COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two ӣƵ faculty members recently participated in the
biennial Actuarial Teaching Conference (ATC), held July 19-21 in Columbus, Ohio.
Michael Smith, assistant professor of mathematics at Trine, also moderated a roundtable
discussion titled “Add Ons and Off Ramps,” focusing on support for students whose
career goals might shift away from their major.
“Session topics included AI’s use and impact in the classroom and the actuarial field,
the importance of research and experiential-based learning and how to ensure accessibility
and rigor in a digital age,” he said. “My biggest takeaways were ideas about how to
reconfigure and update our actuarial science major, including possible avenues for
partnerships and research opportunities.”
Smith also served on the conference’s planning committee and participated in the Society
of Actuaries’ first North American University Advisory Council (NAUAC) meeting following
the end of the conference.
Steven Donovan, mathematics instructor and coordinator of undeclared recruitment and
advising at Trine, attended sessions that covered students who have an interest in
mathematics but little or no knowledge of actuarial science.
“I learned how I could better promote actuarial science to undeclared students who
come to Trine visit days,” he said.
The ATC is sponsored by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) with the goal of allowing actuarial
science educators to gather and share ideas.