Agenda & Session Abstracts

Motivating Students to Pursue Careers in STEM Fields
The 2003 PKAL Assemblies
What Works - What Matters - What Lasts: The Roles and Responsibilities of Leaders in Undergraduate STEM
September 5 - 7, 2003

Co-sponsors:

Friday, September 5, 2003
Pre-event activities
12:00 - 3:00 pm Registration
12:15 - 2:30 pm Leaders planning session
12:30 - 2:30 pm Tour of new spaces for science at Oberlin
Debbie Mull, Science Center Facilities Manager- Oberlin College
Robert J. Schaeffner Jr, Principal- Payette Associates
3:00 - 4:15 pm

Plenary I:
Welcome, introductions & logistics
Clayton R. Koppes, Vice President of Academic Affairs & Dean- Oberlin College
Janice E. Thornton, Associate Professor of Neuroscience & Biology- Oberlin College

Keynote presentation: Establishing the larger context- Reporting on the NSB Task Force on National Workforce Policies for Science and Engineering
Moderator:
Norman Fortenberry, Director, Center for the Advancement of Scholarship on Engineering Education- National Academy of Engineering

Speaker:
George Langford, Chair, Education and Human Resources Committee- National Science Board
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College

Respondents:
Elizabeth F. McCormack, Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Phyiscs- Bryn Mawr College
James E. Swartz, Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of the College- Grinnell College
4:15 - 4:30 pm Break
4:30 - 5:15 pm Plenary II:
A kaleidoscope of programs that motivate
Moderator:
Robert A. Kolvoord, Associate Professor of Integrated Science & Technology- James Madison University

Considering:

  • Independent research
    Mary Allen, Jean Glasscock Professor of Biological Science- Wellesley College

  • Internships/industrial connections
    F. Sheldon Wettack, Vice President & Dean of Faculty, Professor of Chemistry- Harvey Mudd College

  • Mentoring
    Melvin R. Webb, Director of PRISM-D, Department of Biological Sciences- Clark Atlanta University
    Ishrat M. Khan, Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry- Clark Atlanta University

  • Service learning
    Paul Kuerbis, Professor of Education & Director of the Crown Teaching & Learning Center- The Colorado College
5:30 - 6:15 pm Breakout session
Participants further discuss programs that motivate students to pursue careers in STEM fields, such as:
  • Independent research programs
    Mary Allen, Jean Glasscock Professor of Biological Science- Wellesley College

  • Internship programs
    F. Sheldon Wettack, Vice President & Dean of Faculty, Professor of Chemistry- Harvey Mudd College

  • Mentoring programs
    Melvin R. Webb, Director of PRISM-D, Department of Biological Sciences- Clark Atlanta University
    Ishrat M. Khan, Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry- Clark Atlanta University

  • Service learning programs
    Jeanine Gregoire, Assistant Professor of Education- Augsburg College
    Paul Kuerbis, Professor of Education & Director of the Crown Teaching & Learning Center- The Colorado College
    M. Patricia Morse, Professor of Zoology, Department of Zoology- University of Washington
    Esther Oey, Assistant Professor, Department of Education & TSP Project Director- St. Lawrence University
    James Palmer, Associate Professor, Department of Biology and Environmental Science - Allegheny College
6:30 - 7:30 pm Buffet reception in Science Center
Hosted by Payette Associates
7:30 - 8:15 pm Plenary III:
Spotlighting the host institution
Nancy S. Dye, President- Oberlin College
Dennison Smith, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology- Oberlin College
Janice E. Thornton, Associate Professor of Neuroscience & Biology, Department of Neuroscience & Biology- Oberlin College
Karla M. Parsons-Hubbard, Assistant Professor of Geology, Department of Geology- Oberlin College
8:15 - 9:00 pm Cluster groups and dessert
Participants, whether individuals or members of a team, will work throughout the weekend to prepare an action agenda that can be implemented in the coming academic year. This first cluster meeting is opportunity to reflect on ideas and insights emerging from the day's sessions.
  • Institutional teams will meet in assigned groups.
  • PKAL F21 assembly leaders will meet.
  • National issues (advocacy, corporate connections, etc.) stakeholders will meet.

Saturday, September 6, 2003
7:45 - 8:45 am Breakfast
Considering barriers: what works
We invite discussions during the Saturday morning breakfast about what works in addressing curricular and structural impediments to reform.
Facilitator:
Alison Morrison-Shetlar, Director, Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning- University of Central Florida

PKAL Faculty Colleagues
9:00 - 10:00 am Plenary IV: Panel
Setting goals for student learning: The view from the outside
Moderator:
Charlene M. Waggoner, Lecturer, Center for Environmental Programs- Bowling Green State University

Speakers:
Jack G. Hehn, Director of Education- American Institute of Physics
Beverly Reep, Superintendent, Oberlin City Schools
Jed Osborn, Plant Controller- Ball Corporation
Adam Kornick, Intern - Ford Motor Company, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
10:00 - 10:30 am Break
10:30 - 11:45 am Breakout session

  • Motivating and preparing students for careers as K-12 science/math teachers
    Facilitators:
    John W. Emert, Professor & Assistant Chair, Department of Mathematical Sciences- Ball State University
    William H. Rauckhorst, Senior Associate to the Provost- Miami University
    Joanne Goodell, Assistant Professor of Mathematics- Cleveland State University

  • Motivating and preparing students for careers in business & industry
    Facilitator:
    Robert A. Kolvoord, Associate Professor of Integrated Science & Technology- James Madison University
    Speaker:
    Mary M. Walczak, Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Chemistry- St. Olaf College

  • Hope College: Preparing future STEM leaders via undergraduate research and interdisciplinary studies
    Moderator:
    Mark C. Zrull, Associate Professor of Psychology- Appalachian State University
    Speaker:
    Christopher C. Barney, Professor of Biology, Department of Biology- Hope College
12:00 - 1:15 pm Lunch
1:30 - 2:15 pm Plenary V: Panel
Starting from goals for student learning
Moderator:
Norman L. Fortenberry, Director, Center for the Advancement of Scholarship on Engineering Education- National Academy of Engineering

Panelists:
Chris Craney, Associate Dean of the Faculty & Professor of Chemistry- Occidental College
Valgene L. Dunham, Associate Vice President for Grants, Contracts & Research Planning- Coastal Carolina University
Charlotte Borst, Dean of Arts and Sciences- Union College
2:30 - 3:25 pm Breakout session: A
Programs that work
2:30 - 3:25 pm Break
3:35 - 4:30 pm Breakout session: B
Programs that work

  • Assessment
    Chris Craney, Associate Dean of the Faculty & Professor of Chemistry- Union College
    Patricia Ann deWinstanley, Associate Professor of Psychology- Oberlin College

  • Introductory courses that serve all majors
    F. Sheldon Wettack, Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of the Faculty- Harvey Mudd College

  • NSF STEM Talent Expansion Program (NSF STEP)
    Tingxiu Wang, Professor of Mathematics- Oakton Community College

  • Interdisciplinary programs
    Charlene M. Waggoner, Lecturer, Center for Environmental Programs- Bowling Green State University

  • Introductory courses with an interdisciplinary thrust
    Thomas C. Werner, Professor of Chemistry-Union College
4:30 - 5:30 pm Cluster groups
Time to work on agendas for action, with guidance of assembly colleagues.
5:30 - 6:00 pm Poster set-up
6:00 - 7:00 pm Buffet dinner
7:00 - 7:45 pm Poster session
Time for sharing of programs and ideas emerging from within the assembly community. Participants are invited to bring posters and materials from their home campus.
7:45 - Dessert and PKAL F21 10th anniversary celebration & Informal social time with music from Oberlin College
A celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of the PKAL Faculty for the 21st Century (PKAL F21) network.

Sunday, September 7, 2003
7:30 - 8:15 am Breakfast discussion
Characteristics of institutions that work
Facilitators:
John W. Emert, Professor & Assistant Chair, Department of Mathematical Sciences- Ball State University
Alison Morrison-Shetlar, Director, Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning- University of Central Florida
Janice E. Thornton, Associate Professor of Neuroscience & Biology- Oberlin College
Charlene M. Waggoner, Lecturer, Center for Environmental Programs- Bowling Green State University
Elizabeth F. McCormack, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Physics- Bryn Mawr College
8:30 - 9:15 am Plenary VI:
Driving the culture change
Moderator:
John W. Emert, Professor & Assistant Chair, Department of Mathematical Sciences- Ball State University

Presenter:
Charles E. Glassick, Consultant- The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
9:15 - 10:00 am Plenary VII:
Considering interdisciplinary programs: Bio2010
Facilitator:
Jeanne L. Narum, Director- Project Kaleidoscope

Discussion Leaders:
F21 Members and Others

10:00 - 10:15 am Break
10:15 - 11:15 am Poster session
Participants will have the opportunity to present the agendas for action developed by their institutional team for comment and suggestions from fellow participants.

Discussion will then focus on what works, the characteristics of instiutional and departmental vitality, based on the PKAL experience.
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Plenary VIII: Closing
Considering barriers and opportunities
Moderator:
Susan Palmer, Executive Director- The Five Colleges of Ohio, Inc.

Panelists:
Mary Allen, Jean Glasscock Professor of Biological Science- Wellesley College
James E. Swartz, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the College, Professor of Chemistry- Grinnell College
Charles Glassick, Senior Associate Emeritus- The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching