September 19-20, 2002

ITEM 116-2001-R0902   Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Education upon Lyle Andersen; Montana State University-Bozeman

THAT:  Upon the occasion of the retirement of Professor Lyle Andersen from the faculty of Montana State University, the Board of Regents wishes to express its appreciation for his service to the University, the Montana University system, and the people of the State of Montana.

EXPLANATION:  Dr. Lyle Andersen received his B.S. in Mathematics and Physics from Augustana College in 1958. He taught middle school and high school mathematics until 1966 and also earned his M.S. in Mathematics and Physics from the University of North Dakota in 1963. He then joined the faculty in the Department of Mathematics at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After earning his doctorate in Mathematics Education and Curriculum from the University of Denver in 1976, he remained at Augustana until 1984. In the fall of 1984, Dr. Andersen joined the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Montana State University as a Professor of Mathematics Education and has been here since.

Dr. Andersen is the consummate mathematics educator. He has overseen the growth and development of the mathematics education program at Montana State University since his arrival in Bozeman. The undergraduate and graduate programs have both grown and improved during his years here. In addition, he has been involved in the integration of technology in the mathematics classroom and the rapid expansion of distance delivery techniques for math education courses, which benefit practicing teachers immensely. He has been instrumental in bringing doctoral students to Montana State University and has served on many doctoral committees. Dr. Andersen was one of the architects of our current master's degree program for mathematics teachers. This graduate program has been one of the most successful of its type in the western United States, with over 120 graduates and more than 30 students currently enrolled. Dr. Andersen has been instrumental in the efforts of Montana State University to attract Native American students into mathematics, science, and engineering fields. Largely through his efforts, the Department of Mathematical Sciences has for years maintained strong ties to all of the tribal colleges in Montana.

Dr. Andersen has been extensively involved in grant work in mathematics education. He has had 9 different grants involving Native American students, grants from both federal agencies and private foundations, and grants for supporting teachers as well as providing technology for the training of future teachers. During 1977-1981 Dr. Andersen was the director for the CAUSE grant funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve undergraduate science education. In 1986 he was co-director of IMPACT (Integrating Mathematics Programs and Computer Technology), an NSF program to train secondary math teachers to incorporate computer technology in their classes. During 1985-88 he was the co-director for the NSF program EMME (Excellence for Montana Mathematics Education) and director for the Department of Energy AIM (American Indians in Mathematics) program. He was the co-director of the STEP (Systemic Teacher Excellence Preparation) Project funded by NSF during 1993-1998. He was the co-director for the AISES/IBM (American Indian Science Engineering Society) grant in 1999 which funded the purchase of computer hardware. He was director of the NSF STAR (Student, Teacher and Researcher) grant during 1998-2000 which involved high school teachers and their students in research projects at MSU.

Dr. Andersen is still active in the mathematics education community at MSU and around the state and region. He is currently director of the PROMath (Professional Development of Middle School Teachers) grant funded by the Eisenhower Development Program in 2001 and co-director of the STEM project revision funded by NSF during 2002-2006. In addition, he is a member of the National Advisory Committee of the Big Sky Institute for Science and Natural History. Dr. Andersen continues to informally advise faculty and graduate students at Montana State University and is a great asset to the mathematics and science teachers across the state of Montana.

For these and other contributions, the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer Dr. Lyle Andersen the rank of Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Education at Montana State University and wishes him well for many years in the future.