UK President Visits White House
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 7, 2010) - University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. has been working on the cutting edge of projects that promote the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) for many years, and he has now taken his cause to Washington D.C.
Todd was one of four public research university leaders who hand delivered a letter on Wednesday to President Barack Obama signed by 79 public university leaders pledging to address the national shortage of science and mathematics teachers. The institutions are working through the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative (SMTI) of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).
In the letter, the university presidents and chancellors pledged "to substantially increase the number and diversity of high-quality science and mathematics teachers we prepare, and to build better partnerships among universities, community colleges, school systems, state governments, business and other stakeholders."
Additionally, 39 institutions and three university systems also pledged to at least double the number of science and mathematics teachers graduated by 2015.
The other three university leaders that joined Todd in delivering the letter were Kansas University Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, University System of Maryland Chancellor William "Brit" Kirwan, and University of Colorado Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano.
Todd serves as chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the APLU, as well as chair of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education's STEM Task Force.
"Our nation’s economic competitiveness is at risk if we are unable or unwilling to address the shortage of qualified science and mathematics teachers," said Todd. "We must rebuild our ability to prepare the world's most educated and scientifically and mathematically literate workforces if we are to continue among the world’s most secure and competitive economies. Recruiting and preparing new teachers and providing access to ongoing education research will be critical to solving our science and mathematics teacher challenge."
The initiative is part of Obama's "Educate to Innovate" campaign for excellence in STEM education. Obama honored educators from across the country for awards received in excellence in mathematics and science teaching and mentoring on Wednesday, as well as announcing key new partnerships in his campaign to help reach the administration’s goal of moving American students from the middle to the top of the pack in STEM achievement over the next decade. In November, Obama announced a series of high-powered partnerships involving leading companies, foundations, nonprofit organizations, and science and engineering societies dedicated to motivating and inspiring young people across America to excel in science and math. Read more about the President’s Educate to Innovate Campaign.
SMTI, launched by APLU in November 2008, encompasses 121 public research universities in 41 states, including 11 university systems. Combined, these institutions currently prepare more than 7,500 science and mathematics teachers annually, making it the largest STEM new teacher initiative in the country.
Founded in 1887, the APLU is an association of public research universities, land-grant institutions, and many state public university systems. As the nation’s oldest higher education association, APLU is dedicated to excellence in learning, discovery and engagement. For more information, visit www.aplu.org.