Washington, DC - The MAA and AMS have shared management, as well as contributed equally to the programming, of the Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM) under an agreement that has been in place since 1998. Through extensive discussions over the last 5 years, MAA and AMS have agreed that the agreement no longer meets the needs of either organization and will end following JMM 2021.
To give context, the current business model for JMM results in an overall revenue loss for the MAA. The benefits-cost ratio is less than 1 where the costs significantly outweigh the benefits. For transparency, the loss is approximately $300,000/year, with AMS absorbing an even greater cost, and we feel this money can be reallocated more appropriately. We have heard from many of our members and we hope to address your concerns below with a list of frequently asked questions.
Beginning in 2022, MAA national meeting activities will occur at MAA MathFest in the summer. The MAA will build on the continued growth of MAA MathFest and will also direct resources to better support MAA Sections at meetings like this and other programs that expand access and services to more members.
For more information, see the Oct./Nov. issue of MAA FOCUS and the October press release.
Q: What will MAA’s presence be at winter meetings after 2021?
A: MAA will still have a presence at the winter meeting. MAA will continue having the joint invited address at the winter meeting in partnership with AMS. This is a similar set-up that AMS has practiced for many years, where they have one joint lecture with the MAA at MAA MathFest. Additionally, we will also have the AMS-MAA-SIAM Porter Public Lecture as well as core MAA Project NExT sessions. The Project NExT fellows that begin the summer prior will meet during the winter meetings.
Q: What will MAA continue to fund at the AMS winter meetings in 2022 and beyond?
A: MAA will fund all MAA events such as the MAA & AMS invited address, AMS -MAA-SIAM Porter Public Lecture, and Project NExT sessions.
Q: What new opportunities will there be at MAA MathFest?
A: We are excited to offer many great new opportunities! We are working on expanding professional development opportunities and incorporating more career-related programming such as a career fair. We will be co-programming with our sister organizations including AWM, NAM, and Spectra. Also, there will be a new student poster session, which will help expand opportunities for our students at MAA MathFest. Lastly, The inaugural Martin Gardner Lecture was held at MAA MathFest 2019 and will continue annually. Look for an announcement of a new invited lecture to begin at MAA MathFest 2022 in Sacramento.
Q: Will there be expanded content at MAA MathFest focused on mathematics research?
A: The MAA will continue to build on our history of mathematical exposition as we expand the mathematical programming at MAA MathFest to include current trends and results across mathematics. Expanded content might include topics such as the role of mathematics, and mathematics departments, in data science.
Q: What new opportunities will there be at MAA Section Meetings?
A: There are many new opportunities in the works for MAA Section Meetings such as the new AWM and NAM lectures with Polya lectures in a 3-year rotation. There will be workshops and crowdsourcing sessions that focus on the work of MAA projects, such as the CUPM Guidelines and Instructional Practices Guide. The Tondeur Career Initiatives that include: BIG Career Interview card game, grants for career activities at sections, MAA representing mathematics on the National Academy’s Data Science Roundtable.
Q: What about my group (committee, grant project, SIGMAA, etc.) that has been meeting at JMM?
A: We developed a great resource called MAA Connect that can help our members during this transition. MAA Connect is an online portal where members can engage in conversation, share work and ideas, and seamlessly communicate with colleagues. We recommend leveraging this tool as well as looking into other options for your meetings such as meeting at MAA MathFest, rotating meetings among section meetings, and using Zoom videoconferencing.
Q: Can I use my section/SIGMAA funds at the winter meetings?
A: MAA will not approve these funds to be used at the winter meetings. These can, however, be used for other society meetings.
Q: If AMS covers the room and a/v, will MAA cover the food at the winter meetings?
A: Unfortunately, MAA will not fund events beyond the ones listed above. AMS has said they are open to proposals from all members of the MAA community for future events at the winter meetings. The charges will be at the discretion of AMS and they have stated they may be willing to consider ways to subsidize costs such as ticketed events to cover costs outside the normal room and a/v expenses.
Q: Where can we use MAA funds to meet?
A: MAA funds can be used at society meetings, however, they cannot support sessions at non-MAA meetings (winter meetings). MAA encourages all efforts that support and advance the mission. We will consider proposals for funding to hold focused sessions at MAA professional meetings to help share the work of MAA project teams, build collaborative teams, support future projects, and other specific efforts that align with MAA’s mission.
About MAA
The Mathematical Association of America is the world’s largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts. We accelerate the understanding of our world through mathematics because mathematics drives society and shapes our lives. Learn more at maa.org.
