Southeast Missouri State University has received a two million dollar, five-year Title III Strengthening Institutions grant from the U.S. Department of Education to enhance learning experiences in the life sciences through a combination of facilities investments, faculty development and course redesigns.
From October 2009 through September 2014, the College of Science and Mathematics, Department of Biology, Department of Facilities Management, Center for Scholarship on Teaching and Learning, and the Southeast Missouri University Foundation are collaborating, and contracting with external professionals as needed, to carry-out the four interrelated components of Southeast's Title III Project.
- Renovate six out-dated teaching laboratories for the life sciences
- Redesign 14 biology courses being taught in these laboratories
- Develop faculty expertise in Twenty-First Century teaching strategies facilitated by the reconfigured laboratories
- Establish an endowment for future life science laboratory upgrades and maintenance
During the first grant year, the Project focused on improving the laboratory facilities, curricula and pedagogy for the teaching of anatomy and physiology. Approximately 800 students yearly enroll in Anatomy and Physiology I and II, which are required courses for students pursuing majors in Nursing, Dietetics, Athletic Training, Health Management and pre-professional programs such as Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Chiropractic Medicine Pre-Pharmacy and Pre-Physician Assistant. Due to improved student experiences, the Project anticipates increasing the retention rate from Anatomy and Physiology I to A & P II by 20% over 2008 levels by the end of the Fall Semester of 2012.
The overall first-to-second-year student retention rate at Southeast is also anticipated to improve over the five years of the grant as Title III Project enhancements impact student experiences in a growing number of life science courses including animal biology, plant biology, cell biology and environmental science.
