DEI Process

In our evolving search for a more equitable honor society, we needed to reassess how potential members are selected. This work is inline with the goals of the College of Science and its Diversity, Equity, Justice and Inclusion (DEJI) Working Group, specifically Goals 1 and 2.

This work began due to concerns about separation between PME (an honors society with eligibility requirements) and Math Club (a club open to anyone). Another concern was that GPA or recommendation from a research advisor were the only ways to be selected, methods which are in themselves inequitable.

Previously members were selected simply on the basis of GPA in upper-level mathematics courses (the threshold set at a 3.5 GPA in at least 5 such classes), or by recommendation. The process began when the mathematics department head convened a Task Force to investigate the selection process and form a more equitable method. This Task Force consisted of undergraduate PME officers (Matthew Gradwohl, President, and Michael Dugan, Secretary), OSU faculty (Professor Nathan Gibson and Senior Instructor Elizabeth Jones), and a graduate student (Ricardo Reyes Grimaldo).

In February 2022 the Task Force met to start the process. First, student feedback was requested to determine what the best way to move forward would be. A listening session was held on Friday March 4, 2022 and was open to all students, with a focus on those studying mathematics. Attendees were asked to answer 8 questions that were also sent out to all math majors in a Google survey after the listening session. The questions asked can be found here.

Next the data was compiled, and the Task Force drafted a proposed values statement and a set of procedures for designating membership. The values can be found here, and the procedures can be found here. The Task Force Final Report can be found here.