Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative • Information Hub •

Registration is now Open for the SMTI 2010 National Conference!

June 9-11, 2010

Cincinnati, Ohio

79 Public University Leaders Sign Letter to President Obama Pledging to Address National Shortage of Science and Mathematics Teachers

President Obama greets University System of Maryland Chancellor President William Kirwan, (center), University of Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little (right), and University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano (left). MEDIA CREDIT: AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

WASHINGTON, DC (January 6, 2010)–Public research university leaders representing some 120 universities today pledged to address the national shortage of science and mathematics teachers through the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative (SMTI), sponsored by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), in a letter presented to President Barack Obama

In the letter, signed by leaders from 79 public research universities or university systems, the university presidents and chancellors “pledged to substantially increase the number and diversity of high-quality science and mathematics teachers we prepare, and to build better partnerships among universities, community colleges, school systems, state governments, business and other stakeholders.” READ FULL STORY…

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Letter to President Obama | Text of President Obama’s Remarks | White House Video of Ceremony

SMTI Media Release | SMTI Annual Report | SMTI Institutions to Double STEM Teachers They Prepare | SMTI Fact Sheet | University of Kentucky STEM Fact Sheet | University of Kansas STEM Fact Sheet | University System of Maryland STEM Fact Sheet | University of Colorado Boulder STEM Fact Sheet

122 Public Universities Committed to Improving Science and Mathematics Teaching Excellence

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (A۰P۰L۰U)—the nation’s public research universities—launched an initiative, known as the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative (SMTI), to transform middle and high school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education by preparing a new generation of world-class science and mathematics teachers.

With their heavy involvement in research and education in STEM disciplines, A۰P۰L۰U’s 188 member universities and 27 university systems are ideally positioned to make significant contributions to the critical need for highly qualified and diverse science and mathematics teachers. In just one year, the SMTI initiative has grown to include 122 public research universities—including 11 university systems. Collectively, SMTI members prepare more than 7,500 science and mathematics teachers annually—making it the largest STEM new teacher initiative in the country.

List of Universities Committed to the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative

Change in Higher Education at the TLC Retreat in Florida

Change in Higher Education was the main topic of discussion at the second national meeting of The Leadership Collaborative (TLC) held on January 6-8, 2010 in Coral Gables, Florida. Dr. Ann Austin, a national expert on change in higher education and a professor at Michigan State University, stressed the importance of finding leaders throughout the institution and supporting those leaders, having the involvement of senior leadership, and taking the time to define a clear and compelling vision for the institution that helps drive the change process forward. During the meeting, participants from 24 institutions, including team leaders and 15 provosts, discussed different policies and reward structures in place at their universities for faculty engaged in STEM teaching and STEM education research. Smaller group discussions were held on a range of topics including recruitment strategies, marketing campaigns and the media, sustaining support, and mentoring and induction of teachers. As a break from all the weighty topics, the group were warmly welcomed to Miami by Dr. Mark Rosenberg, President of Florida International University, and were treated to an after-hours tour of the new Frost Art Museum on the FIU campus.  For a copy of the agenda, CLICK HERE. For presentations, please CLICK HERE. For biographies of the panelists, CLICK HERE.

Funded by the NSF, TLC is a three-year partnership between the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and two discipline-based organizations, the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC/PTEC, an effort of the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers) and the American Chemical Society. The project vision is the creation of a large and enduring national network of colleges and universities that have successfully negotiated difficult institutional constraints to establish strong, effective, and well-sustained high school teacher preparation programs in science and mathematics.

Highlights and presentations from the 2009 SMTI National Conference