To: 242 Class

I am truly sorry that I was not able to be in class today. I look
forward to a full mailbox when I return to Columbia later this evening.

Enough small talk. Here are my answers to my questions:

1. please call me Doug or, if you prefer a more formal title, Professor Meade

2. my office phone is 777-6183;

3. my e-mail address on the ENGR network is:       meade
   when sending mail by Internet, the address is:  meade@math.scarolina.edu

4. as an undergraduate I majored in both Mathematics and Computer Science
   (at Bowling Green State University, in Ohio); my M.S and Ph.D. are in
   Mathematics (from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA).

5. one of my objectives with this course is to learn more about specific
   applications of differential equations that are of interest in the
   Engineering curriculum

6. my biggest concern is that the computer network will be down on a day
   when we have an exam (yes, you will be able to use the computers on
   the exams, in fact it will be expected that you use the computer)

7. you don't really want to see all the courses I've taken, do you?
   Instead, why don't I tell you about the courses I have taught in
   my 4 years at USC. Math 141, 142, 221, 242, 520, 524, 526, 720, and 721.
   For more information, consult the Course catalogs.

8. My schedule is not yet fully determined. In particular, I do not have
   any office hours scheduled; this will change when I see your messages
   (i.e. your homework)

             Initial Schedule for Doug Meade -- Spring 1995


             |   Mon   |   Tue   |   Wed   |   Thu   |   Fri   |
        --------------------------------------------------------
         8am |         |         |         |         |         |
        --------------------------------------------------------
         9am |         |         |         |         |         |
        --------------------------------------------------------
        10am | Math242 |         | Math242 |         | Math242 |
        --------------------------------------------------------
        11am |         |         |         |         |         |
        --------------------------------------------------------
        12pm |  Lunch  |  Lunch  |  Lunch  |  Lunch  |  Lunch  |
        --------------------------------------------------------
         1pm |         |         |         |         |         |
        --------------------------------------------------------
         2pm |         |         |         |         |         |
        --------------------------------------------------------
         3pm |         |         |         | Seminar | Seminar |
        --------------------------------------------------------
         4pm |         |         |         |         |         |
        --------------------------------------------------------
         5pm |         |         |         |         |         |
        --------------------------------------------------------

9. I don't want to bias your preferences for office hours

10. Bicycling is my favorite pastime. Once it is light enough to ride after
    work, I'll ride at least twice during the week and both days on the
    weekend. My favorite place for weekend rides is the mountains in the
    Upstate and North Carolina.

    You'll also see me at most Gamecock football and basketball games.

11. By now you've no doubt noticed that this section of 242 is different
    from the others. It is true that you will be expected to work in this
    course. I believe it is also true that you will receive more useful
    skills and knowledge as a result of the effort you put forth.

    On Wednesday I will distribute a complete syllabus for the course.
    At that time we will discuss the course objectives in greater detail.

Until Wednesday,

Doug
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Douglas B. Meade                Math, Univ of S Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: (803) 777-6183           E-mail: meade@math.scarolina.edu
FAX:   (803) 777-3783           URL:    http://www.math.scarolina.edu/~meade/