UNC Chapel Hill NC MSEN Pre College Program Overview The primary goal of the Pre College Program is to broaden the pool of students pursuing mathematics and science based majors and careers. The Pre College Program prepares students of average to above average ability in grades 6 12 who have not been sufficiently exposed to mathematics, science based courses and careers. One unique aspect of the UNC Chapel Hill program is the in school class in selected middle schools that provides enhanced experiences in mathematics and science. The high school program and selected middle school programs provide weekly activities in areas focused on mathematics/science, tutorials, leadership, college guidance, and standardized testing preparation. The after school program meet through the Academic Chapter of Excellence (ACE) or Middle School ACE clubs. The UNC Chapel Hill Pre College Program currently serves students in Alamance/ Burlington, Durham, Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Chatham, Orange and Wake counties. The UNC Chapel Hill Pre College Program (PCP) includes the following activities: 1) Pre College Program Special Projects a) The NC MSEN Network office has received grants for the following projects on behalf of the Pre College Program sites. i) NASA/NC MSEN Students Preparing for Careers in Engineering (SPACE) is a K 12 Cooperative Agreements Notice (CAN) grant funded by NASA for current 9 th grade students Spring 2010 Spring 2012. SPACE scholars will start as 9 th graders. This is a two year experience for high school students to be introduced and to learn more about astronomy, physics and robotics. ii) P.E.R.S.I.S.T. (Pre College Experiences for Reaching Students Interested in Science Teaching was a three grant funded by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF)) June 2007 July 2010. Students participated as 9th to 11 th graders.
2) PCP Main Components a) Saturday Academy i) Students come to the UNC Chapel Hill campus during one of the two sessions Session I (October 16, October 23, November 6 and December 4, 2010) and Session II (January 15, February 26, March 19 and April 9, 2011) for enhanced mathematics, science, communication/career and hands on (MSEN Day &/or Science Decathlon) activities. ii) The middle school students rotate between classes mathematics, science, language arts/careers, and Competition Preparation. The class size ranges from 10 to 25 students and each class is about 50 minutes long. iii) Saturday Academy Teachers are encouraged to do inquiry based hands on activities with the students. iv) The high school and SPACE students rotate between classes mathematics, science, communications/sat/psat, and Careers. The high school class ranges from 10 to 25 students and each class lasts about 50 minutes. The high school students have a different format than the middle school students to simulate college classes and college schedules. v) Special guests are invited to present to all students. Some guests present to only middle school or to only high school students. vi) UNC Chapel Hill undergraduate students are also used as special guests speakers. vii) Students with perfect attendance are recognized with a certificate. b) Parents Involved for Excellence (PIE) Club/Parent Saturday Academy i) Parents are encouraged to meet monthly to discuss and support Pre College activities at the individual school and at UNC Chapel Hill through the PIE Club. ii) Parents are invited to UNC Chapel Hill campus for Parent Saturday Academy for STEM activities, Parent Café (to discuss parenting issues) and learn about PCP updates. iii) 2010 2011 Parent Academy dates are October 16, December 4, January 15 and April 9. c) Leadership Retreat October 2, 2010 i) High school students attend a Leadership enhancement seminar. d) NC MSEN Day i) Regional NC MSEN Day (March 19, 2011) is held on UNC Chapel Hill campus to select students for the State NC MSEN Day Competition. Students compete in individual and team, mathematics, science, technology, oratorical and art competitions. The top students in each category are invited to go to the State NC MSEN Day competition. Page 2 of 6
ii) State NC MSEN Day will be hosted by Fayetteville State University on April 30, 2011. Students from each Pre College site compete in individual and team, mathematics, science, technology, oratorical and art competitions. The Pre College sites are Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina A & T, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Winston Salem State University. (1) State MSEN Day rotates between the seven sites. (2) Students can win 1 st, 2 nd or 3 rd place in a test category. All members of the winning team receive a medal. (3) The Pre College sites that receive the most medals overall were awarded 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd place trophies. iii) 2011 NC MSEN State Day Theme NC MSEN Pre College Program: 25 years of Excellence in Promoting STEM Careers and Life Choices. e) Awards Day May 15, 2011 i) Students, teachers, and PCP Seniors are recognized for academic success, talent and support of the program. f) Middle School & High School/SPACE Summer Academy June July 2011 i) Middle school students come to UNC Chapel Hill campus during the summer for enhanced mathematics, science and communication activities. ii) High school students come to UNC Chapel Hill campus to learn effective strategies to take SAT exams, to participate in enhanced science activities, to receive an overview of upcoming mathematics and language arts classes. (1) STEM Summer Academy (a) For participating MSSA and HSSA/SPACE students only. Students participated in hands on inquiry based STEM activities. (b) Guest speakers and field trips are also planned. Page 3 of 6
3) OTHER PCP Calendar of Events a) UNC Science Expo September 25, 2010 i) PCP staff and students will work an Exhibit Booth to talk about the PCP program and demonstrate hands on activities. A script about the program and information about the hands on activities will be provided. If you can help, please contact Dianne Affleck by email affleck@email.unc.edu or phone 962 9362 (Direct #) or 962 1624 (Office #) by September 17, 2010. b) NC MSEN Pre College Program at State Fair October 23 24, 2010 i) NC MSEN Pre College Program office has secured an Exhibit Booth at the NC State Fair for the dates of October 14 24, 2010. The Pre College Program sites across NC will take turns at the Exhibit Booth. Staff, students and parents are invited to help. A script about the program and information about the hands on activities will be provided. PCP will man the exhibit booth on Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 24, 2010 from 8:45 am to 9:00 pm. The purpose of the booth is to promote the Pre College Program, do a hands on math or science activity and share information about the network. The hands on activity will be simple for anyone to demonstrate. ii) A schedule for manning the booth will be in three hour shifts. Note: You may attend the fair before or after your shift. PCP will have a limited number of passes to enter the fair. Fair tickets are $5.00 (Based on last year s prices). We will need about 5 people to man the exhibit each shift. You can also work more than one shift. Time Saturday, October 23, 2010 Sunday, October 24, 2010 8:45 AM 12:00 PM Includes set up time Includes set up time 12:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 9:00 PM There will be additional time for dismantling exhibit. iii) Parents, teachers and students are welcome to participate. If you can help, please contact Dianne Affleck by email affleck@email.unc.edu or phone 962 9362 (Direct #) or 962 1624 (Office #). c) FIRST Robotics Competition October 2010 to April 2011 i) The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well rounded life capabilities including self confidence, communication, and leadership. ii) See the Tarheel Robots Team #3331 information Page 4 of 6
d) Ninth OPT ED Alliance Day November 12, 2010 i) OPT ED (North Carolina Alliance to Create Opportunity through Education) Alliance Day is designed to serve as a forum to encourage undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented groups to pursue doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), and to emphasize to middle & high school students, and their parents and teachers, the importance of pursuing the baccalaureate degree and then going on to pursue the doctorate. The event will include a poster session, oral research presentations, student and faculty panels, recruiting fair and special topic breakout workshops. ii) A flyer, permission form and tentative schedule is attached. iii) Students will receive a letter excusing from school on the day of the trip. If a letter is needed before the trip, contact Dianne Affleck. e) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration January 15, 2011 i) Students express themselves through speech, art, music or dance based on a specific theme. This year s theme is TBD. A representative from each school is encouraged. f) Science Decathlon Tournament March 26, 2011 (East Coast) and May, 2011 (National) i) National Science Decathlon is an IRS designated 501(c) (3) non profit organization dedicated to promoting science education by organizing competitive, hands on science based tournaments throughout the United States. Each Science Decathlon tournament is made up of ten Team Events and up to four Pilot Events. ii) A team consists of up to 6 students and two alternates. Team members will compete in 1 4 of the ten events and pilot event if time permits. Alternates will compete in Pilot Events and Team events if time permits. iii) The 2010 2011 Team events are Crane Fly, Geotrekker, Four n Six, Robotics, Bridge or Tower breaking, Chemical Observations or 13 Test tubes, Marine Biology, Amphibians and Reptiles, Scientific method and Water Rocketry. iv) The Pilot events are All Team Science Fair, Beakers, This Bugs For You, Green Planet, and Mousetrap Cars. v) The top three overall teams from the East Coast will advance to the National Science Decathlon. vi) A detailed description of the events is listed on the Competition Information Sheet Page 5 of 6
g) SECME Student Competition March, 2011 (Regional) and June July, 2011 (National) i) SECME (Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering, Inc.) is a strategic alliance to renew and strengthen the professional capacity of K 12 educators, motivate and mentor students, and empower parents so that all students can learn and achieve at higher levels. ii) SECME strives to increase the number of students prepared to enter and complete studies in engineering, mathematics, and science. SECME operates across grades K through 12, working with teachers and counselors to enhance academic curricula and expand students' knowledge of academic and career options in engineering, mathematics, and science. Student competitions are held at the Summer Institute and SECME scholarships are awarded. iii) SECME middle and high school students compete in the following competitions Engineering Design (Mousetrap Car Construction 3 students required per team), Water Bottle Rocketry (3 students required per team), Internet Science and Technology Fair (minimum of 3 students on a team), Web Quest Essay (Open to all students on an individual basis) and Banner (no minimum or maximum number of students on a team). The Banner must reflect the 2011 theme. iv) National Student Competition will take place at location and date to be announced. The Regional winning engineering design and water bottle rocketry team(s) will travel to the National competition with the completed Banner. The National Web Quest Essay and ISTF winners will be invited to attend the National competition to accept their honors. v) A detailed description of the events is listed on the Competition Information Sheet. Page 6 of 6