Illinois Math Reception
The Department of Mathematics will host a reception at the annual meeting of the AMS and MAA on January 7, 2009 in Washington, D.C. Read more about the Illinois reception.

Illinois Number Theory Celebration
The Department of Mathematics will host the Illinois Number Theory Celebration on March 25-26, 2009. Two long-time faculty members at Illinois, Paul Bateman and Bruce Berndt, will be honored at the conference. Read more about the Illinois Number Theory Celebration.

Department to host 2009 AMS
Sectional meeting
The Department of Mathematics will host the 2009 AMS Spring Central Sectional Meeting in Urbana, IL, March 27-29, 2009 Read more about this AMS meeting.

Philippe Tondeur awarded SIAM Prize for Distinguished Service to the Profession
Dr. Philippe Tondeur received the SIAM Prize for Distinguished Service to the Profession at the July 8, 2008 annual meeting of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) in San Diego, California. Tondeur, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was honored with this award for his extensive and highly effective advocacy and support for the mathematical sciences. He is recognized for his creative and dedicated leadership of the Division of Mathematical Sciences at the National Science Foundation, including the initiation of the Mathematical Sciences Priority Area and numerous partnerships that reinforce the centrality of mathematics that has left an impact that will continue to benefit the discipline for decades.

Other News
Read more about what's going on in the Department of Mathematics in the Math Times.

Math Placement at Illinois
In order to better assess the prerequisite knowledge of individual students, the University of Illinois uses a pre-calculus learning and placement tool called the U of I Math Placement Exam through ALEKS for its pre-calculus and all beginning calculus courses. Read more about math placement.

Mathematics Excellence Fund
The Department of Mathematics announces a new $300,000 endowment, the Mathematics Excellence Fund, created by the generosity of our supporters. This endowment will be used for the advancement of the department, especially by supplementing and helping create endowed scholarships, fellowships, professorships, and endowed chairs. Visit our Give online website for more information about how you can help support excellence in the Department of Mathematics.