Faculty Vote to Separate the Mathematics and Statistics Department

On Friday, the faculty voted unanimously to separate the mathematics and statistics department into two. Motivated by the large increase in demand for both majors, the decision is not expected to materially impact how either department functions.

While mathematics and statistics are currently housed in the same department, the two programs already have separate majors and faculty meetings, and have different requirements for majors, honors, and capstones. Associate Professor of Music Amy Coddington, who introduced the motion on behalf of the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC) at the faculty meeting, said that these factors led to the proposal.

Coddington estimated that each semester, around 700 students take a math course and 250 students take a statistics course, which has been a “considerable growth” from past years. In the 2013-2014 school year, 6.1% of degrees conferred were in mathematics or statistics, but by the 2023-2024 school year, that percentage rose to 13.66%.

Coddington also said that though “pedagogical and practical reasons … at one time kept the two together,” both fields have naturally evolved which has made their curriculum more disparate.

All tenured and tenure-track mathematics and statistics professors supported the proposal. On Feb. 17, the motion was brought to the FEC, and members voted 5-0 to bring it to the faculty. The separation of the department will go into effect on July 1.