnited States Corps of Cadets
BG Rapp
DirectorIntercollegiate Athletics
Mr. Corrigan
Director of Admissions
COL McDonald
CommanderUS Army Garrison West Point
COL Tarsa
Commander KellerArmy Community Hospital
COL Land
Great Intellectual Capacity
Grounded in
an individual’s self-concept
Socially Adept
Solid Moral/Ethical Foundation
Physically Fit
Militarily Competent
Necessary Components of an Officer
Present Day
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• Of the newly minted 2LTs - West
Point contributes approximately 20% , ROTC 60%, OCS 20%.
• As a minimum, graduates serve five years on active duty and three years in a reserve status
• 4400 cadets from all 56 U.S. states and territories, as well as 36 foreign countries
• Provides the Army with approximately 1000 second lieutenants each year
Typical Class (2015)
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13,954 Applicants4,344 Nominated 2,554 Qualified1,249 Admitted
97 Valedictorians122 Class Presidents704 Team Captains1,090 Varsity Letters
17% Women10% Hispanics
11% African Americans6.5% Asians
14 International Cadets17 Combat Veterans
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Academic (55%)Core Academic Curriculum
Majors ProgramClubs
Advanced Developmental Activities
Military (30%)Summer Training
Military Leadership Simon Center – PME2
Military Science CoursesClubs
(Note: % s reflects weighted averages of the Cadet Performance Score)
Three Developmental Programs
Physical (15%)Department of Physical Education
Physical TestingClub Sports
Company AthleticsCharacter in Sports
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Majors in Engineering
Math and ScienceHumanities and Social Sciences
(Each with 8 to 12 Electives)
Army OfficerBachelor of Science Degree
8 Military Science 7 Physical Education
3 English 4 History
2 Leadership1 Philosophy/Ethics
2-4 Foreign Language*3 Social Sciences
1 Law
4 Math 2 Chemistry
1 Physical Geography 2 Information Technology
2 Physics 3 Engineering Science/Design
The Core
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First Year
Chemistry x 2
History x 2
Math x 2
Information Technology
English x 2
Psychology
Fourth Year
Military History x 2
Law
Engineering x 2
Electives in major x 5-8
Third Year
Leadership
International Relations
English
Foreign Language x 2
Information Technology
Engineering x 1
Electives in major x 3-5
Second Year
Physics x 2
Philosophy
Math x 2
Foreign Language x 2
Economics
American Politics
Geography
Physical Education
Military Science
Physical Education
Military Science
Physical Education
Military Science
Physical Education
Military Science
The Academic CurriculumAcademic Development
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The Core Mathematics Program
MA103COL Kobylski, MAJ Weld
MA104LTC Lunday, MAJ Trujillo
MA205COL Hartley, MAJ LaCasse
MA206LTC Jackson, MAJ Cummiskey
MA101MAJ Jackson
MA104LTC Lunday, MAJ Trujillo
MA205COL Hartley, MAJ LaCasse
MA206LTC Jackson, MAJ Cummiskey
MA100MAJ Jackson
MA153LTC Outing, MAJ Swedberg
MA255LTC Outing, MAJ Swedberg
MA206LTC Jackson, MAJ Cummiskey
Cadet Academic ScheduleMorning Event
0630 Reveille0705-0720 Breakfast0730-1155 Classes1210-1235 Lunch
Afternoon1250-1345 Values Classes, Labs, Tests1355-1600 Classes1615-1830 Athletics, Drill and Ceremony1830-1930 Dinner
Evening1930-2330 Evening Study Period (ESP)
2330 Taps2400 Lights Out
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Teaching
Cadet Development
Service
Faculty Development
Scholarship
Faculty Blend of Excellence
Rotating Military 55% Civilian Faculty 27% Senior Military 18%
Faculty Blend of Excellence
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Five Domains of Faculty Excellence
• Teaching– Number one priority– Not easy, not 9-5
• Scholarship - May start in 2nd year• Service
– Committees, the Department and the Community– Additional Department Responsibilities
• Cadet Development– Professionally – TAC for a day, Academic Officer in Charge– Socially
• Faculty Development - Usually starts in 2nd year
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Department Daily Routine
• Mornings – Teaching• Afternoons
– Lesson Preparation – Daily– Course Meetings – Tuesdays– Faculty development - Wed / Thurs
• As Required– Additional Instruction (AI)– Grading
Average Instructor Schedule
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Morning Event0630-0730 Arrive Work0715-0730 Transition to Classroom0730-1155 Teaching1155-1245 Lunch
Afternoon1250-1345 Cadet Development / Additional Instruction (AI)1345-1600 Meetings / Lesson Prep / AI / Scholarship1600-UTC Cadet Development / Lesson Prep
Evening1930-2330 Academic Officer In-Charge (1-2 x Semester)
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Supporting Cadets, the Academy, and Our Country
• National Leader in Mathematics Education – National Science Foundation Grants– Participation in the National Joint Meetings of the American
Mathematical Society (AMS) and the Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
“The West Point mathematics department is broadly viewed as one of the most creative mathematics departments in the country. The attention to student mathematical growth in problem solving, the
thoughtful use of technology, and the use of applications is a national model that others could well emulate.”
Dr. Liz Teles, NSF
• Junior Faculty are Combat Proven Leaders• Active Support to the Global War on Terrorism
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Summer Planning
• 1st Summer: FDW
• 2nd and 3rd Summers (Approximately 10 weeks): Buckner, Research, or the Q-course, Course Prep, and leave
• Final Summer: Summer School (STAP) and Out-processing
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D/Math Social Calendar
Date Event Location3 Jul Welcome Picnic P6’s
Quarters18 Jul Boat Ride South Dock15 or 16 Aug Softball Game / Welcome Back Picnic PX Fields15 Sep Tailgate Pig Roast TBDSep – Nov Other Tailgates Various Dec Children’s Christmas Party Math Dec Adult Holiday Party / Progressive Dinner TBD Mar - Apr Bowling WP B. AlleyTBD Spring Formal TBDMay Farewell Bash TBD
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13 Aug CBT (Plebe) March Back13-17 Aug Reorganization Week
18 Aug Acceptance Day Parade20 Aug First Day of Class for Cadets16 Aug First Day, West Point Schools2 Sep Band Concert at Trophy Point (1812 Overture)5 Sep First Day, O’Neill High School
22-25 Nov Thanksgiving Leave8 Dec Army-Navy Football Game
17-21 Dec Term End Exams22 Dec - 3 Jan Winter Leave for Cadets22 Dec - 6 Jan Winter Leave for West Point Schools22 Dec - 1 Jan Winter Leave for O’Neill High School
3-7 Jan Winter Reorganization Week8 Jan First Day of Classes for Second Term
8-10 March Plebe Parent Weekend11-17 March Spring Leave (Cadets and West Point Schools)
10 May Last day of Classes for Cadets11-17 May Term End Exams
25 May Graduation USMA Class of 20135 Jun Last Day, West Point Schools
Other Important Dates
Math Spouse’s Activities
• Coffees• Bunko group• Lunch group• Various department committees
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Questions / Comments?