“The repositioning is intended to strengthen the collaboration between teacher education and disciplines critical to educating our community,” USI President Linda Bennett said in a report to USI’s News and Information Services.
Senior education major Sarah Webster said they will definitely keep the Pott College in the name.
“I haven’t noticed much of a difference,” Webster said. “But I’m a senior, it may be different for incoming freshmen.”
“This is an exciting time to be affiliated with the College,” Pott College Dean Scott Gordon said.
According to a student assessment from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States’ top scoring high school students currently rank 25th in math and 20th in science worldwide. Growing concern of students’ education in these fields spurred the creation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs.
In the Pott College 2011 Strategic Plan, they outline new minors and tracks to support STEM efforts. Minors include elementary science education, elementary mathematics education and biochemistry. The physical education field will host a variety of new tracks, such as kinesiology, health and sport.
“Our commitment to achieving our vision and goals is, and will continue to be, evident in the many STEM recruitment efforts and STEM retention programs,” Gordon said.
Gordon’s workload may have grown, but he still remains enthusiastic.
“With an ever-growing vibrant and productive group of faculty, new academic programs, and outstanding students, the future looks bright,” he said.
Freshman elementary education major Justine Zarazee said the many minors available to education students makes it difficult to choose one college to assign the field.
Zarazee said she had recently switched majors from computer science to education.
“The decision won’t deter me from pursuing my major,” Zarazee said. “I’ve only been in education for so long, but I haven’t noticed any changes, and even if I did, I wouldn’t change my mind.”
“There is a new focus on math and science education here,” senior education major Pam Weinzapfel said. “But I still consider education as its own college.”
She said there needs to be a “balance” in the name.
“I don’t feel that my degree means any less, but it wouldn’t be fair to just tack education on the end of the name,” Weinzapfel said.
She said for someone who is not specializing in math or science, the decision could make a difference. Students will have to place new focus on math and science, even if it is not associated with their minors.
Pott College is currently taking suggestions via Facebook for a new name.
