Opportunities to Serve

Our outreach programs seek to share the beauty of mathematics while also addressing real-world problems. You might choose to brighten a local child’s day by helping them master a new mathematical concept. Or you might watch a literal light bulb dawn when you work on a technical solar power project providing first-time electricity access to people in rural Africa.

Service opportunities offered through Seattle University's Department of Mathematics include: 

Seattle University Mathematics (SUM) Corps 

• This paid opportunity partners Seattle University mathematics students with local public K-12 learners. 
• Your tasks may include volunteering in the classroom, running after-school mathematics programs, individual tutoring, mentoring and more. 
• While assignment options vary, the goals remain the same for all: foster a love of math while closing educational gaps in public education. 
• Before you begin your work with students, you’ll participate in training sessions addressing classroom techniques, racial equity standards and more. You’ll also be connected with other Seattle University students participating in the program, so you can support each other’s efforts. Additionally, both Seattle University Youth Initiative staff and Seattle University mathematics faculty will mentor you throughout the duration of your program involvement. 
• SUM Corps students can present at academic research conferences. Recent participants presented at the Seattle University Undergraduate Research Association Conference and the Mathematical Association of America sectional meeting.  

Contact: For more information, contact: Program Director Ekaterina Yurasovskaya, PhD, at 206-296-8465 or yurasove@seattleu.edu.  

KiloWatts for Humanity 

• Seattle University partners with the KiloWatts for Humanity non-profit to provide first-time access to electricity to remote areas in developing countries. 
• Service opportunities can include such skills as business planning, survey design and analysis, electrical data collection, and project implementation and installation. 
• Students have traveled as far as Zambia to assist in transforming lives through electric power.  

Contact: For more information, contact McLean Sloughter, PhD, at sloughtj@seattleu.edu.  

Service Learning Courses

Our service learning program seeks to identify and fill local educational gaps by building meaningful and collaborative relationships with community partners. Area organizations present their needs to staff at Seattle University’s Center for Community Engagement, who then identify the department and students best suited to assist. Oftentimes for the Department of Mathematics, this involves tutoring.  

Mathematics students have previously engaged in service learning in some of the following classes:  

• Quantitative Literacy & Social Justice (UCOR 1200)
• Precalculus: Algebra (MATH 1021) 
• Mathematics for K-8 Teachers (MATH 2080) 

Contact: For more information about service-learning courses, reach out to the Center for Community Engagement at cce@seattleu.edu.