In 1985 the department established the MLRC in the basement of South Murray Hall. It began with tutoring, TI computers, audio and video tapes. The center changed little by little over the years but maintained its role as a source for help for students taking freshman and sophomore level mathematics courses. In December 2006 South Murray was closed for complete renovation and the MLRC was forced to move to the fourth floor of the classroom building. This was to be a temporary location. When the South Murray renovation is completed. the department of sociology  will move to South Murray and vacate space in the basement of the classroom building. This space has been promised as the new home of the MLRC.

The recent gifts of Boone Pickens and other donors to fund endowed professorships and chairs are significant academic contributions to OSU. Endowed positions are important to the mathematics department. Such positions can bring and keep eminent mathematicians at OSU. Moreover the extra funds, i.e., the funds other than salary that are available each year can be used to greatly enhance the research environment of the department. Visitors can be brought to campus, graduate students can be supported by stipends and to attend conferences.  Such faculty also are often able to attract research grants which can further their research and  provide additional experiences and opportunities for students and colleagues.

• $100+ Provide funding to the Mathematics Excellence Fund to assist with the greatest area of need. Examples could be journal subscriptions, books on mathematics education, and scholarship assistance.
• $500+ Provide direct tuition assistance to a deserving student.
• $1,000+ Provide faculty travel fund to assist faculty travel to conferences to present the results of their scholarship.
• $1,000+ Provide student travel fund to assist student travel to conferences to present the results of their scholarship.
• $6,000+ Named Lecture series - The Lecture series will be named after the donor. The main speaker will be a prestigious mathematician. Young professors will be invited. The estimated costs cover an honorarium for the speaker and expenses for two visitors.
• $8,000+ Named Annual Math Contest