Partial transcript from the October 1, 2004 Press Conference announcing the grant from the National Science Foundation:
Truman’s President, Barbara Dixon, shared welcoming remarks with those in attendance and she then turned the microphone over to Jeffrey Osborn, The Next STEP Director
Remarks by The Next STEP Director, Jeffrey Osborn
Thank you President Dixon.
Strong institutional support played an important role in the peer-reviews and ultimate funding of the proposal, and Truman, Metropolitan, Moberly, and St. Charles have all provided outstanding support in a wide range of areas.
In addition to President Dixon’s support, and that of the other Presidents, let me acknowledge the help and support of the chief academic officers from each institution, and a few other individuals and offices in particular:
- Garry Gordon, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Truman
- Don Doucette, Vice Chancellor for Education and Technology at Metropolitan Community Colleges
- Jeffery Lashley, Dean of Academic Affairs at Moberly Area Community College
- Michael Banks, Vice President for Academic Affairs at St. Charles Community College
- L. Scott Ellis, Head, Division of Science at Truman
- Lanny Morley, Head, Division of Mathematics & Computer Science at Truman
- Judy Lundberg, Director, Grants and Sponsored Programs at Truman
- John Ishiyama, Director, McNair Program at Truman
- Bertha Thomas, Assistant Dean, Multicultural Affairs at Truman
- Maria DiStefano, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Truman
Preparing the proposal, and now coordinating and implementing the planned programs, has been a team effort, and it has been a great pleasure more me to work with these individuals:
- Jason Miller, who is the Co-Principal Investigator of the grant and faculty member in Mathematics at Truman
- Martha Haehl, a member of the Math faculty at Metropolitan Community College
- Jane Roads, Chair of the Math and Science Division at Moberly Area Community College
- Patricia Porterfield, Dean of Science and Mathematics at St. Charles Community College
- Matthew Beaky, Physics faculty at Truman
- Jon Beck, Computer Science faculty at Truman
- Laura Fielden, Biology faculty at Truman
- Maria Nagan, Chemistry faculty at Truman
- Pamela Ryan, Mathematics faculty at Truman
- Sue Pieper, Assessment Specialist at Truman
The overall goal of The Next STEP is to increase the number of students who complete baccalaureate degrees in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field. In addition to the inherent value of an undergraduate education in these disciplines, The Next STEP will significantly contribute to local, regional and statewide efforts to enhance Economic and Workforce Development in a dynamic, fast-growing and well-paying sector of our economy.
The Next STEP will provide funding to support student learning in three main areas: Creating a bridge program between Truman and Metropolitan, Moberly, and St. Charles Community Colleges; expanding and enhancing our undergraduate research program, and; enriching and expanding the interdisciplinary component our curricula.
Let me briefly sketch-out the main programmatic initiatives that will be included in The Nest STEP:
Bridge Program – the goal of this program is to ensure the success of students who transfer to Truman from Metropolitan, Moberly, and St. Charles.
- Forgivable loans – Transfer students will eligible for a $2,000 loan that will be completely forgiven upon completion of the a baccalaureate degree in science or math field at Truman.
- Bridge week – An orientation week for transfer students in the sciences and math fields.
- Academic year support network – Coordinated workshops, academic mentors, tutoring, support for research projects.
- Visiting speakers and field trips – Reciprocal speakers and field trips.
- Research experiences for students and faculty – Students will participate in the summer research experience, as well as one faculty member from each community college each year.
Undergraduate Research Program – the goal of this program is focused on student development, intellectual independence, and enhancing the community of learners.
- Summer research experience on the Truman campus – A 10-week coordinated summer research program where students will work collaboratively with a faculty mentor on an original scholarly project.
- Off-campus summer research experience – We have established research-based summer program at an array of off-campus partners, including the University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Rolla, Missouri Botanical Garden, Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Center, the Boeing Company, Towers-Perrin, and Cerner, just to name a few.
- Academic year support – Workshops, speakers, and field trips
Curriculum enrichment – the goal of this program is to enhance connections among all science and mathematics disciplines and courses to ensure that we are providing students with the tools that they need to enter a dynamic workforce sector that requires thinking beyond disciplinary boundaries.
- Interdisciplinary curriculum retreats – annual opportunity for faculty from all science and math areas to come together and focus on this issue and then to leave with a defined ‘agenda for action.’
- Multimedia technology – funds will be used to purchase the technology that students and faculty need to realize these interdisciplinary connections.
As you can see, The Next STEP will provide hundreds of students from Truman, Metropolitan, Moberly, and St. Charles with an array of new and exciting opportunities to enrich their education and, as a result, to expand the intellectual and economic capacity of Missouri. None of this would be possible without the financial support of the National Science Foundation, so I will close by acknowledging the NSF for their funding.
We hope that you leave this morning sharing in our excitement about The Next STEP and the opportunities that it will create. And, in particular, if you are science or math student, that you will participate and apply for the program.
On behalf of the Steering Committee, thank for coming this morning. I will be happy to answer any questions.