Author: Carissa Rutkauskas

News to Know

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By Carissa Rutkauskas

 

Congratulations on your retirement!

Congratulations to Glenn Lewis from Berlin High School on his retire­ment. Mr. Lewis has taught UConn SPAN 3178 and SPAN 3179, Interme­diate Spanish Composition and Span­ish Conversation: Cultural Topics, since 2012. His unique gift to ECE classrooms was bringing alive the language, culture, and history through his storytelling based on his extensive travel experiences in the Hispanic and Portuguese worlds, and his Chilean heritage. In his retirement, Mr. Lewis will move on to his third career teach­ing Buddhist philosophy and practice, and eventually living part time in the White Mountains and in Chile.

 

Congratulations to Maria Vilardo from Crosby High School in Water­bury on her retirement. She entered teaching as a second career and has been teaching for 19 years, nearly 12 of them in Waterbury. Ms. Vilardo has taught UConn’s History 1502: US History Since 1877, since 2020 and describes her affiliation and partner­ship with UConn ECE as her “crown­ing achievement as an educator.” In her retirement, she plans to enjoy life, relax, read, and travel. She has already traveled to Europe and South Amer­ica and extensively throughout the Caribbean. In the future she would like to visit Japan and Singapore.

Promotions

Congratulations to Dr. Evan Perkoski, one of Early College Experience’s Faculty Coordinators or his promotion to associate professor and tenure.

Conference Attendance

Franklin Academy (East Haddam) UConn ECE Political Science and Human Rights Instructor Fahd Rafiq was awarded UConn ECE Instructor Conference Funding to attend the 2024 International Studies Asso­ciation Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA in April, where he presented a research paper on Nation­alism and identities in South Asia, an article version of his dissertation. He also co-presented on forming na­tional identities, mass culture, and land rights. Dr. Rafiq was able to attend several sessions, including foreign policies, using role theory and Arab Spring 2.0, and civil war research.

UConn ECE Student Successes

Congrats to UConn ECE Student Maya Bynoe from Pathways Acad­emy of Technology and Design for: being a nine-time scholarship winner; admission to University of Con­necticut School of Business Honors Program; achieving 28+ credits by fall enrollment; having started a business which now has product placement inside of a local store; served as sec­retary for the Greater East Hartford Community Fund.

 

Hanh Tran, Saint Thomas More School. “Thanks to the amazing courses from UConn ECE, I am able to discover my new interest in eco­nomics, especially microeconomics. Initially, I didn’t think economics was an excit­ing subject to take but it was great to finally learn something practical and I figured out that what I’ve learned can be applied positively to my consump­tion habit. As a result, I received an Excellence in Economics Award from Saint Thomas More high school!”

 

UConn ECE Student Perspectives

Jia Yi Lu, Bristol Eastern High School. “Recently, I passed my Calculus final with an exceptional score. I don’t think I would’ve been able to achieve this without the help of my ECE Instructor.”

 

Reygina Pierre, Ledyard High School. “Having gone through the ECE experience I have more confi­dence in myself in the field of animal science classes I took.”

 

Jonathan Plona, Wolcott High School. “I did really well in my ECE courses, earning A’s in them. I learned a ton from my instructors and earned college credit. It was a great experience,and I’ll be taking ECE courses again next school year.”

2023-2024 UConn ECE Professional Recognition Awards

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By Jessica Dunn

 

Each year, we look forward to receiving and reviewing hundreds of nominations for the Professional Recognition Awards and working with the review committees to select the winners. With that said, it is no easy task, as we have over 2,000 members of the UConn ECE community, mak­ing it very difficult to choose just a few professionals who stand out each year. But once selections are made, the hard part is over, and the celebrations begin.

 

UConn Early College Experience hosts an annual Awards Ceremony for all winners to publicly recognize and thank them for their dedication and commitment to the UConn ECE Program. Those recognized have exceeded program expectations and excelled in preparing their high school’s students for the next level in their education. Candidates are nominated by their colleagues, students, administra­tion, and UConn Faculty for their exemplary instruction and management of the UConn ECE Program.

 

On April 25, 2024, we hosted our annual Awards Ceremo­ny for award winners, family, and friends on the UConn Storrs Campus. Our award winners and guests gathered at the UConn Alumni Center for an elegant sit-down din­ner where they were welcomed by Office of Early College Programs (OECP) Executive Director, Christopher Todd as well as UConn’s Interim Associate Vice Provost, Amit Savkar.

 

The night was filled with speeches from UConn OECP staff along with program partners to personally recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of each winner. This year we had the great honor to recognize thirteen Professional Recognition Award winners along with six award winners of the Silver Jubilee Award (25-year partners). The night was filled with heartfelt speeches, tears of joy, laughter, and celebration as winners, accompanied by their family and friends were able to pause and acknowledge the great im­pact they have on the lives of their students, their commu­nity, and those who work alongside them.

 

Congratulations to all recipients of this year’s awards. Your dedication, expertise, and outstanding contributions have truly set the standard for excellence within the UConn ECE Community. The UConn ECE Program would not be successful without the passionate and dedicated partners we are honored to work with, and we are grateful for all you do.

 

Principal Award for Program Support & Advocacy

Keri Hagness, The Morgan School

Thomas E. Recchio Faculty Coordinator Award for Academic Leadership

Natalia Smirnova, Economics, University of Connecticut

Site Representative Award for Excellence in Program Administration

Kevin Barbero, James Hillhouse High School

Instructor Award for Excellence in Course Instruction

Kyle Candia-Bovi, English, Suffield High School

Austin Cesare, U.S. History, Joseph A. Foran High School

Gina Corrado, Spanish, Cheshire High School

Christina Hernández-Williams, Spainish, Cromwell High School

Heather Watts Mathieu, Biology, Montville High School

“Rookie of the Year” Award for Excellence in First-Year Course Instruction

Gemetta Neal-Goulet, Educational Leadership, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

Margaret Clifton, English, RHAM High School

Award for Outstanding Research in the Field of Concurrent Enrollment

Scott Campbell, English, University of Connecticut

Kathrine Grant, English, Connecticut Education Assoc.

Carissa Rutkauskas, University of Connecticut

Silver Jubilee Award

Julie Barker, Physics, Cheshire High School

María DiVirgilio, Spanish, Lyman Hall High School

Cathy Fedeorowicz, Mathematics, Seymour High School

Gan Manelli, Europeon History, Masuk High School

Amy Nocton, Spanish, Edwin O. Smith High School

Tina Riccio, Spanish, Southington High School

 

 

 

Student Scholarships

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By Jessica Dunn

 

Through a rigorous review process, the UConn Early College Experience Office scholarship committee se­lected six outstanding 2023-2024 UConn ECE Students as scholarship recipients. Each student has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship applicable to any institution. All recipients are high school seniors, who have completed at least one UConn Early College Experience course and have demonstrated outstanding achieve­ment in their project submissions. Additionally, applicants are evaluated using a holistic rubric that considers various factors including academic success, future academic aspirations, and demonstrated financial need.

 

View the 2024 UConn ECE Scholarship Winner video.

 

Excellence in the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences

Winners demonstrate academic achievement and a potential for future academic and professional accomplishments in a field focusing on the Arts, Humanities, and/or Social Sciences.

 

ARIANNA ANDERSON
Pathways Academy
of Technology
and Design		 TAINA TOLSON
Greater Hartford
Academy of the Arts

Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics

Winners demonstrate academic achievement and a potential for future academic and professional accomplishments in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Mathematics.

 

GIANNI DRAB
Robert E. Fitch
High School		 MUKTHA RAMESH
Rocky Hill High School

Excellence in Civic and Community Engagement

Winners are academically successful, are already making a positive difference in their town or neighbor­hood, and are inspiring others to do the same. The students chosen for this award are UConn ECE Students who demonstrate ambition and self-drive evidenced by outstanding achievement in both school and their community.

 

TESSA FABIANO
Stamford High School		 DANIELLE KANTER
Fairfield Ludlowe
High School

Celebrating our student staff

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As the Office of Early College Programs works to sustain our unprecedented growth, the program continues to rely heavily on the support, insights, and dedication of our OECP student workers. Undergraduate and graduate students alike, our ECE student staff works tirelessly to provide customer service to our students and families, support student and instructor events, and keep our communication and social media presence relevant and timely. OECP has a long tradition of leveraging the power of student workers. In fact, the majority of the full-time program staff began their journey with OECP as student workers.

 

Yara Medawar, Graduate Assistant

PhD Candidate, UConn, Civil and Environmental Engineer­ing

“I am very excited to join UConn’s Office of Early College Programs, where I look forward to sup­porting and inspiring the next generation of students. I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to contribute to innovative educational initiatives that bridge high school and college experiences, fostering academic excellence and personal growth among our students.”

 Amanda Mueller, Student Administrative Assistant, 4 years of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Rockville High School (‘20); UConn, Molecular and Cell Biology with a Minor in Psychological Sciences, (‘24); UConn, Genetic Counseling (Rising 1st year graduate student)

“What I enjoy the most about working with UConn ECE is the kind and supportive program staff and giving back to a program that has given so much to me!”
Caroline Lynch, Graduate Assistant

Master’s Student, UConn, Higher Education and Student Affairs

“As a former ECE student myself, I am very excited to contribute to a program that has so positively impacted my education.

Additionally, I am looking forward to the opportunity to complement my graduate education in such a hands-on and valuable way!”

 Siva Sekhar Medisetty, Graduate Student Worker/ Data Dashboard Designer

Master’s Student, UConn, Business Analytics and Project Management

“I’ve truly enjoyed collaborating with my colleagues and witnessing the collective creativity and dedication that drives our work forward. Looking ahead, I’m excited about the innovative projects we’ll tackle together!”
Christ-Anne (CJ) Jean-Francois, Student Administrative Assistant, 2 years of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Central Magnet High School (class of 2021); UConn, Political Science and Psychology major; rising junior UConn ECE Alumni

“What I enjoy most about working with the ECE program here at UConn is how understanding and kind everyone on the team is, and their commitment to helping me grow in my role and fostering my independence.”

 Emma Winston, Student Ad­ministrative Assistant, 2 years of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Sacred Heart Academy (class of 2022); UConn, Majoring in Psychology and Philosophy; rising junior

“Working with the kindest and most compassionate staff at ECE. I also love contributing to a program that assists these students in reaching higher in their education and really exploring what they’re passionate about.”
Whitley Sumpter, Student Ad­ministrative Assistant, 2 years of experience

Hayesville High School (class of 2022); UConn, Social Work major; rising junior

During my time working with UConn ECE, I have gained many valuable skills that will not only help me in future career endeavors but in life. What I have learned has allowed me to evaluate and solve problems much more efficiently, and my confidence in my abilities to handle issues that arise inside and outside of work has grown exponentially. No matter what kind of day I am having, it is nice to know that I will be walking into a supportive work environment with staff who go above and beyond, whether I need help with a project or even just to talk. I am incredi­bly grateful that through UConn ECE, I have met some of the most kind and genuine people who have played a large role in shaping my experience at, and love for, UConn.

 Julia Swanson, Student Adminis­trative Assistant, 2 years of experi­ence, UConn ECE Alumni

East Catholic High School (class of 2020); UConn, Elementary Educa­tion, minor in English and Speech Language Hearing Sciences; rising senior

“I’ve enjoyed working with the ECE team because they foster inclusivity, support one another, and create a welcoming environment. ECE held a Christmas party that included all staff, featuring food and a gingerbread house competition, which the student staff won! The ECE staff are incredibly kind and caring, always ensuring everyone feels included and supported.”
Charlotte Daigle, Student Ad­ministrative Assistant, 1 years of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Wethersfield High School (class of 2023); UConn, Major: Pre- Teach­ing/Elementary Education Minor: HDFS; rising sophomore

“Working in the UConn ECE office I have enjoyed interacting with parents and students and seeing how helpful this program is for them when tran­sitioning into college. Seeing that the work we put in every year pays off when we see how grateful these students are.”

 Elizabeth Hinkson,

Student Content Creator, 2 years of experience

Norwood High School (class of 2022); UConn, Nursing; rising junior

“As a Content Creator at UConn ECE I have enjoyed cre­ating innovative content for students. The supportive staff motivates me to improve daily, which has been an enriching experience.”
Sameul Alam, Student Content Creator, 1 year of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Wethersfield High School (class of 2023); UConn, Marketing with a minor in Business Management & Communications; rising sophomore

“As a content creator for UConn Early College Experience, I enjoyed interviewing around the UConn campus, speaking to instructors, participating in meetings, and being motivated by the supportive com­munity within the office.”

 

 Brayden Bloom, Student Content Creator, 6 months of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Ridgefield High School (class of 2023); UConn, Finance; rising sophomore

“UConn Early College Experience has given me the chance to work with some amazing people and get more involved. I really enjoy getting to meet new students and staff every day, as well as getting to be more comfortable with our campus.”

 

Professional Development Workshops

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By Stefanie Malinoski

 

Throughout the 2024-2025 academic year, UConn Early College Experience partnered with dedicated Faculty Coordinators to offer 50 professional development workshops to certified Instructors. These opportunities were designed to enrich teaching practic­es, foster interdisciplinary connections, and broaden educators’ perspectives. Some highlights from the spring semester are below. Please be sure to review the UConn ECE Professional Development Blog on the UConn ECE website for details from all spring workshops and pictures from the events.

 

Environmental Science

Dr. Morty Ortega, ECE Faculty Coordinator for Environmental Science, met with 32 Environmental Science Instructors for a “Journey through Ecotoxicology” with graduate student Anika Agrawal. Ecotoxicology focuses on studying the effects of toxic chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals, and industrial chemicals on ecosystems. Anika Agrawal, a PhD Candidate in Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE) at UConn studies the effect of mercury in oysters in the Long Island Sound.

 

Spanish

UConn ECE Faculty Coordinators from Spanish, Profs. Gustavo Nan­clares and Eduardo Urios-Aparisi met with more than 60 Spanish In­structors to listen to Prof. Maria Acosta Cruz, Professor of Spanish in the Language, Literature & Culture Dept at Clark University. Prof. Acosta shared her talk “Ecocrítica, cultura y nación: La cultura puertorriqueña a través de cinco siglos” (“Ecocriticism, Culture, and Nation: Puerto Rican Culture Through Five Centuries”) with the teachers.

 

Educational Psychology

Prof. Joseph Madaus, our UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator from Educational Psychology, gathered with instructors for a virtual meeting and thought-provoking discussion with young adult author Terry Trueman. Trueman’s novel, “Stuck in Neutral,” used in ESPY 1100: Introduction to Special Education courses, offers insights into the lived experi­ences of individuals with cerebral palsy and sparked meaningful conversation among participants.

 

French

UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator from French, Prof. Florence Marsal met with 30 UConn ECE certified French Instructors to hear from Joëlle Vitiello, Pro­fessor of French and Francophone Studies at Ma­calester College for her talk “Enseigner les trésors d’Haïti” (“Teaching the Treasures of Haiti”). In addi­tion, Mary Catherine Decoteau, Career Consultant from UConn’s Career Services, spoke to teachers about enhancing and highlighting career competen­cies in UConn French courses.

 

Biology

Dr. Tom Abbott, ECE Faculty Coordinator for Biolo­gy, met with a group of 34 UConn ECE certified Biology Instruc­tors and embarked on a groupcampus trail walk. The theme for the daywas “In the “Heat” of the Moment, For­ests Move Center Stage”. The field walk took the group through small forest stands and provid­ed Instructors with a unique perspective on ecological dynamics and biodiversity in the Storrs area.

 

English

UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator from English, Prof. Scott Campbell and Graduate Assistant Adam Mc­Lain curated a dynamic conference for 80 UConn ECE certified English Instructors on UConn’s Hart­ford campus. The theme for the conference was “In­quiring About Writing: Syllabi and Texts in the ECE English High School Classroom”. From exploring literary theory and art to engaging with inquiry and identity at the Wadsworth Atheneum, the confer­ence fostered collaborative dialogues and innovative pedagogical approaches.

 

Latino and Latin American Studies

Prof. Anne Gebelein, UConn ECE’s Faculty Coor­dinator from Latino and Latin American Studies, met with a group of 20 LLAS 1190: Introduction to Latin America and the Caribbean Instructors on the Hartford campus. The day included a presentation and discussion with special guest Lorenzo Martinez Ruiz about challenges to indigenous sovereignty in Nicaragua. Lorenzo is an indigenous leader of the Rama-Kriol peoples in southeastern Nicaragua. His firsthand insights into indigenous rights activism un­derscored the complexities of sovereignty and land rights issues in the region, provoking critical reflec­tions among participants.

 

New Instructor Orientation

In addition to our spring professional development workshops, UConn ECE celebrated a significant milestone by welcoming 297 newly certified in­structors into our community in May. Among them, 238 fresh faces joined us for New Instructor Orien­tation which was held on the Storrs campus, mark­ing it as our largest Orientation gathering to date.

This comprehensive event covered essential as­pects of Early College Experience from Instructor responsibilities to student engagement strategies. Noteworthy presentations by Student Success and Engagement Librarian, Ery Caswell, and Educational Technologies expert, Jordan Vinikoor, enriched par­ticipants’ understanding of available resources and technological tools. Additionally, instructors had the opportunity to connect with their Faculty Coordina­tors and fellow newcomers in dedicated afternoon sessions to ensure teachers are fully prepared to begin offering UConn courses in the fall.

As the academic year draws to a close, it’s evident it has been characterized by no­table achievements and successes. Look­ing forward, we aim to double down on these accomplishments to provide our UConn ECE community with even greater opportunities for continued growth.

2024 NEACEP Conference hosted at UConn

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By Carissa Rutkauskas

 

The University of Connecti­cut Early College Experience Program hosted the 2024 New England Alliance of Concur­rent Enrollment Partnerships (NEACEP) annual conference on Friday, May 17, 2024 in the UConn Student Union. Approx­imately one-hundred dual/ concurrent enrollment and early college professionals and advocates from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, as well as several experts from outside of New England were in attendance. The event was kicked off by a warm welcome by Kari Suder­ley, NEACEP President/ Direc­tor of Early College Programs, University of Maine and Dr. Amit Savkar, Interim Associate Vice Provost CETL, University of Connecticut.

 

During the Plenary Session, participants had the opportu­nity to hear from six program directors, a school superinten­dent, and a state chief perfor­mance officer as they offered insights into the landscape of dual and concurrent enroll­ment programs in their respec­tive states. The panel high­lighted key aspects of their programs such as program structure, partnerships, goals, achievements, and advance­ments, sparking further discus­sion and idea sharing from the audience.

 

A total of 14 breakout sessions were featured throughout the day, covering various aspects of early college programs, re­search, equity, policy, and sup­port resources. Topics ranged from stakeholder perspectives on research, alumni insights, collaborative initiatives for improving early college ac­cess, and disrupting racist systems to promote student success. Sessions also delved into advanced course pat­terns, educator pathways, dual enrollment policies, diverse learning landscapes, career pathways advising, support for multilingual students, recogni­tion in early college programs, targeted support for trade oc­cupations, and a comprehen­sive look at Connecticut State Community College’s early college programs. The confer­ence concluded with closing remarks from Kari Suderley, door prizes, and the distribu­tion of certificates. Participants left with valuable insights and a growing network of connec­tions in the field.

 

Special thanks to the following partners for participating in the Plenary Session:

  • Christopher Todd, Executive Director, Office of Early College Programs, University of Connecticut
  • Salvatore Menzo, EdD, Super­intendent of Goodwin Uni­versity Magnet Schools
  • Ajit Gopalakrishnan, Chief Performance Officer, Connecticut State Department of Education
  • Beth Doiron, Director of College Access and NHED Programs & Initiatives Community College System of New Hampshire
  • Jerry Appell, Early College Coordinator, River Valley Community College -Community College System of New Hampshire
  • Amy Hubbard, Executive Director of Early College, University of Maine System
  • Mercedes Pour, Director of College Access and Secondary Partnerships, Maine Community College System
  • Phylitia Jamerson, Executive Director of Early College, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Education

 

 

 

Explore a complete list of topics, presenters, and slides on the NEACEP conference website.

 

 

Course Offerings and Expanded Access

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By Christopher Todd

 

One of the most important fundamental principles in public policy is that the more complex a change, the less one can force that change upon stakeholders. Look to any state or federal education mandate, and one can understand the complexity of change. Simply mandating or forcing students to take advantage of the multitude of dual credit opportunities their school provides doesn’t lead to success. However, creating a robust catalog of offerings that allows for choice, and aligns with student interests will ultimately shift the landscape of dual credit opportunities in Connecticut.

 

In his book “Inquiry Mindset”, Trevor Mackenzie writes Passions create opportunities for deeper learn­ing as students are highly motivated and willing to explore them further. Their proper knowledge of the topic accelerates and amplifies their inquiry. Student interest and passion must drive the opportunities we look to create in an expanded course catalog. As the UConn ECE program quickly approaches 100 unique UConn course offerings, the program stands on the precipice of determining which new courses to add to our catalog, and as such, advocates with the appropriate university leadership within corre­sponding disciplines. The program will continue to look for disciplinary gaps in our course offerings and will work to bring in new course offerings that align with partner school needs, relevant career pathway pursuits, and most importantly student interests and passions.

 

Taking this into consideration, the UConn ECE program is excited to share new course offerings available during the forthcoming 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years. These courses align with the program’s strategic vision of expanding course offerings in a way that addresses both disciplinary gaps and student interests and needs.

 

ASLN 1102: Elementary American Sign Language II (4 credits)

Continued development of basic knowledge and understanding of conversational ASL.
BUSN 2235: Personal Financial Literacy (3 credits)

Introduction to essential topics in personal finance for individuals and entrepreneurs. Financial literacy, personal finance topics including recordkeeping, budgeting, risk, insurance, credit, purchasing decisions, savings/invest­ment options, income taxation of individuals and small businesses, and retirement savings.
CHIN 3210: Chinese Conversa­tion and Composition I (3 credits)

Development of ability to communicate in Chinese, orally and in writing.

CHIN 3211: Chinese Conversations and Composition II (3 credits)

Development of ability to communicate in Chinese, orally and in writing.
CSE 1010: Introduction to Computing for Engineers (3 credits)

Introduction to computing logic, algorithmic thinking, computing processes, a programming language and computing environment. Knowledge obtained in this course enables use of the computer as an instrument to solve computing problems. Representative problems from science, mathematics, and engineering will be solved.
KINS 1100: Exercise and Wellness for Everyone (3 credits)

Overview of the five pillars of health (exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress and relationships); role of exercise in health promotion and disease prevention across the lifes­pan; impacts of exercise in leisure time, culture, community, careers and the workplace.
MATH 1070Q: Mathematics for Business and Economics (3 credits)

Linear equations and inequali­ties, matrices, systems of linear equations, and linear program­ming; sets, counting, probability and statistics; mathematics of finance; applications to business and economics.
PUBH 1001: Introduction to Public Health (3 credits)

This course describes the history, philosophy, and science of public health. Students will identify biological, environmental, and social determinants of health from a comprehensive perspective. They will apply these principles to define health problems, evaluate possible causes, and recommend effective public health responses to health concerns. By doing so, students will learn about career opportunities and the complementary role public health plays with health care and voluntary and governmental organizations in protecting the public’s health.

To learn more about each course offering and UConn ECE Instructor requirements, we encourage you to visit our entire course catalog.

 

Addendum

ME 3295: Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (3 credits)
  • SolidWorks for Industrial Design option
  • AutoCAD for Industrial Design option
NUSC 1165: Fundamentals of Nutrition (3 credits)
An introduction to the principles and concepts of nutrition with emphasis on the nature and function of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins, and their application to the human organism.
ARE 1110E: Population, Food, and the Environment (3 credits)

The role of agriculture in the growth and development of societies throughout the world. Economic, social, and environmental problems of food production and resource needs in developing and advanced societies.

 

Investing in Continued Success

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By Christopher Todd

 

Reflections from our 2023-2024 Course Enhancement Grant Winners

 

UConn Early College Experience recognizes that educators across the state have limited access to funds, but do incredible things on behalf of students. As educators, each of you looks to leverage grant opportunities and the UConn ECE program is proud to offer Course Enhancement Grants for courses taught in partner high schools. The purpose of these grants is to create opportunities for classroom and community development for UConn ECE courses. Instructors currently teaching courses at their high school can submit proposals for books, technology, equipment, or other materials that enhance the subject matter taught in the classroom. UConn ECE also funds Community Development submissions to solicit funds for projects that have a large impact on the surrounding community, including plans to repurpose or allocate space, make communities healthier, or to foster creativity, research and build community culture. See below for reflections from some of this past year’s recipients.

 

Christian Heritage School
ECE Instructor: Jamie Cosgrove
UConn Course: BIOL 1107: Principles of Biology I

 

Description: Students had hands on experience to new technology that they otherwise would not have been exposed to because of Professor Cosgrove’s effort to secure funding for a new CRISPR lab set.

 In reflecting on the new CRISPR lab set, Jamie thanked Dr. Abbott for his encouragement and wrote “In this lab, they also learned how to correctly plate bacteria to obtain single colonies, how to use micropipettes, and how to use a microcentrifuge. One student, as she was taking her plate out of the warmer exclaimed, “Oh my gosh, is it white?... it’s white! That means we did it!” Many students expressed how “cool” it was to use relatively new technology in a high school classroom.”

Lewis S. Mills High School
ECE Instructor: Laura Faga
UConn Course: FREN 3250: Global Culture I

 

Description: This award allowed students to attend the French Quiz bowl in the Fall of 2023. Students returned to their school and shared the knowledge they gained with younger students.

 Laura wrote “My favorite day of the year with my UConn ECE French class is always the day of the UConn Quiz Bowl. I was thrilled this year when UConn ECE was able to help us finance the ever-increasing cost of our bus to attend this amazing event by providing me with a course enhancement grant.” The ECE French Quiz Bowl was a great way for students to kick off the year and bond with their classmates. One student reflected on the day stating “I was able to bond with classmates that I wouldn’t usually have talked to, namely some of the seniors that I didn’t know beforehand which helped me feel connected to the class for the rest of the year.”

Middletown High School
ECE Instructor: UConn ECE team

UConn Courses: HIST1300: Western Traditions Before 1500, HIST1400: Modern Western Traditions; ENGL 1007: Seminar and Studio in Academic Writing and Multimodal Composition; ANSC 1676: Introduction to Companion Animals, ANSC1602: Behavior and Training of Domestic Animals; SPSS 1110: Fundamentals of Horticulture; and HRTS 1007: Introduction to Human Rights

 

Description: This award was used to support an all-day community event for Middletown High School students. Students were able to network with community members and explore resources available to them. Middletown High School Pride Leaders, who are students that take UConn ECE courses, lead events, directed students, and were positive role models. This event benefited all involved parties.

 Leveraging their joint capacity, a team of ECE Instructors at Middletown High School helped host a Community Day Planning event where Middletown’s partnership with the UConn ECE program was celebrated along with numerous other community and school partners. Jason Boyle, ECE
Site Representative wrote “Aside from the great community building, the event also helped our ECE students learn about required steps for registration. As a result 97% of students in ECE courses finished their registration on time.”

Newington High School
ECE Instructor: Carla Toney
UConn Courses: ILCS 3239 & ILCS 3240: Composition & Conversation I & II

 

Description: With the goal of increasing opportunities for students to access authentic materials, funds have been provided to create a readers’ library in the classroom.

 In reflecting upon the grant funds Clara wrote “In just a few months, my ECE students have had opportunities to read some of the stories and improve their literacy skills. The books are appropriate for their ability and ages – something that was lacking with my previous library. The book covers are appealing with colorful images that spark their curiosity about the stories inside.” These sentiments were also highlighted by some of Clara’s ECE Students, one of whom wrote “The stories we read so far are entertaining, better than what we were reading before.”

University High School of Science and Engineering
ECE Instructor: Caryn Baseler
UConn Course: MARN 1001E: The Sea Around Us

 

Description: Students in the UConn ECE Marine Sciences class visited Meigs Point Nature Center and participated in their Three Shoreline Ecosystems program so students could visualize and apply what they learned in class to the rocky shore, sandy beach and salt marsh ecosystems.

 Upon reflecting on the grant, Caryn wrote “Thanks to the UConn ECE Course Enhancement Grant, the UHSSE MARN 1001E class was able to travel to Hammonasset State Park to participate in the Meig’s Point 3-ecosystem program. The students expected just a day at the beach, some of the students having never been to the beach, but experienced so much more! The sandy beach was most familiar to them, but the rocky shore and salt marsh were not places that they had previously experienced.”
One student wrote the day was “Surprisingly educational (I didn’t think I would learn so much) yet fun experience which allowed me to interact with the beach environments and learn more about why our beaches and marshes are so important.”

Waterbury Career Academy
ECE Instructor: Frank F. Marcucio, III
UConn Course: AH 4092: EMT Training

 

Description: Funds for this award went towards the purchase of cardiopulmonary resuscitation mannequins that records their performance and interface with AEDs. This provided immediate feedback to Mr. Marcucio’s students. The mannequins allow students to develop and hone their skills and address inadequacies in a scientific method based on recorded performance.

 With the help of the funds, Frank commented that the program “trained and certified over 100 students in our health strand with this equipment during our academic year.”

The Woodstock Academy
ECE Instructor: Sharon Geyer
UConn Courses: CHEM 1127Q & CHEM 1128Q: General Chemistry I & II

 

Description: This classroom enhancement was awarded for the acquisition of Go Direct sensors and probes that allowed the implementation of science experiments in UConn ECE courses. The sensors were used throughout all UConn ECE science courses, allowing approximately 160 students annually to benefit.

 Sharon wrote “Woodstock Academy supports a wide breadth of ECE science courses including Biology (BIOL 1107); Chemistry I and II (CHEM 1127Q, CHEM 1128Q); Biotechnology (PLSC 3230); Physics I & II (PHYS 1201Q & 1202Q) and Environmental Science (NRE 1000). The ECE Instructors have developed a rich lab program for each of these ECE science courses offered at the Academy by taking advantage of the 90-minute class blocks to engage in college-level experiments. The acquisition of six pH probes, six temperature probes, and three conductivity probes has helped to expand our laboratory program. The chemistry 1128Q students had a positive experience with buffers this spring because we could give each student a pH probe for more in-depth exploration. The additional pH probes, coupled with the student iPads, turned the buffer lab into one of the highlights of the semester. These same students were able to conduct a more accurate identification of molar mass using freezing point depression. The physics students used the high temperature probes to confirm Newton’s Law of Cooling. Our biology students made good use of the pH problems in their enzyme studies. The grant allowed us to start the transition to Go Direct sensors that will connect directly to the student iPads. Vernier Go Direct sensors has given our ECE science students a similar data collection experience and analysis to the college courses taught at UConn.”

The Woodstock Academy
ECE Instructor: Sara Dziedzic
UConn Courses: HRTS 1007 & HRTS 2200: Introduction to Human Rights & Introduction to Genocide Studies

 

Description: This community enhancement grant helped offset the essential financial demands of arranging a 300-350 person conference. Primarily, the grant helped support part of the cost of lunch and scholarships for various school’s busing needs. The program is designed with equity in mind and hopes to bring together a diverse student population from the eastern Connecticut region.

 To learn more about the Human Rights Conference hosted at The Woodstock Academy, we encourage you to watch the student produced video.