March 28, 2024

Nearly $3 Million Granted to USM

Hoyer Earns High Score From LCV
Posted for Congressman Steny Hoyer

A grant from the U.S. Department of Education has been given to the University System of Maryland to help the system develop innovative strategies to improve student outcomes. The grant, a total of $2,998,464, was announced by Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) in September, and is for the First in the World (FITW) program.

The College of Southern Maryland is a partner in the grant and will collaborate with other colleges to carry out a mathematics reform initiative. CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried said the collaboration will be with both two- and four-year colleges. “The results from this partnership will be critical in developing a pathway through which we can help all students become more confident and more successful with college-level mathematics, and especially those who face great challenges in completing their degree programs,” Dr. Gottfried said.

“I’m pleased that the University System of Maryland and its partners will receive this highly competitive funding for their First in the World Maryland Mathematics Reform Initiative,” said Congressman Hoyer. “USM recognizes the need for innovation and this grant will improve math skills for many students, especially those from under-served communities, and help them realize their full potential. I’m proud that USM is committed to ensuring that Maryland students have the same opportunities to succeed.”

The grant is a part of nearly $60 million awarded to 17 colleges and universities in the First in the World grant program announced by the Obama administration to drive innovation and keep a higher education within reach for all Americans, Other Maryland institutions partnering with USM are Anne Arundel Community College, Cecil College, Coppin State University, Garrett College, Harford Community College, Howard Community College, Montgomery College, Towson University, University of Baltimore, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

“USM and our partners took a serious look at one of the biggest barriers to college completion, developmental mathematics, and asked ourselves: How can we make math a meaningful part of students’ college education by connecting it more directly to students’ majors?,” said Dr. Robert L. Caret, chancellor of the University System of Maryland. “Our project will introduce a new statistics pathway for students who are in the liberal arts and social sciences. This pathway will be as rigorous as the traditional algebra/calculus sequence, but will be much more relevant to what students need for their majors and will, we are sure, lead to more student success going forward.”

“We are excited to be joining other institutions within the University System of Maryland in conducting this important research,” said Matthew Prineas, dean of the undergraduate school at University of Maryland University College. “Work under this First in the World grant will forge a new and exciting commitment to a deeper understanding of mathematical pathways for students and broaden our own faculty’s professional development, as they learn the best strategies for teaching. The ultimate goal is to equip the great majority of our students with the quantitative literacy skills they need to succeed in their field of study and in the workplace.”

 

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