The Undergraduate Majors in Astronomy and Astrophysics Committee (UMAAC) is a student-driven coalition of astronomy majors that represent a diverse range of goals, academic years, demographics, and backgrounds, in order to serve as representatives of the student body of undergraduate Astronomy and Astrophysics majors and minors at Ohio State.
The goal of the UMAAC is to serve as a liaison between the faculty and students of the Astronomy Department through presenting concerns, criticisms, and ideas for the growth of the department as a whole. We seek to gather input from students and faculty alike in order to improve the experience of undergraduate Astronomy students and foster communication between all members of the department.
Our primary initiative is to gather information on the climate of the undergraduate community and to make recommendations to the Department of Astronomy based on this data. We also hold weekly office hours in order to maintain a consistent avenue for communication with the student body.
To contact UMAAC, please email one of our committee chairs:
Elijah Kritzell (kritzell.1@osu.edu)
Rachel Slaybaugh (slaybaugh.21@osu.edu)
Office Hours
For the Autumn 2021 Semester, UMAAC will hold office hours weekly. The meeting time will be determined once the semester begins.
UMAAC members are available to answer questions and give advice based on their experiences as astronomy students. Office hours are also a safe space for students to present their comments and concerns to UMAAC.
Click here for the Zoom Meeting.
Meeting ID: 937 9245 3070
Password: UMAAC
Mission Statement
The primary goal of the Undergraduate Majors in Astronomy and Astrophysics Committee (UMAAC) is to collate and summarize ideas, comments, criticisms, concerns, and suggestions for the Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) major and minors in particular, as well as the Astronomy Department, the College of Arts and Sciences, and The Ohio State University at large. UMAAC will provide a direct line of communication between A&A undergraduates and Astronomy Department Leadership. Its members will be a diverse representation of the A&A undergraduate student body and they will be tasked with sharing the perspectives, ideas, and concerns of their fellow students.
UMAAC will solicit and organize input from the A&A student body, and present this to department leadership. UMAAC will also identify ways to increase the communication and coordination of the A&A majors with the Astronomy Department, to the benefit of Astronomy and Astrophysics majors.
They will strategize to ensure all students feel welcome in the major and propose suggestions for increasing diversity and inclusion within the Department. Finally, they will identify ways in which members of the Department of Astronomy can facilitate the transition of students graduating with A&A major and/or minor degrees to future career paths.
