University leaders honored the mathematics department with an Outstanding Department award at the May 7 Staff Sack Lunch.

Interim Provost Finley Graves recognized the mathematics department for its work to reduce class sizes and provide more supplemental instruction to help students succeed.

In 2011, math classes were as large as 317 students, and offered little tutoring outside those classes.

While the department has grown steadily, the staff has reduced the class sizes to about 80 to 120 students and added some recitation sections to many classes so students can get more personal help.

"Because mathematics is a subject that takes a lot of trial and error during the learning process, the personal interactions between the student and an instructor, a teaching assistant or a tutor are vitally important," Graves said.