Spring Professional Development Events

Posted on July 1, 2019September 11, 2019 by Carissa Rutkauskas

by Stefanie Malinoski

UConn Early College Experience Faculty Coordinators offer annual professional development workshops for their Instructors. This spring, we hosted UConn BCE Instructors from eighteen different departments on campus. Highlights from some of the most exciting events are below:

Animal Science: Our certified Animal Science Instructors along with Faculty Coordinators
Dr. Jenifer Nadeu and Dr. Amy Safran met with
Dr. Julia Wilkinson from Tufts Veterinary Field Service to learn about equine aging and dentistry in a hands on science lab. The group of 12 certified Animal Science Instructors were able to tour the horse barns and observe Dr. Wilkinson floating a horse's teeth. This routine procedure involves filing a horse's teeth to make the chewing surfaces relatively flat or smooth as a part of overall equine health.

Biology: Dr. Thomas Abbott, Faculty Coordinator for UConn ECE Biology, and a group of fifty certified instructors discussed all things insects. Special guest speaker, from UConn's EEB department, Professor David L. Wagner shared his research on caterpillars with the group in an interactive presentation during the morning. In the afternoon, Instructors were able to tour UConn's Research Greenhouses under guidance by Living Plant Collections Manager, Clinton Morse. Instructors walked through each zone getting to take a close look at the thousands of plants thriving in the greenhouses. Later groups of Instructors were able to visit the Biodiversity Research Collections with Dr. Sarah Taylor and Dr. Jane O'Donnell who shared a variety of samples from the Collections with the Instructors.

Art: Along with UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator, Cora Lynn Deibler, certified UConn ECE ART 1030: Drawing I Instructors were able to visit the Thomas J. Dodd Center on the Storrs campus to take a firsthand look at the Maurice Sendak archives. Recently, the Maurice Sendak Foundation chose to share Sendak's archives with the University of Connecticut who are now housing and stewarding the Collection. Project Archivist, Carla Nguyen shared her knowledge with the group who were able to learn more about Sendak's life, and view his original artwork, sketches, books and other materials.

Spanish: Faculty Coordinators for Spanish Dr. Ana Maria Marcos-Diaz and Dr. Eduardo Urios-Aparisi invited special guest Dr. Angel Rivera, Associate Professor of Spanish and International Studies at Worcester Polytechnic University to campus for the event. Dr. Rivera presented his research titled: "Un acercamiento teorico a la naturaleza del horror, la ciencia ficcion y los monstruos en la literatura del Caribe" (A theoretical nature of horror, science fiction and monsters in Caribbean literature). Later in the day, UConn ECE Instructors competed in groups writing their own short stories to share. Winners were awarded UConn ECE prize packs.

Director’s Thoughts

Posted on January 1, 2019February 7, 2020 by Carissa Rutkauskas

Welcome to the Winter Edition of the UConn ECE Magazine!

As you surely noticed, this edition of the UConn ECE Magazine looks a little different from the past. We are celebrating student art on the cover for the first time, which reflects our interest in publishing a magazine that connects with our community. As I write this welcome it is Thanksgiving, by the time the magazine goes to print and gets to our community it will be New Years. These holidays bookend an important concept that does not go unappreciated in the UConn ECE Program Office — we all have a lot to be thankful for. This semester, it seems to me, embraces that concept more than in recent memory. One example that stands out from the Fall semester is our community effort to inform the Department of Education about changing the State Accountability index because UConn ECE positively impacts our students’ academic careers, as well as our professional careers. The emails I was copied to told important stories of how our partnership fosters something special. Additionally, this semester saw a quadrupling of student events: we hosted not only our flag-bearing French Immersion Day & Quiz Bowl; but also a German and Italian version, as well as a Chemistry Day that connected UConn ECE Students and Instructors with students and instructors from a STEM-intensive high school in Japan. These examples illustrate my reflection that since the time I first started with UConn ECE, back when it was called High School Co-op, we have transformed the program into a cultural part of education in Connecticut — not just in the high schools, but also here at UConn, and hopefully at the Department of Education. This transformation was not easy, and it didn’t happen overnight or without incident either. We all worked at it — encouraging, forgiving, and inspiring each other for something better. It was our shared ideals and common values that made UConn ECE an expectation in our Connecticut high schools. This transformation happened during our careers and is a great example of how working together can create great things. Thank you for being the agent of change that has positively impacted so many thousands of lives in Connecticut each year.

The Spring Semester is ahead of us! To paraphrase Ebenezer Scrooge, let’s keep the spirit of thanks and collaboration in our hearts and honor it all year through. And when current events make us fret about the arrow of progress, we can invest ourselves more deeply in what we can control — insightful classroom discourse, dynamic professional development workshops, and the next great educational opportunities.

From all of us at UConn ECE, thank you!

Brian A. Boecherer, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Office of Early College Programs

Announcing our 2018 UConn Early College Experience Scholarship Winners!

Posted on July 9, 2018July 23, 2019 by

By Nella Quasnitschka

UConn Early College Experience is pleased to announce that the 2018 student scholarship winners have been chosen. The number of high quality applications received was impressive. The Office of Early College Programs is proud that so many students have invested in their education and future by participating in ECE.

Students took the time to submit exceptional applications and clearly demonstrated high academic achievement and a potential for future accomplishments in their chosen field. Award recipients will receive a certificate of accomplishment along with a $500 monetary award to use towards post-secondary education expenses.

And the winners are…

Civic and Community Engagement

Gregory Pelletier, Pomperaug High School

Nickolas Tibbetts, Montville High School

Excellence in Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences

Joshua Archibald, Montville High School

Sairah Sheikh, South Windsor High School

Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics

Hanna Harens, Norwich Free Academy

Chris Nguyen, Conard High School

We wish you well in your future endeavors.

Congratulations!

Applications for the 2019 scholarships will be accepted from February 15, 2019 – March 30, 2019. Scholarship details and application requirements can be found at: ece.uconn.edu/home/about/awards

Office of Early College Experience Welcomes the Connecticut Science Olympaid

Posted on July 9, 2018September 23, 2019 by

By Brian A. Boecherer

April 7th was a cold Saturday; the early morning mist hung shoulder-high as I made my rounds, unlocking classroom doors and checking to see if our door signs were still in place. This was the first year we were hosting the Connecticut Science Olympiad (CTSO) and we wanted it to go off without a hitch. I remembered the first planning meetings that started in the summer. Yes, an event like this takes time and many dedicated volunteers and staff. In total, we were hosting 1,200 high school students, coaches, and volunteer staff from UConn, other universities, and industry. This was the biggest event that OECP has ever hosted.

McHugh Hall (née Laurel Hall) was the center of activity, and between 7:30 and 8:00 it was a beehive of action as teams signed in and talked excitedly about the day to come. Despite the early hour, these young scientists created their own energy — we were all eager for the games to begin. By 8:30 the nearly 1,000 students had dispersed to the seven buildings which composed our academic battlegrounds. Students from 42 different teams were to compete by performing in 23 different activities, labs, and tests. The day was long, but what does an Olympian expect? While luck favors the prepared, battles are won in the will and only the strong survive. Events ranged from anatomy and physiology, to being a disease detective, to developing remote sensing systems. Other events required teams to come prepared having built a helicopter, a bridge, and a car powered by a mousetrap!

The top three finishers were: in first place, the Hopkins Schools (New Haven); in second place, South Windsor High School – Team A; and in third place, Staples High School (Westport).

I got the opportunity to walk around and visit many of the events, which were designed and hosted by high school instructors, UConn professors, and industry experts. These were great spaces to watch the excitement and see students engaging with professionals. In just a few years these students will be professionals — young scientists who we hope engage with the next generation of students.

While other departments and offices have hosted the Connecticut Science Olympiad in the past, the Office of Early College Programs is very proud to make CTSO a permanent part of our office, further developing the rich academic outreach which has become part of the State culture — UConn ECE, Pre-College Summer, and CTSO.

Experience It: A Summer is Storrs! UConn’s Premiere Pre-College Summer Program

Posted on July 9, 2018July 23, 2019 by

By Melanie Ochoa

The Office of Early College Programs offers several programs which target high school students and help them transition into college. If you are looking for a summer academic program, we have summer in Storrs for you! UConn Pre-College Summer (PCS) offers rising high school juniors and seniors the chance to study and live on a top-ranked public university campus through the choice of one of four challenging and intensive one-week sessions.

Through PCS, students have the opportunity to explore their academic interests by choosing one or more of the 30 available courses, interact with engaging professors, build confidence in being a college student, attend workshops that stress personal and academic development, meet new people, and make new friends, all while learning the culture of college, before college.

Academic experiences include Creative & Fine Arts courses, Language, Pharmacy, Pre-Med, Social Science, and STEM courses, all taught by a UConn faculty. But, the exploration doesn’t stop there! Students choose from over 20 different workshops they can attend during their stay to further discover their interests. Workshop offerings include: “Composing Winning College Application Essays” by the University Writing Center; “Effective Communication & Team Building” by the UConn Police Department; “Strategies for Deeper Learning” by the UConn Academic Achievement Center; “Photosynthesis and Really Low Temperatures” by the UConn Chemistry Department; “Pharmacy Compounding Practice” by the UConn Pharmacy Department; “How Major is your Major?” by the Academic Center for Exploratory Students; UConn Info Session & Tour by UConn Admissions and the Lodewick Visitors Center; and more.

Students looking to join UConn PCS are required to submit an online application. The application will require: student and parent/guardian information, application questions, submission of unofficial transcript reflecting grades and attendance records, and a non-refundable $35 application processing fee.

Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted until one week prior to the start of each session. Visit pcs.uconn.edu for more information or contact the office at 860-486-0149.

20th Annual Medieval Studies Celebration

Posted on July 9, 2018July 23, 2019 by

By Stefanie Malinoski

On Friday, April 6th, UConn Early College Experience and the UConn History department hosted the 20th Annual Medieval Studies Outreach. The Medieval Studies Outreach began in 1998 in partnership with the UConn History and Music Departments and the Office of Early College Programs (then the High School Co-Op Program). Professor Olson has been the faculty coordinator for UConn’s HIST 1300: Western Traditions Before 1500 course for more than thirteen years. Each year the Collegium Musicum, under the direction of Professor Eric Rice, Department Head of the UConn Music Department, perform instrumental and choral pieces from the time period for the group. Like Professor Olson, Professor Rice saw the value of this unique event and has chosen to continue the partnership for the better part of the last twenty years. This private concert, lecture, and Q&A period is just part of what makes this event so special.

After a morning of music, Professor Olson and her guest speakers dove into scholarly lectures by faculty from UConn’s own History Department and other faculty from neighboring institutions for the duration of the day. This year, the topic for the 20th Annual Medieval Studies Outreach was “Religion in Medieval Byzantium.” Lectures by UConn faculty members—Professor Joseph McAlhany, “Hearing the Heavens: Etruscan Arts of Divination in Byzantium” and Professor Lawrence Langer, “Understanding the Iconoclastic Crisis of Medieval Byzantium—An Enigma of Medieval” and a document workshop by Professor Sherri Olson—were all a part of the 2018 event. We then celebrated the 20th Annual Medieval Studies Outreach over lunch and cake.

Professor Olson believes every connection that can be made between UConn and our partner schools is important, and she is grateful to all of her colleagues in the Medieval Studies Program and the Department of History who have contributed to the event over the years. A few of the notable topics of previous Outreach days include: The Medieval Monastery; Stories and Story-Tellers in the Middle Ages: Robin Hood in Legend, Film and History; Medieval Christianity, Princes, Peasants, and the Powers that Be: Government and its Sources in the Middle Ages; and The Bible Before C.E. 1000.

We are grateful for the partnership and friendship of both Professor Olson and Professor Rice and look forward to many more Medieval Studies Outreach days in the future.

Our Cool Workshops 101: The Director’s Thoughts

Posted on July 9, 2018July 23, 2019 by

By Brian A. Boecherer

It is hard to define what “cool” is, but I have been dedicated to the idea that when we develop our programming, there should always be something cool about it. There is nothing juvenile or naïve about this desire; I think it is really what we should be doing, and this is especially true in the context of our professional development. It is about leaving a spark that lingers past the moment. I love our workshops and really think they offer that spark. They are a wonderful time to come together as a community of academics, exchange ideas, and learn some- thing cool. This year our Faculty Coordinators outdid themselves! We hosted approximately 250 hours of professional development on four UConn campuses, one museum, one town hall, and one extension center. There are too many wonderful moments to include in one magazine, but I wanted to offer you an overview of some of our greatest hits. They will inspire and intrigue you; they are cool—because they are fresh ideas which stimulate contemplation well after we leave the workshop.

I hope you enjoy this magazine and that it sends you into the summer with a smile of satisfaction. You worked hard this year, and your students are better off for it. We thank you, and we look forward to seeing you in the fall. On behalf of our hardworking team in Storrs, have a happy and healthy summer!

BIOLOGY
(APRIL 2018)
Kaitlin Lindhardt, scientist at Brown University, explained her work with CRISPR/Cas9, the process of cutting and inserting DNA sequences which can control for vector-borne diseases.

CHEMISTRY
(MAY 2017)
This year’s guest speaker was Dr. Jessica Rouge, a professor in UConn’s Chemistry Department. As a biochemist she educated our faculty on her research which is at the cutting edge of science —working with nanoparticles and exploring the concept of engineering viruses to enter and reprogram the cell, thereby eliminating cancer.

ECONOMICS
(OCTOBER 2017)
Prof. Wensu Li discussed her research paper, which focused on pollution and its effect on the economy. Prof. Stephen Ross unpacked the mysteries of our State’s economic problems in the context of debt and earning psychology.

FRENCH
(APRIL 2018)
UConn ECE bought the book, Regarde les lumières mon amour, by Annie Ernaux, for ECE French instructors. UConn ECE Instructors attended the session having read the book and then participated in a graduate seminar group discussion of the material.

HUMAN RIGHTS & AMERICAN STUDIES
(OCTOBER 2017)
Profs. Glenn Mitoma, Brendan Kane, and Laurie Wolfley led a training on how to teach polarizing topics in the humanities and social sciences while maintaining professional discourse in the classroom.

POLITICAL SCIENCE
(OCTOBER 2017)
Dr. Jean-Pascal Daloz, Research Professor at the University of Strasbourg, was invited to speak to ECE Political Science Faculty on “Political Representation” — fashion, politics, and how clothes represent political interests across the world.

MUSIC
(SEPTEMBER 2017)
ECE instructors were treated to the beautiful voice of opera singer Melinda Fields as she sang, “Gretchen am Sprinnrade,” by famous Franz Schubert, while Glenn Stanley led a course on musical interpretation.

SOCIOLOGY
(NOVEMBER 2018)
ECE faculty attended their first Sociology workshop, which focused on teaching first—generation students and transnationalism in India and Mexico.

Who Knew?

Posted on July 9, 2018September 23, 2019 by

By Carissa Rutkauskas

A compilation of UConn ECE awards, events, successes, inside classroom perspectives, news, research, and information that only social media friends and followers know about the ECE community.

The UConn Early College Experience community is far-reaching, diverse, and engaging. From events on campus to classroom activities and community happenings, UConn ECE students, teachers, administrators, and faculty coordinators do it all! Here are just a few social media posts dating back to January 2018.

• Photos of the poster session/ mini-symposium presented at the UConn Avery Point campus by Intro to Oceanography UConn ECE students from Ledyard High School, Waterford High School, The Morgan School, and Marine Science Magnet High School.

• Photos of UConn ECE Chemistry classes from Berlin High School and Orville H. Platt High School visiting the Chemistry labs on the UConn, Storrs campus.

• UConn ECE Rockville High School students receive awards at the 2018 UConn ECE Wallace Stevens Poetry contest in March (Patch.com)

• Dominic Corraro, beloved UConn ECE instructor in Italian and Spanish at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, is the new principal of Holy Trinity School in Wallingford!

• UConn ECE Student numbers series

• Windham High School UConn ECE HDFS1070 students’ Windham Cares Feminine Products drive

• Medieval Studies celebrated their 20th annual outreach with music by the Collegium Musicum under the direction of Professor Eric Rice, Department of Music

• UConn ECE Professional Development Awards winners and photos

• 53 of 112 seniors at Aero/Hydrospace Engineering Magnet HS were accepted to UConn

• Mrs. Charpentier and her ECE Biology class at Xavier High School students accepted to UConn Health Center’s eight-week mini Medical/Dental school program

• Video and photos from the Connecticut Science Olympiad, now hosted by the Office of Early College Programs

• Photos of Berlin High School’s UConn ECE Drawing I pieces

• Wilcox Tech’s Early College Experience English and Social studies teacher Andrew Taddei class gather school memorabilia Wednesday in preparation for Wilcox Technical High School’s 100th anniversary (myrecordjournal.com)

• Photos and winners of the 8th UConn Early College Experience Globalization Conference: Globalization’s Effects on Women’s Rights

• Photos of Norwich Tech’s UConn ECE American Studies and ECE Early American History classes at Connecticut History Day

• UConn ECE ambassador submissions/inside peek into UConn ECE classrooms

• Photos of NFA and Glastonbury High School UConn ECE students taking Chinese language courses at the Chinese New Year celebration with UConn Chinese language students

• UConn ECE political science students from AITE are exercising their rights and organizing a walk-out in support of gun control (StamfordAdvocate.com)

• Registration and billing dates, deadlines, and tips

Share your ECE stories with us. Like, friend, follow, tweet/ retweet, #tag and/or @ at us!

facebook.com/UConnECE

twitter.com/UConnECE

instagram.com/UConn_ECE

12,047 ECE applicants and counting…

Posted on July 9, 2018July 23, 2019 by

By Todd Blodgett

Registration is under way for the 2018-2019 academic year. We look forward to welcoming in a new class of ECE students and continuing to work with our current ones! This past year we had more than 12,500 students across 205 partner schools register to take at least one ECE course. During the registration process, students will have the opportunity to select, apply and enroll in their courses for the upcoming year. Many schools have expanded their course offerings and students should meet with their Site Representative or school counselor to see which course(s) fit their academic plan. Planning ahead is a critical aspect of looking towards your academic future and will make your registration process much simpler and smoother. Stay tuned to our social media pages for registration tips and deadlines that can assist you with completing the registration process.

With 12,047 students already applied we are anticipating another successful year of ECE course offerings!

Registration Dates and Deadlines
• April 30, 2018: Registration Opens
• June 1, 2018: Application Deadline
• June 29, 2018: Enrollment Deadline
• August 15, 2018: Add/Drop Period Opens*
• September 14, 2018: Add/Drop Application Deadline*
• September 28, 2018: Add/Drop Enrollment Deadline*
* Additional $25 processing fee for either adding or dropping a course during the add/drop period.

Billing and Payment Dates
• November 8, 2018: Third Party Billing Roster Submissions
• November 22, 2018: Fall and Full Year course fees due*
• January 8, 2019: Spring course fees due*
* Additional $50 late fee charged if entire course fees are not paid by the posted deadline.

Consent Form

UConn ECE Professional Development Award Winners

Posted on July 9, 2018July 23, 2019 by

By Jack Greenwood Jr.

This year UConn Early College Experience selected eight Professional Development Award winners, across five individual award categories, based on their nominations for outstanding instruction and administration of the ECE program. Each award recipient was invited to attend the annual formal dinner celebration in recognition of their achievement. With over 1,300 certified UConn ECE Instructors, it is difficult to choose a small selection of award winners from such a large pool of talented nominations. Although we take this time to celebrate the work of these specific individuals who have gone above and beyond the normal scope of what is expected as a UConn ECE Instructor and Administrator, it is important to recognize that our program’s growing success is deeply rooted in the overall combined efforts of all affiliated ECE instructors, staff, and faculty. It is truly a pleasure for ECE to award and recognize such dedicated educators who work tirelessly with students to achieve their individual academic goals.

We are pleased to announce our 2017-18 UConn ECE Professional Development Award Winners:

Thomas E. Recchio Faculty Coordinator Award for Academic Leadership

William Alpert, Economics

Site Representative Award for Excellence in Program Administration

Douglas Melody, Edwin O. Smith High School

Principal Award for Program Support and Advocacy

Louis DeLoreto, Edwin O. Smith High School

Instructor Award for Excellence in Course Instruction

David Bednarz, Marine Science, Ledyard High School

Linda Charpentier, Environmental Science & Biology, Xavier High School

Emily Kilbourn, English, Ridgefield High School

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

Mark Waller, Political Science, The Master’s School

Michelle Amann-Wojenski, English, H.C. Wilcox Technical High School