Overview
The Center for Science, Math and Technology Education (CSMTE) was established by the Board of Trustees in February 2005, with Dr. Sandra L. White, Professor of Biology, serving as its first director. As the Center’s role is to service and bring together all extramurally funded programs relating to science and math education, it is positioned within the University in the office of Academic Affairs, University Programs. The Center is dedicated to supporting the formation of intellectual capital through the following:
- The establishment of a programmatic umbrella under which many of the smaller existing science and math enhancement/enrichment programs at NCCU can function collaboratively to provide a unified focus on the preparation of students in science and math;
- The development of both innovative and comprehensive science and mathematics programs (K–16) designed to assure the production of competitive undergraduate students to pursue advanced studies and careers in math and science;
- Obtaining quantifiable data from the development and execution of said programs, such that NCCU will serve as a resource for paradigms to increase the number of competitive minority students pursuing and attaining careers in science and mathematics; and
- Faculty development initiatives for science and math teachers in Durham Public Schools through partnering with community organizations and programs within our own university.
The Center currently has 25 members who are principal investigators with extramurally funded programs that support science and mathematics initiatives here at NCCU. These members, cumulatively, have been responsible for funding over $12M for the period the Center has been in existence. In alignment with its goal of developing innovative initiatives, the Center has been successful in the development of two programs (funded at the level of $1.2M): Students Making Another Science Success Story (SMASSS), funded by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and American Honda Foundation, and Fostering Undergraduate Research through University Research and Education in Science (FUTURES), funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
SMASSS is a continuous three-year continuous and hands-on science and math enhancement program for students in grades eight to ten. It consists of a three-week summer camp and school-year "Saturday Academies." SMASSS is beginning its fourth year and second competitive round of funding and has been a tremendously successful program. Of the first students who began the program in 2006, approximately 3% had participated in a science competition, and that was a science fair. When they graduated from our program in May 2009, greater than 75% had participated in one or more science competitions, such as the National Science Decathlon. Not only did they participate, but they also garnered first-, second-, and third-place ribbons and won their first team trophy, at the regional National Science Decathlon in February 2009.
We are extremely pleased that through FUTURES we can extend our science and academic enhancement program, potentially, through the second year of college. FUTURES focuses initially on 11th and 12th graders. However, those from the program who apply and are admitted to NCCU will continue with a summer bridge program as well as academic enhancement and support for their freshman and sophomore years. The FUTURES program began in June of 2009, and we were elated that of the 36 participants, 69% were from SMASSS. This is phenomenal and speaks volumes for our building a pipeline of our own for science and math recruits at NCCU. Once they have progressed through FUTURES, the students are guided into other programs under the umbrella of the Center. These programs (e.g., MARC, NASA, BBRI Cancer Program, and BRITE) are designed to reinforce and nurture their competitiveness in the sciences during their college years.