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Department of Mathematical Sciences Family Orientation

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).

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Department of Mathematical Sciences Family Orientation

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  1. Department of Mathematical Sciences Family Orientation Welcome to the Best Math Department in the Army!

  2. Agenda • Overview / History of USMA • Things to know about the Department • Tour of the Department • Mathlete Luncheon

  3. West Point (a strategic goal) • 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

  4. The post itself, at 16,000 acres, is slightly larger than Manhattan USNA = 338 acres USAFA = 18,000 acres

  5. 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 nationalimportance.” • -George Washington (Dec. 12, 1799) Congress had concerns about creating a military aristocracy. • 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)

  6. 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.

  7. 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)

  8. 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

  9. 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.

  10. 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

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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

  14. ROBERT E. LEE Class of 1829 ULYSSES S. GRANT Class of 1843 JOHN J. PERSHING Class of 1886 DOUGLAS MACARTHUR Class of 1903 DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER Class of 1915 OMAR N. BRADLEY Class of 1915 H. NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF Class of 1956 “Much of the history we teach was made by people we taught.” GEORGE S. PATTON, JR. Class of 1909

  15. MARTIN E. DEMPSEY Class of 1974 JOHN P. ABIZAID Class of 1973 DAVID H. PETAEUS Class of 1974 “Much of the history we teach was made by people we taught.” RAYMOND T. ODIERNO Class of 1976 STANLEY A. MCCHRYSTAL Class of 1976 ANNE F. MACDONALD Class of 1980 REBECCA S. HALSTEAD Class of 1981

  16. 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 MaríaFigueres 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 1907 Omar N. Bradley USMA 1915 Dwight D. Eisenhower USMA 1915 George C.Marshall * VMI 1901 18 Astronauts

  17. 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)

  18. West Point Leaders USMA Superintendent LTG Huntoon SJA IG Chaplain Diversity EO USMA Chief of Staff COL Stafford Director Strategic Communications Ms. Fitzgerald G-1 G-3 G-5 G-6 G-8 PAO Protocol BAND DAA AOG Commander Keller Army Community Hospital COL Land Director Intercollegiate Athletics Mr. Corrigan Director of Admissions COL McDonald Dean Of the Academic Board BG Trainor Commandant United States Corps of Cadets BG Rapp Commander US Army Garrison West Point COL Tarsa

  19. Necessary Components of an Officer Physically Fit Great Intellectual Capacity Militarily Competent Solid Moral/Ethical Foundation Socially Adept Grounded in an individual’s self-concept

  20. Present Day • 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 • 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

  21. Typical Class (2015) 13,954 Applicants 4,344 Nominated 2,554 Qualified 1,249 Admitted 97 Valedictorians 122 Class Presidents 704 Team Captains 1,090 Varsity Letters 17% Women 10% Hispanics 11% African Americans 6.5% Asians 14 International Cadets 17 Combat Veterans

  22. Three Developmental Programs Academic (55%) Core Academic Curriculum Majors Program Clubs Advanced Developmental Activities Military (30%) Summer Training Military Leadership Simon Center – PME2 Military Science Courses Clubs Physical (15%) Department of Physical Education Physical Testing Club Sports Company Athletics Character in Sports (Note: % s reflects weighted averages of the Cadet Performance Score)

  23. 3 English 4 History 2 Leadership 1 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 Army Officer Bachelor of Science Degree Majors in Engineering Math and Science Humanities and Social Sciences (Each with 8 to 12 Electives) 8 Military Science 7 Physical Education The Core

  24. Academic Development Physical Education Military Science Physical Education Military Science Physical Education Military Science Physical Education Military Science The Academic Curriculum First Year Chemistry x 2 History x 2 Math x 2 Information Technology English x 2 Psychology Second Year Physics x 2 Philosophy Math x 2 Foreign Language x 2 Economics American Politics Geography Third Year Leadership International Relations English Foreign Language x 2 Information Technology Engineering x 1 Electives in major x 3-5 Fourth Year Military History x 2 Law Engineering x 2 Electives in major x 5-8

  25. MA100 MAJ Jackson MA103 COL Kobylski, MAJ Weld MA101 MAJ Jackson MA104 LTC Lunday, MAJ Trujillo MA104 LTC Lunday, MAJ Trujillo MA205 COL Hartley, MAJ LaCasse MA205 COL Hartley, MAJ LaCasse MA206 LTC Jackson, MAJ Cummiskey MA206 LTC Jackson, MAJ Cummiskey The Core Mathematics Program MA153 LTC Outing, MAJ Swedberg MA255 LTC Outing, MAJ Swedberg MA206 LTC Jackson, MAJ Cummiskey

  26. Cadet Academic Schedule

  27. Faculty Blend of Excellence Faculty Blend of Excellence Teaching Scholarship Service Senior Military 18% Rotating Military 55% Civilian Faculty 27% Faculty Development Cadet Development

  28. 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

  29. Department Daily Routine • Mornings – Teaching • Afternoons • Lesson Preparation – Daily • Course Meetings – Tuesdays • Faculty development - Wed / Thurs • As Required • Additional Instruction (AI) • Grading

  30. Average Instructor Schedule

  31. 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

  32. 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

  33. D/Math Social Calendar Date Event Location 3 Jul Welcome Picnic P6’s Quarters 18 Jul Boat Ride South Dock 15 or 16 Aug Softball Game / Welcome Back Picnic PX Fields 15 Sep Tailgate Pig Roast TBD Sep – Nov Other Tailgates Various Dec Children’s Christmas Party Math Dec Adult Holiday Party / Progressive Dinner TBD Mar - Apr Bowling WP B. Alley TBD Spring Formal TBD May Farewell Bash TBD

  34. Other Important Dates

  35. Math Spouse’s Activities • Coffees • Bunko group • Lunch group • Various department committees

  36. Questions / Comments?

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