The Teaching of Mathematics at Vellalar College for Women dates back to 1969 when the college was founded. The first teacher of Mathematics was Mrs.Suguna Selvaraj (1971–1981), who taught here with 60 students of Pre-University Course. The Department of Mathematics was officially established in 1972–73, when B.Sc., (Mathematics) course was introduced. The first Head of the Department was Mrs.Pankaja Vijayan, who served in this role from 1972 to 2001. The department’s past faculty members include Mrs.K.Vijaya (1974 - 2009) – who headed the department from 2001 to 2009, Mrs. Ramani Sukumaran (1974 - 2009) – Associate Professor, Mrs. Kanagamani Loganathan (1976 - 2011) – who headed the department from 2009 to 2011 and Mrs.N.Neelavathi (Selection Grade Lecturer, 1983-1998). The department's mission has continued to expand in the years since its founding.
The department has, at present, five energetic and dedicated faculty members in many diverse areas of mathematics, and it also boasts of hosting visits of a good number of distinguished mathematicians every year from India and Abroad. The department’s research interests span across the broad areas of Incline Algebra, Matrix Theory, Coding Theory, Differential Equations, Graph Theory and Fuzzy Sets and Systems.
Along with teaching, our faculty members are actively engaged in research by participating/presenting/serving as resource person/chairperson in conferences/seminars /collaborative works at the national and international institutes/universities. We also serve the broader community through outreach initiatives, and by fostering public understanding of the power of mathematics and its role as a fundamental mode of human thought.
Thus, our faculty members have extensive experience in teaching as well as research. Our strength is a reflection of their skills, innovation and drive. Our staff members typically have a high sense of purpose and derive great meaning from working together to ensure the department’s academic and research excellence. The department has achieved several milestones in research, fellowship, grants and infrastructure.
The department has also been actively engaged in organizing conferences, workshops, seminars, symposia and training programmes for both teachers and students including Mathematics Training and Talent Search Programme (MTTS 2011), Mathematics Workshop for College Teachers (MWCT – I, 2013), (MWCT – II, 2013), Mathematics Workshop for Students (MWS 2014), Indian Women and Mathematics Teachers Training Programme (IWMTTP 2014) all were funded by NBHM and International Conference on Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets and Systems (ICIFSS 2018) funded by UGC and TNSCST.
The Department of Mathematics is recognized as DST - FIST sponsored Department and receiving funds under DBT – STAR College Scheme. The Department has also been recognized as one of the highly rated departments in the college under UGC – College with Potential for Excellence Scheme. As an outcome of these recognitions and Grants received and immense support from the college management, the department has established its own state-of-the-art Ramanujan Mathlab and Research Centre.
Students’ participation in MTTS, Summer Training Programmes and NURTURE across the country is highly appreciable. As a result, many of the graduated students have gone for higher studies in reputed research institutes and universities. In addition, the students brought laurels to the department by participating, winning prizes and cash awards in various academic, cultural and sports competitions at various levels. They consistently and actively participate in College Union activities and possess many posts like Secretary, Joint-Secretary, President, Vice-President, Games Secretary, House Captain, Fine Arts Secretary, Tamil Literary Association Secretary and Magazine Editorial Committee Member.
The contribution of research scholars in the form of participation/presentation in all the academic events at various levels and Best paper Awards are boon to the department.