Teaching Milestones

Our campus continues its universal teaching focus. I'd like to mention a couple that may have slipped your attention. Following its review of elementary education programs, the National Council on Teacher Quality placed the University among the top 10 nationally for the quality of our teacher-preparation in mathematics.

A new, ambitious Ph.D. program initiative in the Robert H. Smith School of Business increases doctoral stipends by 45 percent and provides research and travel support for selected students. Robert H. Smith contributed $6 million toward the program, which will be matched by funds from the School and University. Mr. Smith also pledged $6 million to elevate academic and performance achievements in our departments of theater, dance and music, and another $800,000 to endow fellowships in the history of art. Mr. Smith's contributions will be matched by funds from the department of Art History, the College of Arts and Humanities, and the campus.

This past summer we invited nearly 1,700 gifted high school students of color to the University Honors Portz Summer Program, up from 1,000 invitees in 2007. The program introduces students to the campus and its resources.

The American Mathematical Society honored our Summer Program In Research and Learning program as a "Math Program that Makes a Difference." SPIRAL was created five years ago by our mathematics department and eight partner schools to inspire underrepresented minorities to study mathematics. Thus far 86 students have participated in the six-week summer program for rising sophomores and juniors. Sixty-nine of these students are African American or of African heritage. At this time fifteen have graduated or are enrolled in graduate programs in mathematical sciences.

African American students earned 40 Ph.D. degrees here this year, the largest number in our history. The University ranks first among AAU members and 8th nationally for doctorates earned by African Americans, according to Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. The degrees were awarded in units spread across the campus. Over all, the University ranked 15th nationally in minority student doctorates. Our graduate school and all units deserve enthusiastic pats on the back for the personal attention they have given to expanding the pool of minority doctoral graduates. There is no replacing personal attention. Well done, indeed.

You may also be interested to know that over the past three years 46% of faculty appointments have been to females lifting the campus percentage of female faculty to 24%. 34% of new hires over this period have been minority faculty appointments, raising the campus percentage of 19%.