College of Science

The Bruce W. Woolpert Algebra Academy is an innovative, free mathematics program for high-performing, highly motivated 8th graders. During the 5-day intensive program at a local business, dedicated professors from CSUMB and UCSC challenge and inspire students to expand their horizons in math. In addition to a memorable field trip to CSUMB during the week, these students build confidence and are more likely to advance in STEM disciplines down the road.

About Bruce W. Woolpert, President and CEO of Graniterock 1987 to 2012: Bruce believed passionately in the power of math. In 2010, he and Graniterock Vice President Kevin Jeffery teamed up with CSUMB Professor Hongde Hu to bring the Algebra Academy to students at Rolling Hills Middle School. Bruce’s infectious enthusiasm for the program and his joy in each student’s accomplishments inspired his family, friends, and coworkers to continue to grow the program he loved so much. We believe Bruce would be proud of how far his Algebra Academy has come.

Learn more here: Woolpert Algebra Academy

Drs. Alison Lynch and Lipika Deka received a California Learning Lab grant to transition Calculus I and II from a points-based grading system to a standards-based grading (SBG) system. In general, standards-based grading breaks up a course into small learning targets that students have to show proficiency in. There are many ways to implement SBG. In calculus, students are assessed on the learning targets through quizzes and exams. If a student does not show proficiency in a learning target, they are able to reassess on a later exam. The grant was recently extended to allow for precalculus to be transitioned to SBG, which will be led by Dr. Jeffrey Wand.  

Faculty and graduate students, as well as faculty and instructors from neighboring community colleges and high schools are encouraged to participate in the different activities that are part of the program.

Learn more here: edge-DS

Attitudes matter in Education! Dr. Alana Unfried is the Principal Investigator of Motivational Attitudes in Statistics and Data Science Education Research (MASDER), a research project funded by the National Science Foundation (DUE-2013392).  With a research team around the county, Dr. Unfried is developing validated survey instruments assessing student and instructor attitudes toward statistics and data science, as well as classroom learning environment inventories. The team is conducting a random sample of universities across the United States to better understand current trends in teaching and learning in these subject areas, with the long-term goal of determining best-practices in teaching introductory statistics and data science. As a part of this work, Dr. Unfried employs undergraduate research students each semester to work survey design, sampling, data analysis, and more. Learn more here: SDS Attitudes

Drs. Michael B. Scott, Alison Lynch, and Jennifer Clinkenbeard received a California Learning Lab grant to provide sustainable professional development for Department faculty. During this two-year grant, faculty are participating in peer-led professional development activities in person, as well as synchronously and asynchronously online. Faculty are working to develop learning activities and pedagogical practices specifically targeted to re-engage students in mathematics and statistics coursework. The project team anticipates an increased faculty confidence and usage of active learning strategies, increased student engagement, and improved student success mathematics and statistics courses.

Transition to College Mathematics Course and Professional Development

This course and accompanying professional development were developed by a team of Mathematics and Mathematics Education faculty members from California State University, Monterey Bay, Hartnell College and several school districts in Monterey County and in collaboration with the Monterey County Office of Education. The project was funded by a grant to California State University Monterey Bay from the California Department of Education as part of the California Mathematics Readiness Challenge Initiative.

The Transition to College Level Mathematics course is intended for high school seniors, as a fourth year mathematics course, for students who would like to continue mathematics, but do not currently want to pursue the pre-calculus, calculus pathway. When students enter college after completing this course they will be well positioned to take a variety of college level courses including: Pre-calculus, Statistics, Discrete Mathematics, or Quantitative Reasoning.

Course Overview

Transition to College Level Mathematics serves any student who has successfully completed Integrated Math 3 or Algebra 2 and emphasizes modeling, problem solving and applications of mathematics to the real world. Students learn new concepts as well as develop a deeper understanding of previous concepts and relationships between them. The course requires students to justify and explain their thinking and work in groups. CCSS-M mathematical practices 4: Modeling with Mathematics; and 1: Make Sense of Problems and Persevere in Solving Them, are accentuated, but all eight mathematical practices are developed and applied throughout the course.

Learn more here: Curricular Unit Details.

The Julia Robinson Math festival is an event for students in the local community (K-12) to participate in fun mathematics activities. Drs. Alison Lynch, Peri Shereen, and Jeffrey Wand organized and hosted CSUMB’s first Julia Robinson Math Festival in Spring 2020. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic prevented more festivals. However, Drs. Lynch, Shereen, and Wand are planning on having more festivals soon.