2005: First Example of Excelencia
Department of Mathematics at the
University of Texas at Austin

The Department of Mathematics at The University of Texas at Austin was selected as the 2005 Example of Excelencia for its efforts to boost Latino participation, graduation, and pursuit of teaching in mathematics. The latest data (2003-04) from the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) indicate UT’s Math Department graduated the most Hispanics with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and statistics in the nation.

The Department's success is credited to key reforms that have been in place for some time, including an Emerging Scholars Program in Mathematics that has enhanced academic success in mathematics and science for traditionally under-represented groups, and strong Latino student participation in UTeach, a teacher certification program in UT's College of Natural Sciences set to address a statewide shortage of mathematics and science teachers.

The development of Latino mathematics students is part of our larger responsibility for training associated with science and technology that any mathematical sciences department should assume,” said Efraim Armendariz, professor of mathematics and department chairman since 1991. “If done conscientiously, all segments of society are incorporated. And that I think is what should be a hallmark of excellence.”

Top 5 Institutions Awarding Bachelor’s Degrees to Hispanics in Mathematics and Statistics in the United States: 2003-04
Rank	Institution	State	Gender		Total
			Men	Women
1	The University of Texas at Austin	TX	17	9	26
2	University of California - Los Angeles	CA	19	6	25
3	The University of Texas at Brownsville	TX	10	11	21
4	The University of Texas-Pan American	TX	12	6	18
5	University of California-Riverside	CA	8	9	17

 

One of 25 Hottest Schools

In the 2008 list of the the 25 hottest schools compiled by Newsweek, University of Texas at Austin was named "Hottest for Saving America's Schools."

Making Change Possible
Assessing the Public Policy Context for Education in Texas, 1990 – 2005
(view as pdf)

Uri Treisman, Professor of Mathematics and Director, Charles A. Dana Center

The most significant changes in the State’s public policy on education issues in the last fifteen years have been led by four key factors:

• dramatic population growth of the state, especially Latino population growth in the 1990s;
• stable statewide plan and long-term commitment for increasing educational standards for K-12 public education since the early 1990s;
• a state-funded college scholarship program established in 1997 for low-income students who completed a recommended program of high school coursework;
• and a stable statewide plan and long-term commitment for strengthening Texas higher education which was adopted in 2000.

During the last fifteen years, The University of Texas at Austin simultaneously strengthened its efforts to enroll a student body that reflects the face of Texas--a Texas in which almost a majority of its citizens are Latino. UT-Austin's attention to its role as "the people's University" is demonstrated by its increased outreach and recruiting at high schools across the state that have large populations of Latino students, African American students, and lowincome students. By thoughtfully and respectfully recruiting students from schools that traditionally had not sent many students to UT-Austin, the University (and the College of Natural Sciences and the Department of Mathematics, in particular) has been successful in increasing the numbers of Latino students who enroll and graduate with baccalaureate degrees in mathematics.

The University and the Department of Mathematics also paid careful attention to providing meaningful financial aid for eligible students, so that cost is not a prohibitive barrier for students and their families. Finally, the University and the College of Natural Sciences and the Mathematics Department maintain high academic standards, and are consistently ranked at the top levels by nationally- and internationally-recognized organizations. The twin goals of educational opportunity and educational excellence continue to be central to the work of the department.

A Student's Perspective

Greg Vargas, Class of 2005, B.S. in Mathematics, The University of Texas at Austin
(view as pdf)

"My hometown is Mission, Texas, which is close to McAllen in the southern part of the state. While math was the subject that I felt I was strongest in during high school. When it came time for me to consider college, I did not expect to major in mathematics in college. I chose The University of Texas at Austin because it is fairly close to my hometown--my mother liked that. I also knew that its programs were nationally ranked. What really helped be decide on participating in the University's Outreach Program. Although no one in my family or my neighborhood went to UT-Austin, I liked what I saw on my campus visit. So I started at the University as an Electrical Engineering major, thinking that I might change my major to Business.

During my freshman and sophomore years, I learned that to enroll in the School of Business at UT-Austin I needed about a 3.6 GPA. Business is one of the most popular, and competitive majors to get into. My GPA in Electrical Engineering, another very competitive major, was about a 3.2 GPA. So at the end of my sophomore year I began thinking about my options and choices. Computer Science had always been a hobby, and I continued to be interested in it. At about the same time, I realized that a career as an engineer was probably not something that I wanted to pursue after all. I wanted a major that was flexible and would allow me to continue studying computer science. When I learned that all of the mathematics and calculus-based physics coursework that I had already taken would count toward a major in mathematics, I decided that the B.S. degree in mathematics was for me. I declared my major in mathematics in the summer after my sophomore year and continued studying computer science--I've almost got a minor in CS. In August 2005, I completed my degree from the University of Texas at Austin in mathematics.

This year (2005-06) I've been working full-time at the Dana Center for Mathematics and Science helping complete Algebra materials for their large-scale high school projects. I'm in the process of preparing my applications for graduate study for 2006-2007, and UT-San Antonio is my first choice for my doctoral program."