LEADERSHIP STEPS
• Understand the relevant research (UTeach/FRI),
seek informed guidance (Master teachers—UTeach)
• Consult/involve faculty leaders (UTeach) or support
a faculty initiative (FRI)
• Involve students as partners
• Involve the higher administration as soon as
possible—get buy in or at least a blessing.
Know what you’re doing
Share the Dream,
Create a team
Get Started!!
• Do a pilot program. Don’t wait until everything is
perfect
Know what you’ve done
• Gather data at every step; where possible have a
valid comparison group, be ready to change and
improve as you learn
Share what you’ve done
• Involve external supporters as part of the team
• Involve external experts, legislators, leaders to
establish credibility
Share credit !!!
Seek support to maintain,
expand and replicate
great results
Composite UTOP Score
TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS
5
UTeach
Non-UTeach
4
3
2
1
0-33%
33%-66%
66%-100%
% Students Eligible Reduced Lunch
UTEACH RECOGNITION/REPLICATION
• Uteach Task Force, UT College of Natural Sciences
Foundation Advisory Coucil
• National Academy recognition
• Gathering Storm Report
• NMSI formed
• ExxonMobil, Dell gifts
• Race to the Top funding
• HHMI
EDUCATION THROUGH RESEARCH:
RESEARCH THROUGH EDUCATION
The Freshman Research Initiative: UT Austin
12
Course Sequence & Timeline
Freshman
Fall
Spring
Research
Methods
Intro to
Stream Lab
Techniques
Intro to
Research
and
Analysis
 Stream
Selection
Counts as
Signature
Course
*Optional
Begin
Research
Counts as
a Lower
Division
Lab Course
Sophomore
Summer*
Summer
Research
Fellowship
 Summer
School
Credit
 Headstart
on Fall
Research
Fall
Stream
Research
Spring*
Research
Publication/
Presentation
Credit for
Independent
 Mentor
Research
Research
 Expand &
Methods
Complete
 Join faculty
Stream Project
labs, REUs,
Counts as
internships
Upper Division
Lab Course
13
Research Stream Name
Faculty
Leader(s)
Discipline(s)
#
1st Spring
Vertebrate Interactome Mapping
Scott Stevens
Molecular Biology
35
2006
Aptamer Selection
Andy Ellington
Biochemistry / Biology
35
2006
Nanomaterials for Chemical Catalysis
Stevenson/Vanden
Bout/Crooks
Chemistry
30
2006
Supramolecular Sensors
Eric Anslyn
Chemistry
30
2007
Biobricks
Karen Browning
Biochemistry
35
2007
Discovery Lab in Plant Biology
Stan Roux
Biology
28
2007
Autonomous Vehicles
Peter Stone
Computer Science
15
2007
Computational Intelligence in Game Design
Risto Miikkulainen
Computer Science
20
2007
Frontiers of Liner Algebra Library Dev.
Robert van de
Geijn
Mathematics/Computer
Science
5
2007
Viral Evolution
Jim Bull
Biology
35
2008
Mitochondrial Gene Expression
Dean Appling
Biochemistry / Molecular
Biology
35
2008
Virtual Drug Screening
Jon Robertus
Biology/Computer Science
30
2008
Computational Nanoparticles
Graeme
Henkelman
Chemistry/Computer Science
25
2008
Electronic and Magnetic Materials Research
John Markert
Physics
15
2008
Peptide Mimics to Study Binding Energetics
Stephen Martin
Chemistry
33
2009
New Functional Materials & X-Ray
Crystallography
R. Jones, B.
Holliday
Chemistry
25
2009
Functional Genomics
Vishwanath Iyer
Biology
35
2009
Cell Fate Regulation
Alan Lloyd
Biology
35
2009
The Search for Dark Matter
Don Winget
Astronomy
8
2009
Computational Biology: Studying Disease
Dynamics
Wilke /Meyers
Biology/Computer Science
25
2009
14
Impact on Retention in Science and Math
45%
College of Natural Science (CNS)
retention data for the FRI-07 cohort
and associated comparison group,
plotted over a five year period so that
the average five-year retention data
can be shown in comparison.
45-85% increase in retention rates
Comparison groups are formed for each year
from freshman not in FRI, who meet the
same FRI requirements
The resulting comparison group is:
•
85%
•
•
Statistically indistinguishable in terms of
predicted first semester GPA
Demographically similar to FRI students
Comparable in number of risk students included
15
4-YR GRADUATION RATES COMPARED
16
FRI Graduates Pursuing PhD/MD-PhD
14%
7%
32% FRI
students
24%
7%
16%
7%
23%
9%
comparison
1% group
2%
FRI06 CNS non-honors
graduates (N=57)
Graduate school
MD/PhD,MPH
Medical School
Allied Health Prof
Other (JD, MBA, etc)
Applying for schools
Job, Job search
Unknown
18%
8%
19%
12%
15%
26%
1%
CMP06 CNS non-honors
graduates (N=146)
17
MORE SCIENCE PRODUCED
Number of
papers
Papers on
stream
research
Number of
student authors
Number of Risk
student authors
Number of Risk student
authors other than strictly
female
In preparation
12
8
16
8
3
Submitted
4
4
23
21
11
In press
4
4
11
6
3
Published
31
18
44
24
9
Total
50
33
94
59
26
Annual Report 2010: Cumulative (2005-2010) list of refereed journal
publications co-authored by FRI student participants
18
FRI RECOGNITION/REPLICATION
• HHMI Funding
• NSF Funding
• FRI Task Force, UT College of Natural Sciences Foundation
Advisory Council
• BHEF recognition
• PCAST recognition
• HHMI replication
LEADERSHIP STEPS
• Understand the relevant research (UTeach/FRI),
seek informed guidance (Master teachers—UTeach)
• Consult/involve faculty leaders (UTeach) or support
a faculty initiative (FRI)
• Involve students as partners
• Involve the higher administration as soon as
possible—get buy in or at least a blessing.
Know what you’re doing
Share the Dream,
Create a team
Get Started!!
• Do a pilot program. Don’t wait until everything is
perfect
Know what you’ve done
• Gather data at every step; where possible have a
valid comparison group, be ready to change and
improve as you learn
Share what you’ve done
• Involve external supporters as part of the team
• Involve external experts, legislators, leaders to
establish credibility
Share credit !!!
Seek support to maintain,
expand and replicate
great results
•
•
•
•
•
Connects undergraduates with authentic, advanced research projects from
the beginning of their first semester on campus as part of their regular course
of study
Provides a better learning experience for students that keeps them in STEM
instead of driving them away!!!!!
Shows students the excitement of discovery, provides experience with cutting
edge technology and prepares them for additional hands-on experience in
labs or internships
Gives students access to faculty mentors and the community of science
Is scalable, both in numbers and disciplines, and makes a unique, authentic
research experience available to a large portion of the freshman class.
-
•
•
•
-
Over 6 years > 2300 freshman have participated
Again in 2011-12, > 650 students enrolled in FRI, 33% of the incoming Natural
Sciences class,>40% from underrepresented groups
70 % still researching at the end of their 4th year
Merges the twin missions of a research university: Research and Education
Is especially effective with students not traditionally well-represented in
science practice
Retains and helps our students succeed in a science, technology or
mathematics degree plan and ecruits them to scientific careers
21
5-YEAR GRADUATION RATES COMPARED
22
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF FRI STUDENTS
After 2 years
2%
12%
9%
49%
16%
After 4 years
FRI Research and/or
Mentoring
12%
Research with FRI
5%
Professor
Research with outside
17%
18%
11%
5%
research group
Intention to return to
research in future
5%
39%
No plans to continue
research
Non-responders
Graduated
67% Continuing in Research for 4 years
24
25
26