Dean's Scholars Science Enrichment Program Update

--July 30, 1995--

As most of you already know, the past spring semester was very successful and productive for the science enrichment program. Not only did we continue the tradition of enriching Dobie Middle School classes with our creative, interactive science demonstrations, but we extended the program to include Science Fun Day.

Held April 28, 1995, Science Fun Day is perhaps the greatest contribution of the Dean's Scholars Program to middle school science since the enrichment program's start two years ago. Since its founding, the entirely student-run program has grown from one presentation per group per semester (p/gp/s) to a maximum of five p/gp/s plus Science Fun Day.

In light of these developments, I have decided reorganize the program and put the survival of the program into the hands of all of the Dean's Scholars--not just one or a few. This means a new organization will be created, one that can offer all the Dean's Scholars to participate (regardless of time commitments).

My vision for the program is one of integration: an enrichment program that not only enriches middle school science but enriches the Dean's Scholars themselves. Many of you have already experienced the joys of teaching and leading middle schoolers (namely 6th and 7th graders).

1. decrease Marc's participation in the program. Due to other commitments, I will serve as little as possible this fall semester with the exception of initial meetings/discussions and advising for the fall's program. In the spring, I will not be actively involved in the program. The show will go on without me, hopefully even better than during my leadership.
   
2. reorganize the presentation process so that a single group, labeled as physics, biology, mathematics, or chemistry, designs one presentation and presents it multiple times during the semester. This will decrease the total number of groups down to two or three, but more Dean's Scholars will be in each group, making the group's task of presentations considerably less (i.e. some group members may participate at any one presentation while others may not). These multiple presentations will be scheduled by a public relations group, composed of people who will call the school(s) we're working with and set up times for the groups to go to the classrooms.
   Those are the major changes. Briefly, other topics of interest include:
   
3. create a public relations group
   
4. create a science fun day group
   
5. create an interactive world wide web page
   
6. register the program as an official UT organization

A meeting to discuss these topics will be held in late August/early September. The date and location will follow in a separate message.