MAY 2006 VOLUME 2 NO. 7
Kim, Birkett, Ochsner Win Forum for Excellence in Higher Ed Grant
Three individuals from UC Merced have won a $25,000 grant from the Spencer Foundation’s Forum for Excellence in Higher Education. Robert Ochsner, Bruce Birkett and Professor Arnold Kim will use the funds to accomplish two high-priority projects for math and writing education.
Kim and Birkett plan to make improvements to UC Merced’s pre-calculus course, Math 5, including small classes, reduced lecturing, active learning, group work, and technology. To evaluate their changes, they will track whether students continue in science, technology, engineering and math majors as well as how they do on the calculus gateway exam required starting next semester.
Ochsner, the director of UC Merced’s writing program, will found an electronically published journal of student research. Students will submit papers, and a student editorial group will prepare them for publication. A collaborative committee including students and faculty members will select top papers to receive Awards for Excellence in Writing.