UMD GAANN ProgramInformational Meeting

June 30, 2011Janice Reutt-Robey

•The GAANN Fellowship Program•Maryland GAANN Chemistry Scholar-Educators•What does the Fellowship provide?•What does the Fellowship expect?•The Application Process

Dept. of Education Support

• Department of Education-Fellowship Program

• Provides Fellowships through academic departments of institutions of higher education

• To “graduate assistants in areas of national need (GAANN)”

• To students of superior ability who demonstrate financial need and plan to pursue the PhD

Maryland GAANN Program

• Increase and diversify the pool of graduate students enrolled within our chemistry Ph.D. program who plan to pursue a chemistry career in

• Improve the training of those chemistry Ph.D. students who seek to pursue an academic career, by providing supervised teaching experiences that include experiences with lecturing, laboratory curricular development and new technology tools

• Reduce the time for PhD Completion• Provide students a competitive edge for the academic

profession

What does the Fellowship provide?

• An annual stipend of up to $30,000.(last year all Fellows qualified for the full stipend)

• Tuition Remission – 12 month• Mandatory UMD Fees $1614• Health Insurance – Student Plan• Book/Computer Allowance - $1500 • Travel Allowance - $1000

UMD Student Health Plan

• United Health Care

• ~$1400/year – covered for Fellow only(plan and major medical supplemental)

• http://www.firststudent.com/

• University Health Center + Preferred providers + non-Preferred Providers

What does the Fellowship expect?

Maryland Chemistry Scholar-Educators• Pursue PhD Research Mission• Training Enhancements for Professoriate

Supervised Teaching Experience• One Semester –Traditional Classroom

Setting/Technology Tools• One Semester – Laboratory Curriculum

Development

STE - Lecture Semester• Kick-off Meeting with Master Teacher

*Discuss teaching philosophy*Identify 3-week course segment for observation/lecture*Determine technology tool used in course

• 3-week Course Segment (~6 hrs/wk for 3-wk period)*Observe 3-4 continuous lectures *Prepare & deliver 2 lectures *Obtain non-evaluative “feedback” from the professor * Generate Exam Problems

• Semester Long Technology Tool (2-4 hrs/wk throughout semester)Course-Dependent - Online HW, ALEKS, Clickers, etc.Collect & Analyze Data on Student Performance

• Observe Similar Class in Two Distinct Settings (2 x 1 hr):Liberal Arts, Community College, HBCU, etc.

Record Observations/Experiences in Journal

STE Semester – Curricular Development

Purpose: Gain Experience in Developing Undergraduate Laboratories & Help Develop UMD Curriculum

• Student Assigned to Laboratory Course in Area of Interest

• Master Teacher will Propose an expt. for the UG Laboratory (or extension of existing expt.)

• Student will develop the experiment, set up protocols• Communicate with Instructor

End of Semester: – Oral Presentations on Expts Laboratory Write-Ups

Documenting the STE

• Maintain Journal of teaching experiences – Fall & Spring

• Turn in Journal in December/May• Turn in Laboratory Writeup• Prepare final 2 page “Teaching

Philosophy”

Application Process• Email Tia Best by July 6 to let us know you plan to

apply • Complete the GAANN Application form by July 13 –

Turn in to Graduate Office• Apply for FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) by July 13• Arrange for a letter of reference from current UMD

research advisor, describing your aptitude for research and teaching

• Arrange for one (1) letter of reference from an instructor for whom you served as a Teaching Assistant describing your aptitude for and commitment to teaching

GAANN Application FormPosted at http://www.chem.umd.edu/GraduateProgram/

Applicant Resonses:

• Abstract on Dissertation Topic (400 words)

Short Essays:• B. Describe all prior teaching experiences. Be sure to include

classroom (e.g. TA), laboratory (e.g. Rollinson Mentor, REU Program), and informal experiences (tutoring, etc.).

• C In your view, which are the important qualities that make an effective instructor?

• D. In this Program, you will have the opportunity for Supervised Teaching Experiences under master teachers. For which courses are you most interested in gaining these experiences and why?

• E. Describe your professional goals. What kind of position do you wish to occupy in 3 years time? In 10 years time?

Fellowship Notification

• Applications reviewed by 3-Faculty Committee

• 5 Fellows Selected by July 20• Stipend Level determined by Office of

Financial Aid (FAFSA)• Fellowship begins August 15, 2011