From time to time throughout the quarter, you may experience unexpected and perhaps sudden difficulties in connection with your mathematics courses. Some difficulties may be attributed to the course content, whereas others may be more difficult to assign. Some of you may feel that fault should be assigned to your instructors or perhaps to the Department of Mathematics in general.
We would like to help you through such difficulties as best we can. Attempt to identify your lecture/homework difficulties and use the office hours of your lecturer and/or recitation teacher to clarify these trouble spots. Many problems can also be alleviated with one-on-one discussions of the content with others in your class. You may also access one of the mathematics tutor rooms which are available to you at no cost. Further, there is a list of private tutors whom you can hire for pay. The list is kept at the receptionist's desk on the first floor of the Mathematics Tower, 231 West 18th Avenue. Finally, the Department has a counseling office for additional assistance concerning undergraduate mathematics matters (292-6994).
Remember, if it doesn't seem to be going your way, take an active role in helping yourself. Try to keep abreast of problems as they develop, and try conscientiously to pin-point them. We would encourage you to remember that the first contact for your difficulties or complaints should be the recitation teacher (if applicable), next the lecturer and the third person should be the Vice-chairperson of the Department of Mathematics. For courses 050 through 150 see Dr. Daniel Shapiro, 292-5101 or email shapiro@math.ohio-state.edu. For courses 151 and above see Dr. Ron Solomon, 292-5101 or e-mail solomon@math.ohio-state.edu.
In your University experience, you will encounter a number of accents unlike your own. Give yourself some time to adjust to those accents with patience and tolerance. As you proceed to a professional or work experience after graduation, you will also encounter various accents.
Complaints about serious injustices and mistreatment should be brought to the attention of the departmental ombudsman, Professor Solomon, 124 Mathematics Tower, 292-5101. You have a duty to yourself and other students to seek a just resolution. Think out your position carefully and put it in writing so that you are sure of your position and how you want to express it. Be specific in your statements and don't exaggerate. We will seek an equitable and rapid resolution.
We wish you all the best in your mathematics class this quarter.