In 2000 the faculty within the Department of Mathematics and Statistics
recommended the reorganization of our department into two independent
academic units, and at that time we established the Department of
Statistics. Our newly formed department became the home for 7
tenure-line faculty, 2 visiting faculty and 10 part-time faculty, as
well as 22 declared majors. Since that time the Department of Statistics
has increased to 15 tenure-line faculty, 5 affiliate faculty, 3 visiting
faculty and 13 part-time faculty. In addition, our department course
offerings have increased by more than 70% (both in terms of student
enrollment and sections offered). We have added a graduate program in
biostatistics which consists of approximately 40 students, our
undergraduate major in statistics has grown from 22 students to 137
students, and our two combined undergraduate minors have increased from
21 students to 144 students. In addition to growth, our department has
also launched a number of initiatives. Some of the significant
initiatives that have launched since the formation of our department
include the Statistical Consulting Center, Masters program in
Biostatistics, Michigan Statistics Poster Competition, Statistics
Experimentation Lab, and a new minor in data science.
Mission
The Department of Statistics informs and actively engages students and
colleagues in the ethical practice of modern statistical science and
further contributes to our society through active scholarship and
effective service.
Vision
The Department of Statistics is committed to advancing the science of
statistics by maintaining an inclusive learning community that is
characterized by:
faculty that are dedicated to expanding the discipline of
statistics, improving the pedagogy of statistics, and broadening
the application of statistics and
students that are actively engaged in enhancing their
understanding of statistics and its application.
All members of our community are encouraged to utilize their
statistical skills to be ethical and productive professionals,
life-long learners and responsible citizens.
Value Statement
Teaching Excellence
Our highest priority is to offer outstanding teaching in all of
our courses. We continually strive to maintain excellence in the
classroom. In order to nurture the habits of intellectual growth, we
seek to instill in our students curiosity and the love of learning.
We value the vigorous engagement of students in the classroom and in
other learning environments.
Active Scholarship
The Statistics Department values and encourages a wide variety of
scholarly activities including writing and refereeing journal articles
and textbooks; presenting at department seminars, university
colloquia, and outside conferences; preparing grant proposals;
conducting workshops; serving on thesis committees; and consulting on
statistical matters with both internal colleagues and external
professionals. All of these activities help maintain currency in
ones chosen areas of interest and expand one's knowledge of
statistics. In keeping with the teaching mission of the university,
our students are engaged and mentored in these activities and the
knowledge gained through these activities inform our courses.
Community Service
The statistics faculty values the enrichment of the lives of fellow
faculty, students and members of our community. Within the university
community, these values manifest as collaborative scholarship both
through the Statistical Consulting Center and individual faculty
consulting activities, and as participation in university sponsored
programs for the surrounding communities. Our service extends further
to our communities through applications of our talents to diverse
volunteer activities in our communities civil, political, educational
and religious organizations.
Community, Diversity and Collegiality
A diverse range of thoughtful perspectives and backgrounds is vital
to a healthy community that fosters open inquiry and sound statistical
practice. As such, the Statistics Department recognizes the
similarities that all people share and respects the characteristics
that distinguish us, including age, ethnicity, gender and all aspects
of culture, be it our recreational, lifestyle, political or
philosophical preferences. Professionally, the department values and
maintains a community of scholars with expertise in a variety of
specializations and areas of application. Realizing that a
multiplicity of interests promotes the kind of synergy that will
encourage a flourishing statistics community, we support the
scholarship of discovery, application and pedagogy.
Ethical Practice of Statistics
Because society depends on sound statistical practice, we are
committed to employing suitable study designs and applying appropriate
statistical methodology without bias and without favoring a
predetermined outcome. Further, we adhere to accepted professional
standards regarding the ethical treatment of human and animal subjects
throughout the entire research process (including the maintenance of
confidentiality during the data collection, analysis and dissemination
phases). We value professionalism, the importance of appropriately
acknowledging colleagues, the necessity of being properly recognized,
and the careful delineation of the limitations of ones
scientific inquiry.
Liberal Education
We are committed to creating student-centered learning
communities that integrate statistical methodologies in a
multidisciplinary fashion. As such, we strive to:
locate, evaluate, and organize information,
utilize this information to discover new knowledge, and
share the conclusions with our local and global societies.
We value a community that cultivates the skills of inquiry and
reflection and fosters the development of grounded ethical values. We
encourage our students and faculty to explore widely throughout their
lives and employ statistical science to be creative and productive
citizens.
Strategic Priorities, outcomes, and key objectives
Strategic Priority Area 1: Actively engage learners at all levels.
Outcome A: Grand Valley's learning environment is personal, challenging, and transformational, supporting excellent academic programs and co-curricular opportunities.
Outcome B: Grand Valley is diverse and inclusive.
Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.
Outcome D: Grand Valley supports innovative teaching, learning, integrative scholarly and creative activity, and the use of new technologies.
Outcome E: Grand Valley strategically allocates its fiscal, human, and other institutional resources.
Strategic Priority Area 2: Further develop exceptional personnel.
Outcome A: Grand Valley's learning environment is personal, challenging, and transformational, supporting excellent academic programs and co-curricular opportunities.
Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.
Outcome E: Grand Valley strategically allocates its fiscal, human, and other institutional resources.
Strategic Priority Area 3: Ensure the alignment of institutional structures and functions.
Outcome A: Grand Valley's learning environment is personal, challenging, and transformational, supporting excellent academic programs and co-curricular opportunities.
Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.
Outcome D: Grand Valley supports innovative teaching, learning, integrative scholarly and creative activity, and the use of new technologies.
Strategic Priority Area 4: Enhance the institution's image and reputation.
Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.
