Broadening Access to Science & Math

Bereket Haileab was an instructor in the 2005 Science Scholars Workshop, here shown working with geology students during a department field trip to the Black Hills

OUR MISSION for BROADENING ACCESS:

To strengthen the capacity of all our students learning in the science and math disciplines - with a focus on students from under-represented groups - by enhancing their confidence, skills, and the knowledge base to pursue their dreams.

_______________________________________________

Carleton faculty and staff have been working together intensively since 2004 to create integrated programs and curricular experiences that help all students transition from high school learning into the inquiry-based learning of science and math at Carleton. A focus of our work is to improve assistance to and programming for students who are under-represented in science and math at Carleton: students of color, women (in certain fields), first-generation college students, and students from under-resourced high schools. Our activities include paying close attention to issues of classroom climate.

Summer research students working in lab

Carleton's activities are guided by the Transitions Group (membership below), a team of faculty and staff who oversee the creation of co-curricular programs, the development of the curriculum, and the integration of co-curricular programs with the formal curriculum. Most of the work listed below is funded by Carleton's 5 ^th Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) grant: Winter break Science Scholars Workshop for students Introductory courses with problem solving Pathways into science & math courses at CarletonA focus on improving student learning in diverse groupsA future Science Learning Center Retreats and workshopsDevelopment of a literature resource list and links to programs elsewhere

Prof. Arjendu Pattanayak with physics lab students

Current members of the "Transitions Group" are:

Geology: Mary Savina, Bereket Haileab, Cam Davidson
Chemistry: Deborah Gross, Dani Kohen, Joe Chihade, Trish Ferrett, Gretchen Hofmeister
Biology: Susan Singer, Fern