|
|
 |
 Heuer
Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Undergraduate Science Education
The Heuer Awards recognize colleges and universities for outstanding
achievement in undergraduate science education. Any CIC member college
or university may nominate a particular program, department, or initiative.
The awards are based on the significance of achievement, which is assessed
in terms of the impact on students, improvements in the institution, service
to local schools through outreach programs, and distinctive features with
potential for wider influence within higher education. Since 2001, the
program's first year, $10,000 awards have been made to 13 institutions.
Funder: The Russell Pearce and Elizabeth Crimian Heuer
Foundation
Program Status: Two $10,000 awards were made in 2005. See
below for information on the recipients.
Press Release
May 2005: Winners
of the 2005 Heuer Awards Announced
2005 Heuer Award Recipients
Juniata College (PA) - Department of
Chemistry for curricular innovation. Recognizing that a large percentage
of their students were pre-health or biology majors, the Department reorganized
the traditional chemistry sequence so that organic chemistry comes first.
This arrangement also permitted the early introduction of instrumental
analytical tools (which are particularly useful with organic compounds)
as well as an increased emphasis on student research. The outcomes of
this restructuring have been, over the last four years, a threefold increase
(30 -> 97) in chemistry majors; 16 reviewed publications with student
co-authors; 27 student presentations at regional, national, and international
meetings; 70 percent of declared majors are women; 60 percent of graduates
go on to graduate programs. Juniata has 1,400 students and 93 full time
faculty members.
Oberlin College (OH) - Neuroscience Department. This
program began in 1972 as a psychobiology major, becoming neuroscience
in 1986. Following the construction of new facilities in 1990, the program
has expanded from five to 25 graduates per year, tripled the size of the
faculty, become an independent department in 2002, and expects to graduate
32 majors in 2005. The program has been extremely influential nationally
and has served as a model for numerous other undergraduate programs. Almost
all majors participate in an intensive research project culminating in
the required senior seminar. For students graduating in 2000 and 2001,
80 percent are currently in graduate or medical school. Oberlin College
faculty members were actively involved in the formation of the professional
organization for neuroscience, which is now one of the largest such professional
organizations.
Heuer Awards Archives
(including past recipients)
For questions about the Heuer Awards, please contact CIC Director
of Projects Stephen Gibson.
|
|
