Beginning this fall, the college will launch the science math and education program
New opportunities will be available to students who attend Rainy River Community College next fall.
In efforts to boost enrollment and to feed the demand for science and mathematics teachers, RRCC will launch the science math and education program beginning fall semester 2011.
“The need for high school science and math teachers in the United States today prompted this program,” said Joseph Chimeno, RRCC math and chemistry professor.
Chimeno, who serves as the contact for the SME program, explained that the country is lagging behind internationally in science and math.
“The United States is in 12th place or less internationally when we used to be in the top three,” he said. “With a number of baby boomer science and math teachers retiring, there is a big demand to replace them.”
Aaron Wenger, a consultant for RRCC and former employee, agreed. He said that the engineering program at Itasca Community College implied the need for a secondary outlet for high school students with an interest in science, thus the motive to develop the SME program at RRCC.
Wenger focused on writing grants to fund the program. A grant from two organizations — the Blandin Foundation and the Otto Bremer Foundation — were given to RRCC to act as funding for the program’s classes and professors. Each grant was for $100,000, spanning from 2010 to 2012, Chimeno said.
In addition to the funding, 10 scholarships of $3,500 each are available to students who qualify for the program, Chimeno noted. Scholarships will assist a student for the first two years spent at RRCC.
“If someone has a high grade point average from high school or work experience, they may qualify for additional scholarships,” he explained. “Essentially, a student could have their first two years of college paid for if they qualify for a scholarship.”
Chimeno added that the credits students receive upon completion of classes within the program are completely transferable to select universities. He pointed to Bemidji State University as being a nearby, four-year university with an education program for students to continue their studies.
Students will either enroll in the science or the math program, however, students taking the physics route will be required to take calculus.
Beginning in a student’s second semester with the program, a one credit education seminar is offered each semester there after to give SME students an opportunity for hands-on experience. Through the seminar, each student will work with a high school teacher as an apprentice. Students will spend their first semester preparing to be part of the classroom. During the second year in the program, students will be given the opportunity to stand in front of the classroom and teach the subject matter to high school students.
“This will be very beneficial to students by giving them the opportunity to see what it is like teaching high school or lower level classes,” Chimeno said.
Chimeno explained that efforts are being made to reach out to students who live in surrounding areas and those who don’t. He explained that he has been going into area high school classrooms to pitch the program and its benefits to students.
The non-traditional student can benefit greatly from this program, Chimeno continued. Anyone looking for a new career path may want to consider enrolling in the program, he said.
Ideally, RRCC officials hope to add 10 new students to the program annually. It is administration’s hope that this program will increase enrollment, Chimeno said.
“We are very excited about offering this program,” he added.
For more information on the program and classes it offers, Chimeno can be reached at 285-2279.
Classes SME students will be taking:
RRCC A.S. Science — for SME students:
Fall Semester 1 (13 credits)
4 BIOL 1015
3 SPCH 1040
3 ENGL 1010
3 PHIL/ENGL
Spring Semester 1 (15 credits)
4 BIOL 1025
4 PHYS 1100
3 ENGL 1020
3 MATH 1140 (or up)
1 SME Seminar
Fall Semester 2 (14 credits)
5 CHEM 1090
4 NSCI 1310
4 ART
1 SME Seminar
Spring Semester 2 (16 credits)
5 CHEM 1100
4 PSYC 1010
3 ECON/HIST
3 HLTH 2010
1 SME Seminar
RRCC A.S. Math – for SME program:
Fall Semester 1 (14 credits)
5 MATH 2220
3 SPCH
3 ENGL 1010
3 PHIL/ENGL
Spring Semester 1 (13 credits)
5 MATH 2230
4 PHYS 1100
3 ENGL 1020
1 SME Seminar
Fall Semester 2 (14 credits)
5 MATH 2240
4 NSCI 1140/1050
4 ART
1 SME Seminar
Spring Semester 2 (16 credits)
5 MATH 2280
4 PSYC 1010
3 ECON/HIST
3 HLTH 2010
1 SME Seminar
