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Our Mission
Built on the UCLA Mathematics Department’s strong tradition of involvement in the entire spectrum of mathematical activity from pre-collegiate mathematics to advanced current research, the Philip C. Curtis Jr. Center for Mathematics and Teaching exists to further high quality pre-collegiate mathematics activity and mathematics education research. The Curtis Center is dedicated to developing and supporting quality mathematics programs that interface with the K-16 community, including outreach programs for K-12 students, continuing education programs for K-12 teachers and mathematics teacher preparation programs for UCLA undergraduates. Long term, the Curtis Center plans to conduct research that will provide new knowledge about the learning and teaching of mathematics at the pre-collegiate and undergraduate levels.

Current Needs
In the immediate future, the Center will use funds to further establish the Los Angeles Mathematics Circle for 6-12 students, the Mathematics Teacher in Residence program, the Curtis Center Intern Program for mathematics graduate students and the Bruin MATHteach program for undergraduates interested in secondary mathematics teaching.

The Curtis Center seeks funding in the amount of $30K per year for the Los Angeles Mathematics Circle. The Circle meets weekly with the goals of exposing students to wonderful mathematics not covered in a typical school curriculum and actively engaging students in problem solving. UCLA math professors give many of the lectures. The UCLA Math Circle is free and open to all high school and advanced middle school students interested in mathematics and eager to learn. The requested funding would cover costs such as compensation for the director and weekly lecturers, monthly contest grading, supplies and expenses, and administrative assistance.

The Curtis Center also seeks funding in the amount of $155K per year to expand its current undergraduate mathematics teacher preparation efforts into the Bruin MATHteach program. Bruin MATHteach will integrate the Department’s coursework for future mathematics teachers, increase student enrollments by offering early completion of credential program coursework, and increase the readiness of these students for acceptance into CA credentialing programs. For more details and budget, click here to download PDF.

The Curtis Center also seeks funding in the amount of $50K per year for the Mathematics Teacher in Residence program. The program is modeled after the successful Visiting High School Teacher Program founded by Professor Curtis in 1980 and brings an outstanding local high school calculus teacher to the Department for one year to teach pre-calculus and other mathematics courses to future teachers as well as provide some administrative help with the undergraduate teacher preparation program. This annual investment in an exceptional teacher leader creates a network of liaisons in California secondary schools and communicates university expectations to teachers and students in those schools. Costs reflect the non-teaching portion of the MTR’s salary and benefits.

The Curtis Center also seeks funding in the amount of $75K per year to fund three mathematics graduate students interested in mathematic education to be Curtis Center Interns. The Curtis Center Intern program would be modeled after the National Science Foundation (NSF) Step K-12 Program whose implementation by the Mathematics Department several years ago proved successful in providing several math PhDs with an extensive introduction to the math education world. Curtis Center interns would serve as especially trained TAs for the undergraduate teacher preparation courses, editors with mathematics expertise for the Center’s curriculum development efforts, and instructors in the Los Angeles Math Circle.

Curtis Center Endowment
The Curtis Center invites you to help us raise $50,000 during the 2007 – 2008 academic year for the Curtis Center Endowment. This amount will provide the Center with a permanent endowment that generates annual income and guarantees sustainable support for the center’s comprehensive math education activities.

How to Donate
  To donate online using your credit card, click here.

Otherwise, please send your check payable to the UCLA Foundation (memo: Curtis Center current needs or Curtis Center Endowment Fund) to:
Julia Carafelli
The Curtis Center

UCLA Department of Mathematics
2343 Mathematical Sciences Bldg
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1555

Your donations are tax deductible. The IRS ID# is 95-2250801.
Thank you for your support of high quality pre-collegiate mathematics activity!
 

Questions

For additional information about giving opportunities to the Curtis Center and how your support can make a difference, please contact Curtis Center Executive Director Heather Calahan at 310.825.1702 or calahan@math.ucla.edu.
Special thanks to our supporters:
Center for Mathematics and Teaching Incorporated
Direct TV
General Photonics
Mathematical Sciences Research Institute
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Roll Giving
The Stern Family Foundation
UCLA Mathematics Department
Gabriela and Ervin Adler
Michelle Bailey
Kirby and Glenda Baker
Robert Baker
Angela Beltran and Dan Aguilar
Phil and Dot Curtis
Joseph and Melissa Demer
Linda Demer
Roy and Judith Glickman
Weon Guk and Jeen Jeong
Shu Guo
Susie Hakansson
Gia Kim and Chan Yoo
Eugene Kwong
Katherine Layton
Robert Lynn
Laura and Evan Manning
Esmeralda Medrano and Rafael Gutierrez
Sue and Jami Olson
In Sun Park
Ruthanne Schroeder
Marion and Steve Usselman
Thomas Walters
Sally Whiteman
Sally Yamashita
Jong-Suk Yun