Executive Summary: Current State of the Jess & Mildred Fisher College of Science & Mathematics
Prepared for President Maravene S. Loeschke, October 18, 2011
Serving nearly 2500 undergraduate majors and nearly 750 graduate students, every single major has grown disproportionally relative to overall campus growth.
Program accreditations in computer science (ABET), chemistry (ACS), forensic science (FEPAC) and teacher education (NCATE), and designation as an NSA Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education, speak to quality. And we are applying to be a Center of Actuarial Excellence.
We highlight student diversity and efforts to close the achievement gap, including Towson Opportunities in STEM (TOPS), Bridges to the Baccalaureate, Cosmic scholars, and Physics scholars. These are all externally funded (NSF and NIH).
The NSF ADVANCE grant aims to consider institutional changes that are needed to remove roadblocks for female faculty members.
TU’s unique model for teacher preparation has science and math education faculty in the FCSM.
We value strong interdisciplinary programs - Environmental Sciences and Studies; MBBB- Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics; the School of Emerging Technologies; and the Urban Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory.
We have a long tradition of targeted support for student research and travel.
Opening of the TU Field Station in Monkton, MD, around 10 miles north (2010)
Establishment of the Glen Arboretum (2011)
Launching of the School of Emerging Technologies (2011)
Faculty members integrate teaching and research and view both as equally important to our mission.
$5-6 million per year in extramural support: FCSM has a broad external funding portfolio that includes basic and applied research (including two NSF CAREER grants); Scholarship programs [NSF Noyce, NSF Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM)]; and Teacher professional development programs (NASA, NSF, MHEC, MSDE). In FY11, 74 faculty members wrote 71 grant proposals requesting $16.2 million. Also in FY11, 41 faculty members received 44 new grants totaling $6.1 million.
Faculty members are highly recognized (two recent USM Elkins Professors, and numerous recent Regents Awards for Research, Teaching, Mentoring, and Public Service).
Many efforts in STEM education and outreach seek to address the STEM pipeline. Assets include the TU Center for STEM Excellence in the Columbus Center on the Inner Harbor; the Hackerman Academy of Math and Science headed by astronaut Don Thomas; and the Center for Science and Math Education.
We are responding to workforce development and BRAC needs, with Harford offerings of the MS in AIT, the BS in IT, and significant science education work with Harford schools.
We also respond to workforce development with two Professional Science Masters – Forensic Science and Applied Physics
Established the FCSM Advisory Board (2008)
Centrality to TU’s Academic Mission: FCSM has a large GenEd/UCore contribution, provides a significant service role for health professions (the other college with disproportionate enrollment growth), and close collaboration in teacher preparation with COE.
An exciting challenge/opportunity:
The upcoming $150 million expansion/renovation of Smith Hall.
The Jess and Mildred Fisher
College of Science and Mathematics
Smith Hall, Room 312 (campus map)
Phone: 410-704-2121
Fax: 410-704-2604
E-mail: fcsm@towson.edu
