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USC Campus-Tommy Trojan. Professor Francis Bonahon-USC Math Dept. Chair. Asher Shamam-Applied Math Student in the PhD program at USC. Ideas to improve the PhD program at USC. Ideas for Improvements. Holistic Mentoring PhD with minors. First Key Idea: Holistic Individual Mentoring.
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Professor Francis Bonahon-USC Math Dept. Chair. Asher Shamam-Applied Math Student in the PhD program at USC Ideas to improve the PhD program at USC
Ideas for Improvements • Holistic Mentoring • PhD with minors
First Key Idea:Holistic Individual Mentoring • The Mentoring Triplet • Informal monthly meeting • Experimenting with different teaching formats • Involve the alumni network
The Mentoring Triplet • Main mechanism: connect each entering graduate student with one faculty member and one advanced graduate student • Regular or need-based meetings bring the triplet together • Occasionally attend each other’s classes as a role model and for feedback?
Some benefits of the Triplet • Entering student has a family - Feels in place • The triplet meetings will serve to keep student on track • Student can approach his mentors as issues/problems arise. The faculty member can serve as an advocate
Informal Monthly Meetings • Informal meeting will bring all the triplets together, in addition to any other interested graduate students • Discussion can be teaching, research, upcoming exams, and other issues of interest • Can be used as part of the activities of the CID
New Teaching Format • Lecture and Discussion section combined • Professor lectures on a bite of material and gives the students a problem to work on • TA’s assist by roving around and helping • TA’s take over the lecture for 10-15 minute changing roles with Professor
New Teaching format-Benefits • More active role for undergraduates in the class • Graduate student and professor can observe each other’s teaching - constant feedback • Graduate student and professor can exchange roles, resulting in a better hands-on experience for the student
Creating a better Alumni Network • Efforts underway to create a viable Alumni network of former graduates. • Directory that categorizes the areas where the alumni have been successfully integrated • Involving Alumni in the graduate seminars and talks would strengthen the mentoring network-serve as an inspiration • Graduate students can spear-head the initiative
Mentoring till when? • This holistic mentoring will continue until the student passes the screening exams, a thesis committee is formed, and the graduate student has roots firmly planted in the department
Some concerns • Triplet consists of three different personalities-not possible to predict success of the dynamics in general • Time is the most scarce resource-students are busy advancing through program, and the faculty member is busy with his/her responsibilities
Second key Idea:The PhD+ The PhD+: a PhD with a minor Two possibilities: • PhD with a full fledged Master degree in another discipline (hard route) • PhD with the restructured Master’s degree in math with specialty (easier)
PhD with a Master degree in another discipline • Possible fields: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Biology, Electrical Engineering • In the past, students have done this on their own • Negotiations under way with the other departments to try to make it easier
Restructuring Masters • Main Theme is mathematical interconnections and a broad exposure to various disciplines and techniques • Consolidation of the current program is the way to go
PhD with MS in mathematics with specialization • Replace four of the current six Master’s programs with a single degree called MS in Mathematics with specialization • Requires a certain number of classes outside of Math Department • Possible specializations: Applied Math, Core Math, Stats, Coding Theory, Math Biology, Math Econ/Finance, Computer Science, Engineering, and more.
Some benefits of the PhD+ • A larger intellectual breadth for the PhD program • Restructured Masters would improve Doctoral education- more interdisciplinary • PhD+ holder is more employable • Existence of these programs makes Mathematics more attractive to prospective PhD students
Conclusions • Momentum for these Ideas is large • Technical difficulties with the Masters restructuring are being tackled • New teaching format seems to be a success