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The
Council of Independent Colleges recently announced that two independent
colleges have been selected to receive the Council’s fifth annual
Heuer Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Undergraduate Science
Education. Juniata College (PA) and Oberlin
College (OH) were chosen out of 28 nominations for demonstrating
noteworthy recent achievements in undergraduate science education.
The CIC/Heuer Awards program, funded by The
Russell Pearce and Elizabeth Crimian Heuer Foundation, builds on the
documented achievements of independent colleges and universities in
undergraduate science education. Each institution will receive a $10,000
prize that may be used for further enhancement of its science programs.
In announcing the winners of the competition,
CIC President Richard Ekman said the exemplary programs in the science
departments at these institutions “demonstrate how science education
in independent colleges and universities strengthens K-12 teaching
of science—while also fostering superb undergraduate programs, and
contributes to the preparation of career scientists in disproportionate
numbers.” James B. Johnston, founder and CEO of the Sage Scholars
College Tuition Rewards Program and a trustee of the Heuer Foundation,
said the Juniata and Oberlin programs were selected for “excellence
in science program design and innovation and will, no doubt, serve
as models for undergraduate science education at institutions nationwide.”
A panel of science educators from science
programs that were previous Heuer winners, chose the winners of the
award. Panelists included (chair) Hutch Bearce, CIC senior advisor
and retired professor of chemistry and dean of the college at Central
College (IA); E. Lee Coates, associate professor and director
of the neuroscience program, Allegheny College (PA);
Susan Mabry, associate professor of mathematics and computer science
at Whitworth College (WA); and Pradip Bandyopadhyay,
professor of physics and chair of the natural sciences division at
Hendrix College (AR).
| The
2005 Heuer Awards for Outstanding Achievement
in Undergraduate Science Education |
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Juniata
College (PA)
Department of Chemistry, for
curricular innovation
Recognizing that a large percentage of their students were pre-health
or biology majors, the department reorganized the traditional
chemistry sequence so that organic chemistry comes first. This
arrangement also permitted the early introduction of instrumental
analytical tools (which are particularly useful with organic
compounds) as well as an increased emphasis on student research.
The outcomes of this restructuring have been, over the last
four years, a threefold increase (30 to 97) in chemistry majors;
16 reviewed publications with student co-authors; and 27 student
presentations at regional, national, and international meetings.
In addition, 70 percent of declared majors are women and 60
percent of graduates go on to graduate programs. The department’s
“Science in Motion” outreach program provides instrumentation,
curricula, in-service instruction, and ongoing support to more
than 30 high schools, and has been duplicated in ten other colleges
in Pennsylvania and in eight other regions in the country. |
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Oberlin
College (OH)
Neuroscience Department,
for national leadership
This program began in 1972 as a psychobiology major, becoming
neuroscience in 1986. Following the construction of new facilities
in 1990, the program has expanded from five to 25 graduates
per year, tripled the size of the faculty, become an independent
department in 2002, and expects to graduate 32 majors in 2005.
The program has been extremely influential nationally and has
served as a model for numerous other undergraduate programs.
Almost all majors participate in an intensive research project
culminating in the required senior seminar. For students graduating
in 2000 and 2001, 80 percent are currently in graduate or medical
school. Oberlin College faculty members were actively involved
in the formation of the professional association, Faculty for
Undergraduate Neuroscience. |
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Independent
The Council of Independent Colleges
One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 320 • Washington, DC 20036
tel: (202) 466-7230 • Fax: (202) 466-7238 • e-mail: cic@cic.nche.edu • www.cic.edu
Last updated: August 2005
Copyright © 2005 The Council of Independent Colleges |
