New Resource Guide Helps Community College Students Navigate University Life Sciences
Designed to ease community college to four-year college transition
New Resource Guide Helps Community College Students Navigate University Life Sciences
CEDER FALLS, IA (October 25, 2011) – The Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP), in conjunction with biology professors at Iowa’s universities and community colleges, has published The Iowa Biological Sciences Transition Guide to help create a successful experience for students transferring from Iowa’s community colleges to public universities.
“Besides our moral imperative to give every student all the tools they’ll need for a successful transfer experience, the life sciences in particular equip young college students for high paying, economically vital professions in Iowa,” said Director Jeff Weld, IMSEP.
In compliance with 2010 House File 815 passed by the Iowa Legislature to help improve Iowa transfer success rates, the biology transition guide is the second in a series of related resources developed by IMSEP. The first, The Iowa Mathematics Transition Guide, published in 2009 was designed to help high school students make a smooth transition to Regent universities by providing a list of essential skills and competencies for beginning freshman. These tools are not only used by students but also by counselors and teachers at both the high school and community-college levels to ensure students have the basics the need in key areas for embarking on the next step in their educational careers.
“We think this is a valuable tool for a student’s education tool box,” said Jason Friday, division chair of the Department of Natural Sciences at North Iowa Area Community College. “By having a common language in science used from the very start of their educational journey, this can only help a student connect lessons that they can then easily apply in the real world.”
Funded through contributions made by all 15 Iowa Community Colleges and the 3 public universities, the guide was compiled by academic science leaders from Iowa State University, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa Western Community College, North Iowa Area Community College and Northeast Iowa Community College. This is the first transition guide for biology created in Iowa for Iowa students and guides for other content areas are in development.
The Iowa Biological Sciences Transition Guide is available online at www.iowamathscience.org or by calling 319-273-2959.
The Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) is a state initiative headquartered at the University of Northern Iowa in partnership with Iowa State University and the University of Iowa that has recently been named the administrative office of the Governor’s STEM Initiative. IMSEP’s goals are to improve mathematics and science performance of Iowa students; to prepare more high quality mathematics and science teachers for Iowa’s schools; and to promote statewide collaboration and cooperation. For more information regarding IMSEP, go www.iowamathscience.org.