To the UNCG Board of Trustees

Subject: UNCG BOT - Information on closure of Mathematics graduate programs

Mr. Hoyle and members of the UNCG Board of Trustees -

I am writing to you to provide some information on the recommended closures of the graduate programs in Mathematics, to see if perhaps the Board of Trustees would be able to get some answers that we have not been able to get. In particular, we have asked repeatedly for a reason - some justification or positive impact - for the recommended closures, but we have never been given an answer to this simple question.

The facts are this: the Ph.D. program in Computational Mathematics is unique, distinctive, and very successful program, and a boon to the reputation of UNCG. It scored among the top Ph.D. programs at UNCG in the rubric, far into the "Meets Expectations" category. Cutting the program damages the reputation of UNCG. Cutting the program damages the research productivity of UNCG. Cutting the program removes a strong and economically important advanced STEM degree from UNCG. Cutting the program removes a vital support component of student success for undergraduates at UNCG. And finally, in times of budget concerns at UNCG, cutting the program COSTS the university money (see the attached budget analysis).

We have yet to hear even a single positive outcome expected from cutting the Mathematics graduate programs, and the negatives are clear and inarguable. I know you care about the future of UNCG as a member of the Board of Trustees, and as someone who cares about the future of the university, I hope you view the recommended termination of these programs with alarm. The lack of transparency and explanation from upper administration has been distressing to those on campus that love UNCG and care about its future. I hope you care enough to seek the answers that we have not been able to get.

--

Stephen R. Tate, Ph.D. (Steve)

Interim Head, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Professor, Department of Computer Science

UNC Greensboro

   Budget Analysis of Mathematics Graduate Program Elimination.

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