Information for Medaille University Students →

Mission and Goals

Mission

The aims of the department of mathematics are the transmission of mathematical knowledge and the application of this knowledge to the life of the individual and to society. The mathematics department focuses its attention on the individual student and endeavors to guide him/her in developing intellectual curiosity, precision of thought and logical reasoning, as well as increasing intuitive thought, creativity and independent thinking in the fields of mathematics.

Statement on diversity

As Niagara University faculty in Mathematics, we adopt the following statement originally authored by our colleagues in Political Science, International Studies, and Pre-Law:

  • We affirm that Black and Brown lives matter and that silence is not an option.
  • We recognize that institutions of higher education have contributed to systemic racism and have systematically devalued Black and Brown lives.
  • We know that curricula have privileged whiteness as a starting point for understanding the world, and we reject this status quo.
  • We believe that our teaching must seek to identify, examine, and expose racism and racial oppression—and all forms of discrimination and oppression on the basis of race, sex, tribal membership or indigenous status, LGBTQ status, national origin, immigration status, or disability, among others. We believe that our curricula need to reflect the realities of our students, our communities, and our world.
  • We resolve, as a department, to strive for equality—culturally, socially, linguistically, academically, and professionally—in all hiring, teaching, writing, research, and work spaces for students, staff, and faculty.
  • We commit to educating ourselves and others about bias—explicit and implicit—and to combating bias, discrimination, and oppression of all kinds.
  • We commit to supporting students, staff, administrators, and fellow faculty against racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of oppression and injustice.

Goals

The mathematics department has the following goals for its majors:

1. Mathematical Problem Solving

  • Learn to apply precise, logical reasoning to problem solving.
  • Be able to reason, construct, and evaluate mathematical arguments and develop an appreciation for mathematical rigor and inquiry.

2. Technology

  • Use technology appropriately and effectively as a tool for solving problems and as an aid to understanding mathematical ideas.

3. Communication

  • Communicate mathematical thinking orally and in writing to peers, faculty, and others with clarity and coherence.
  • Read mathematics with understanding.

4. Content Knowledge

  • Know the foundational material of mathematics including the Calculus, linear algebra, logic, set theory, induction, and functions.
  • Know the basic concepts of analysis, abstract algebra, and probability and statistics.