В НИУ объединяют кафедры математических и статистических наук в новую школу

DeKALB – During a Board of Trustees meeting on June 4, the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science announced that both departments would merge to create a new unit, the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences or SMSS. The school will hold and grow three undergraduate programs, an educator licensure program, two accelerated programs and four graduate programs that were originally administered individually by the two departments. “We’re always looking at our structure to make sure that we’re as efficient as we can be,” said Laurie Elish-Piper, executive vice president and provost. “This process happens from time to time, we’re always looking.” In the past, the College of Education as well as the College of Health and Human Sciences have undergone restructuring. Anders Linner, associate director of the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, explained how this merger could benefit the university. “I think it will streamline the course offerings so we don’t have conflicts between the two departments as far as scheduling times,” Linner said. “I also think we’re going to have aspects of what we already have separately better together. We have these programs, statistics and actuarial math and we have applications involving components that would benefit a great deal if we combine our forces.” Andrew Ledoan, director and professor of the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, said this merger creates new opportunities for collaboration at NIU. “This benefits NIU by creating new opportunities for collaboration among mathematics, statistics, mathematics education, actuarial science and allied fields,” Ledoan said. “The school also strengthens collaborative research and partnerships with other disciplines, industry and government. This prepares students for a workforce in which mathematical and statistical skills are increasingly important while strengthening NIU’s research and educational profile.” Other departments and facilities at NIU have also merged in the past. The university’s Campus Child Care Center and Child Development Lab merged into the Child Development and Family Center in 2018. Similarly, the College of Education recently launched the Department of Learning Innovation, Leadership and Technology, which was approved in November 2025. Elish-Piper explained that a process is in place to consult with faculty to allow for the opportunity for feedback. “We always go through a process to consult with faculty to get their input, to get their ideas and concerns, to think about strengths of a merger, to think about challenges or risks that might be involved, so that we can make sure that any decisions that we make are well informed,” Elish-Piper said. The process could also involve external groups such as alumni and other boards. “For example, the merger of the Department of Accountancy and Finance included meeting with and consulting with College of Business alumni, and also the College of Business Board of Executive Advisors to get their input, and both of those groups expressed support for the merger,” Elish-Piper said. The length of this process varies by the complexity of mergers between departments. Discussions regarding mergers could last anywhere from a couple of months to a year. “The College of Health and Human Sciences, they spent the better part of the year looking at opportunities, thinking about different models, getting input, seeking that consultative process along the way, because they were really looking at redesigning all of the structure of all of the schools in the process,” Elish-Piper said. The merger between the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science will not affect anything regarding degree requirements, what degrees are offered or the way advising is structured. Professors will continue to teach in their area of expertise.