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WINNERS OF CIC SCIENCE
COMPETITION AWARDS ANNOUNCED

WASHINGTON, DC—The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) today 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 today, CIC President Richard Ekman said the exemplary programs in the science departments at these institutions "demonstrate that science education in independent colleges and universities contributes in a multitude of ways to the nation's scientific endeavors." Jim 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." Attached is a description of each of the Award winners' programs.

A panel of science educators from science programs that were previous Heuer winners, chose the winners of the Heuer Awards. 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

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.

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 organization for neuroscience, which is now one of the largest such professional organizations.

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The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of more than 540 independent, liberal arts colleges and universities and higher education affiliates and organizations that work together to strengthen college and university leadership, sustain high-quality education, and enhance private higher education’s contributions to society. To fulfill this mission, CIC provides its members with skills, tools, and knowledge that address aspects of leadership, financial management and performance, academic quality, and institutional visibility. The Council is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC.

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