Montgomery College Among 20 Institutions Chosen Nationally to Participate in “Teaching to Increase Diversity and Equity in STEM” Initiative
Montgomery College has been awarded $299,980 by The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) for a three-year program to support curriculum and faculty development that will improve the success of women and under-represented minority students in its computer science degree program.
The College was one of 20 educational institutions nationwide—and the only community college—to be selected for the AAC&U initiative called TIDES—Teaching to Increase Diversity and Equity in STEM. Projects at these campuses will focus on the development of models for broader institutional change for the advancement of evidence-based and culturally competent teaching in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), particularly in the computer and information science domains.
The TIDES initiative is funded with a $4.9 million grant to AAC&U from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Montgomery College is a leader in STEM education, experiencing significant enrollment growth in STEM programs over the past several years due to the growing industry demand in the region, strong faculty expertise in STEM disciplines, and state-of-the-art science centers.
The following criteria were used for selection of the 20 TIDES schools:
- High level of institutional readiness;
- Demonstrated commitment to sustaining project activities;
- Targeted focus on increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities in the undergraduate computer/information science disciplines; and
- Innovation in linking computer/information sciences with other STEM and non-STEM courses.
“The TIDES initiative is an exciting opportunity for Montgomery College to expand on its longstanding commitments to research-based teaching strategies, meeting the needs of diverse students, and building a strong workforce for the region’s research labs and science and technology companies,” said Dr. DeRionne Pollard, Montgomery College president. “We are delighted to be part of this vital initiative, and we greatly appreciate the grant support from The Association of American Colleges and Universities and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.”
The grant will have an immediate impact on Montgomery College students and faculty. Some of the highlights include:
- The grant will enable Montgomery College’s computer science program to accomplish three primary activities: 1) Pair an introductory computer science course (Introduction to Programming) into learning communities with a math course and a course for English Language Learners to enhance student success; 2) involve computer science students in undergraduate research with a Montgomery College faculty member; and 3) Evaluate and redesign classroom activities so they better meet the learning styles of women and students from groups that are under-represented in the computer science field.
- The project will utilize strategies from research that shows that women and students from under-represented minority groups in STEM benefit both from individualized mentoring and from coursework featuring hands-on activities and real-world applications. Currently, the College’s computer science majors are approximately 35 percent female and 55 percent from under-represented minority groups. The project plans to increase the representation of women and under-represented minority students in this program by at least five percent during the next three years.
- This project will involve student learning assistants in the classroom; matching computer science students to faculty mentors for academic and career advising; and participation in STEM Xpress orientation, information and internship workshops.
- One learning community pairs an introductory programming course with an American English Language Program course, enabling students to build on their technical skills while strengthening their speaking and writing abilities.
- The second learning community enables students to learn Calculus and computer programming in a classroom setting where classroom activities reinforce both sets of skills.
About AAC&U
AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises more than 1,300 member institutions—including accredited public and private colleges, community colleges, research universities, and comprehensive universities of every type and size. AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators, and faculty members who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning. Its mission is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education and inclusive excellence at both the national and local levels, and to help individual institutions keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges. Information about AAC&U membership, programs, and publications can be found at www.aacu.org.
About PKAL
Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) is AAC&U's STEM higher education reform center dedicated to empowering STEM faculty, including those from underrepresented groups, to graduate more students in STEM fields who are competitively trained and liberally educated.
PKAL also works to develop a scientifically literate citizenry as part of its commitment to principles and practices central to AAC&U's Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) initiative.
Since its founding in 1989, PKAL has been one of the leading advocates in the United States for transforming undergraduate STEM teaching and learning.
It has to date empowered an extensive network of over 7,000 STEM faculty and administrators committed to the principles, practices, and partnerships that advance cutting-edge, integrative STEM higher education for all students. To that end, all PKAL undertakings are uniquely designed to foster quality, diversity, and social responsibility. For more information on PKAL, visit www.aacu.org/pkal.
About the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting effective nonprofits in health, place-based initiatives, and education and human services. Since 2008, when the Trust began its active grantmaking, it has committed more than $1 billion to a wide range of charitable organizations. Through its National Education Program, the Trust views education as a lever to advance both American economic competitiveness and individual social mobility. In K-12, the Trust focuses on ensuring all students graduate high school prepared for college or careers by supporting teacher effectiveness and the adoption and implementation of high academic standards. In postsecondary education, the Trust is primarily interested in increasing the number of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates who can participate in high growth sectors of the economy. The Trust also focuses on policy levers that improve postsecondary completion, particularly for underrepresented populations.
For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.
About Montgomery College
Montgomery College is a public, open admissions community college with campuses in Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring, plus workforce development/continuing education centers and off-site programs throughout Montgomery County, Md. The College serves nearly 60,000 students a year, through both credit and noncredit programs, in more than 130 areas of study.
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