STRUCTURE

Our Department: Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (IMS or IMSAS)

University Departments are grouped into Faculties. Our Department is one of six making up the

Faculty of Science, Technology and Medical Studies

[Computing, Electronic Engineering, Physical Sciences, Biosciences, Medicine & Health Sciences]

Our responsibilities centre on teaching and research in

Mathematics StatisticsActuarial Science Operational Research

STRUCTURE (continued)

Academic Staff –

Director - Prof Peter Fleischmann

Director of Studies - Dr Eryl Bassett (E120)

Welfare Officer - Dr Barry Vowden (E226)

Department Administrator - Mr Richard Millns (E101)

All staff have offices in the Mathematical Institute (a detailed list can be found on the stairwell)

IMS General Office - Room E101, first floor

More details on the department's website: http://www.kent.ac.uk/ims/

STRUCTURE (continued)

Students -

Wide range of degree programmes offered

Conventional 3-year degrees

Foundation Year

Degrees involving a year away (placement)

Short-term students Overseas students on exchange programmes

One-year courses involving Graduate Diplomas

Postgraduate (MSc) courses in StatisticsActuarial Science

Research (MPhil and PhD students)

DEGREE WORK AT KENT

Teaching is organised on a modular basis

[Foundation Year]

Stage 1: first-year

Part II (Stages 2 and 3): subsequent years

Examinations – these take place each summer.Degrees are awarded on Stage 2 and 3

examinations, and on achieving Credits for modules taken.

Unit system - 8 units per year

DEGREE WORK AT KENT (continued)

MODULES

Most are single units, lasting one term

Module teams, convenor

Information about how a module is organised will be given to you as it starts

Attendance records are kept

Most modules are examined separately in the Trinity term

Many have a small amount of continuous assessment, some have more

Students need to gain a pass mark overall in all modules, to ensure they receive the appropriate credits

CREDITS

The University has adopted a credit system for all awards

Unit system - 8 units per year

Credits - 15 credits per unit 120 credits per year.

BSc degree – 360 credits (conventional 3-year degree) 480 credits (degree including placement year)

It is therefore essential that you work hard at each of your lecture courses and projects, so as to obtain all the credits you need.

ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE

Mathematical subjects are progressive

Important for you to keep up with work week by week

Attendance records: sanctions

No heavy hand: need for self-discipline

Need to ensure credits obtained for each module

[Extracts from the University’s Student Charter]

TUTORS

Each student has a personal tutor

Channel of communication and advice

Illness, problems - ensure your tutor is kept informed

Help in choosing optional components of degree programmes

References …

Requirement - Students ‘sign in’ and ‘sign out’ at with their

tutors at the start and end of each term

LEARNING SUPPORT

Organised by the Department –

Support sessions for individual modulesAdvice in handbooksTutors - point of contact

Organised by the University -

University LibraryComputing ServiceUnit for enhancement of learning and teaching

(UELT)Student Learning Advisory Service

WELFARE

IMS Welfare Officer - Dr Vowden (E226)

The University's Student Guidance and Welfare Service

MISCELLANEOUS

Quality issues -Feedback, Complaints

Staff-Student Liaison Committee

Student Charter

Student handbooks

Timetables

UCAS days

CONTACTS

Contacting lecturers, tutors and other staff -

email (addresses in your handbooks)in person during office hourstelephonemessages in General Office (E101)

Contacting you -

Mostly, using emailPigeonholes: ground floor in Mathematical InstituteCollege pigeonholes

DATES OF TERMS 2003-2004

Academic terms this year are as follows:

Michaelmas Term (Weeks 1-12)

22 September 2003 – 12 December 2003

Lent Term (Weeks 13-24)

5 January 2004 – 26 March 2004

Trinity Term (Weeks 25-30)

26 April 2004 – 4 June 2004

We are now in Week 0 ...

THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK…

Week 0, Thursday 18 September 2003

09.30 Talk by the Dean of STMSMrs Ursula Fuller

Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1

09.45 Introduction to the Department, Professor Peter Fleischmann

Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1

12.00 Talk for Foundation Year StudentsCNW Seminar Room 7

THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK…

Week 0, Friday 19 September

10.30 - 11.00am Talk on Library FacilitiesCORNWALLIS LECTURE THEATRE 1

11.15 - 11.45am Talk on Computing FacilitiesCORNWALLIS LECTURE THEATRE 1

11.45 Appointments with Tutors (till about 12.30)

3.30 - 4.00pm Talk for students taking a language module*CORNWALLIS LECTURE THEATRE 1

* Note: This meeting should only be attended by students taking

a modern language module at Stage 1; i.e., students on

programmes involving a year abroad or students opting for

a modern language module in Stage 1.

NEXT WEEK

Monday 22 September: INTRODUCTORY TEST

We find it useful to know how much you all know on arrival at Kent. The test will be held in the Mathematics Lecture Theatre (Undergraduate Laboratory) in the Mathematical Institute.

Actuarial Science students: 2.00 p.m. All other students: 3.00 p.m.

No calculators are needed. The test consists of 25 questions, and you write your answers in on a single sheet which we supply. The test lasts just under 1 hour.

Bring a pen!

We do NOT use this test as part of your assessment. It is ONLY to help us pitch our teaching at the right level.

Monday, 9.00 a.m.:

Lectures start !

Most modules comprise lectures together with support sessions described as classes, seminars or practicals.

Basic rule: The Department does not have any support sessions for a module before the first lecture on that module.

NEXT WEEK

Timetables

You will need to consult individual timetables, depending on your degree programme.

We hope to distribute timetables during this session. But only this term!

Example: [On Monday timetable, 11.00]

NEXT WEEK

Type of session ----------

Location (capacity) -----Weeks --------------------Module code -------------

MODULE TITLE --------

Lecturer ------------------

LECTURE

ELT2 (114)1-12MA301

CALCULUS

Ioannidou, Dr T

Tomorrow (Friday) 11.45 - Appointments with tutors

Monday 2.00 or 3.00 - Introductory test

Both are in the Mathematical Institute

How to find us!