The Department of Mathematics at Brigham Young University will celebrate the grand opening of the new location of the Math Lab with an open house on Thursday (Jan. 23) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in 159 Talmage Math and Computer Building.
After a quarter-century of service, the BYU Math Lab is now in the same building with the Mathematics and Mathematics Education Departments. With the construction last year of the new BYU Data Center, space became available in the north wing of the TMCB that was originally the home of the university computing facility. In October, the Math Lab, formerly located in 60 Knight Mangum Building, moved into its new home at 159 TMCB.
The Math Lab was originally formed in 1977 to provide help to students in beginning mathematics classes at BYU. After spending two years in the Harold B. Lee Library, it was moved to 60 KMB. The Math Lab greatly expanded under the direction of Jackie Taylor Voyles, who supervised it for 15 years.
When the completion of the Data Center in 2002 provided space, administrators Lynn Garner, chair of the Mathematics Department, Earl M. Woolley, dean of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, and Gary Hooper, associate academic vice president, worked hard to make it happen on a small budget, according to Garner.
The Math Lab, now with Jackie Robertson as the full-time administrator, employs about 65 undergraduates per semester who act as tutors. Students taking math classes can walk in anytime and receive individual assistance with homework assignments, and almost any math problem, from students who have already taken the classes.
"The Math Lab greatly expands the effectiveness of the faculty, provides an extremely valuable service to students and gives tutors excellent experience in teaching," said Garner. "We invite the entire BYU community to come celebrate with us on Jan. 23. It is a chance for us to thank the many who made the recent move possible."
For more information, contact Garner at 422-6153 or Robertson at 422-4696.
