By
Kelley
Bozeman

Mathematics professor
Paul Eakin is the grant's primary investigator.

"This
is a great day for UK and a great day for American
education. There is no doubt that our knowledge-based
economy demands skills in mathematics and science.
This NSF funding will enable the University of Kentucky
to help students throughout the state obtain greater
math and science proficiency."
--
Lee T. Todd Jr.,
president,
University of Kentucky

UK President Lee T.
Todd Jr., left, discusses the grant as acting Provost
Michael Nietzel listens.

Wimberly Royster, left,
discusses the grant with acting Provost Michael Nietzel.
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Oct.
2, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- The
University of Kentucky has been awarded a $22 million
grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to
help strengthen and reform education in math and science
in pre-K through grade 12 classrooms in Kentucky.
The
five-year grant, which is part of NSF's Math and Science
Partnership program - an anticipated investment of
$240 million over five years in projects - is one
of the largest single awards in UK's history.
A
key facet of President George W. Bush's No Child Left
Behind education plan and the first investment in
his five-year $1 billion math and science partnership
initiative, these new partnership activities are designed
to enhance the performance of American students in
mathematics and science.
"This
is a great day for UK and a great day for American
education," said UK President Lee T. Todd Jr.
"There is no doubt that our knowledge-based economy
demands skills in mathematics and science. This NSF
funding will enable the University of Kentucky to
help students throughout the state obtain greater
math and science proficiency."
Paul
Eakin, professor of mathematics in UK's College of
Arts and Sciences and principal investigator on the
project, said the program seeks to demonstrate improved
student achievement in mathematics and science through
the support of partnerships that unite the efforts
of teachers, administrators and guidance counselors
in local schools with administrators and faculty at
area colleges and universities.
The
Appalachian Mathematics and Science Partnership (AMSP),
which is comprised of 52 school districts and nine
institutions of higher education, implements four
components to address the needs of the region: 1)
preservice teacher and administrator education; 2)
professional development of personnel in pre-K through
grade 12 classrooms; 3) student learning opportunities,
including parent/community engagement; and 4) research
to advance the understanding of rural education reform.
"Our
goals are to eliminate the achievement gap in science
and mathematics in the Central Appalachian region
and to build an integrated elementary, secondary and
higher education system in this underserved region,"
said Eakin.
Wimberly
Royster, former UK vice president for research and
graduate studies and professor emeritus of mathematics,
who is co-principal investigator and project director,
said the program is designed to increase the number
of teachers in mathematics and science in the rural
areas.
"We
want to develop courses and procedures whereby we
can prepare preservice teachers to move into the rural
districts and hit the ground running," Royster
said.
"The
university is thrilled by this award and the opportunity
it creates for us to improve the education and achievements
of students in math and science," said Mike Nietzel,
UK's acting provost. "Under the leadership of
Paul Eakin and Wimberly Royster, faculty at UK and
several partner institutions have come together to
design a creative and comprehensive program for improving
many aspects of math and science education in Appalachia.
We are excited to begin the work."
"Through
a solid foundation in math and science our young people
will be better prepared to face the high tech challenges
of the future," said U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal"
Rogers. "This program will help equip Kentucky's
students, particularly those in Appalachia, with the
tools needed to succeed."
"A
critical need exists in Kentucky for improved math
and science learning. This type of project will change
the way our students think and prepare for the future,"
U.S. Rep. Ernie Fletcher said.
UK,
the lead partner in the project, will work with the
Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative (ARSI) at the
Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation and eight
institutions of higher education, including Eastern
Kentucky University, Kentucky State University, Morehead
State University, Pikeville College, Union College,
University of Virginia College at Wise, University
of Tennessee and Somerset Community College. Other
colleges and universities are expected to join as
the project progresses. The AMSP further partners
with the Pritchard Committee on Academic Excellence,
the Appalachian College Association and the Kentucky
Gear-Up project.
Other
key personnel on the project include Ron Atwood, UK
science education professor and co-principal investigator/science
program component and research component; Steve Henderson,
ARSI project director and co-principal investigator
and director of program delivery; and Carl Lee, UK
math professor and co-principal investigator/mathematics
program component.
Please
note: For more information about the NSF Grant please
visit the following Web sites and refrence grant #0227028.
http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/02/pr0281.htm
https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a6/A6RC_THISWEEK.html
https://www.ehr.nsf.gov/msp/
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