March 16, 2011

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Rossier Headlines
Rossier Gets Highest US News & World Report  Ranking in School's History!
us news

USC Rossier School of Education received its highest ranking by US News & World Report in the history of the school, in the magazine's Best Graduate Schools issue.

Rossier made an unprecedented jump to #14 among the best graduate schools of education, from #27 last year. The dramatic jump is due in part to a large increase in research funding for the School, as well as higher GRE scores, among other achievements.

Rossier also was ranked #10 in education administration and supervision, and #7 in higher education administration.

"The increases in funded external grants - both federal and from foundations - speaks to the quality and significance of the important research being conducted by our faculty," said Dean Gallagher. 

"I am also gratified that the rankings acknowledge the high caliber of our doctoral students, as indicated in the rising GRE scores.  All Rossier faculty, students and staff have reason to be tremendously proud."

Go to US News & World Report schools of education rankings
Get the New Issue of Futures in Urban Ed
futures spr 11

The Winter/Spring 2011 issue of Futures in Urban Ed is officially out.

The new issue profiles many of the "Radical Thinkers of Rossier," including faculty, students, alumni and supporters, and delves into their remarkable work that is transforming education.

To request a hard copy of Futures in Urban Ed, contact Thomas Jenkins at [email protected]

Read it online.
MAT@USC Receives Innovation Award & Releases iPhone and iPad App
                    mat logo

Dr. Melora Sundt accepted the 2011 International Award for Innovative Practices in Higher Education on behalf of the MAT@USC program from the University Design Consortium. The event took place at the American Council on Education's annual meeting on March 7 in Washington, D.C. The award honors the pioneering models under way at universities throughout the world that address important educational needs.

More about the award.

Rossier also announced the release of a native application for the iOS platform, which brings the groundbreaking online learning platform for the MAT@USC to the iPhone and iPad.

Read the story.
Rossier Invites You to Literacy Panel 
festival of books logo

In conjunction with the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, USC Rossier School of Education will be holding a panel on children's and adolescents' literacy.

Join Dr . Eugenia Mora-Flores, Dr. Gisele Ragusa, Dr. Paula Carbone, and Dr. John Pascarella on Saturday, April 30, for "What did I read? Parents and Children Read Together: Important Interactions, Longstanding Positive Consequences."

The panel discussion will take place in Waite Phillips Hall from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

For more information or to RSVP, e-mail [email protected].
A Radical Kind of High School 
Hybrid High

USC Hybrid High School is slated to open fall 2012. The school is designed for L.A. students who are the most at risk for dropping out, and aims for a  graduation rate of 100 percent graduation among its students.

Read about USC Hybrid High School.
Faculty Forefront
Wohlstetter Discusses Merger of Two CMOs
Priscilla Wohlstetter

Los Angeles Times quoted Dr. Priscilla Wohlstetter about a possible merger of two of California's largest charter school organizations.

A merger could eliminate distinct, valuable choices for parents, said Wohlstetter: "I honestly am not certain that we have found the McDonald's recipe for teaching public school students."

Read the article.
Polikoff Talks about NCLB on KPCC's Air Talk
Morgan Polikoff

Dr. Morgan Polikoff was a guest on Air Talk with Larry Mantle on KPCC this morning.

Polikoff discussed Obama's call for an overhaul of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) by Fall.

 Read and listen here
Faculty Discussion on Preparing Teachers for Diversity
pugach

Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend the discussion, "Continued Promises and Persistent Tensions in Preparing Teachers for Diversity," facilitated by Dr. Marleen Pugach.

Pugach is a candidate for the Robert A. Naslund Endowed Chair. The talk will take place Wednesday, March 23, in WPH 403 from Noon to 1:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

RSVP to Lori Givens - [email protected]

More about Pugach.
This Week on 21st Century Scholar
hagedorn

Check out CHEPA's 21st Century Scholar blog this week to read posts by guest blogger,
Professor Linda Serra Hagedorn of Iowa State University. Her research focuses on college student success. She is especially interested in issues pertaining to underrepresented student groups and equity.

Hagedorn, who is Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs at Iowa State, will be writing on The Academic Life all week as follows:

Monday: Why become an academic?
Tuesday: Life as an assistant professor
Wednesday: Life as an associate professor
Thursday: Life as a full professor
Friday: Is there life after academe?

Go to 21st Century Scholar.
Rossier Research
Burch's Paper Informs Reauthorization of NCLB
Patricia Burch

Dr. Patricia Burch attended the Center for American Progress (CAP) - American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) conference in Washington, D.C. on Friday, March 11.

Burch presented a commissioned paper at the conference that is intended to directly inform the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The CAP-AEI conference was attended by high-ranking policymakers.

Read the agenda.

Read Ed Week blog about the conference
Melguizo Work on Postsecondary Equity Continues 
Tatiana Melguizo

Dr. Tatiana Melguizo received a Spencer research grant to conduct an evaluation of a national level loan program funded by the World Bank in Colombia. The title of the proposed study is "Evaluating the Effectiveness of a National Level Financial Aid Program on Increasing Access to Postsecondary Education for Low-Income Students." This funding will enable Melguizo to continue developing a research agenda in Latin America.

Melguizo was also invited to participate on the panel, "Contemporary Issues in Urban Community Colleges: Access, Equity, and Success,"  at the University of Michigan.

For more information on the panel, click here. 
Dowd to Keynote STEP Grantees Meeting in D.C.
Alicia Dowd

On March 17th, Dr. Alicia C. Dowd will be a plenary speaker at the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Talent Expansion Program (STEP) 2011 grantees meeting. Titled "Institutional Culture, Institutional Change & Institutionalization", the event will take place in Washington D.C. on March 17-18.

Dowd will discuss what it means to be an institutional change agent on behalf of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups in the STEM fields. This is an emerging practice which focuses on understanding the kinds of professional development STEM educators need to become "institutional agents." Based on case study research supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), CUE has characterized the role of "institutional agents" in STEM and is now evaluating the factors that enable STEM educators to act as agents for equity.
Rossier Family
New Writing Advisor Joins Rossier
james hayashi

James Hayashi has joined Rossier as Writing Advisor for both the Master's and MAT Program offices. 

Hayashi earned his Master of Professional Writing degree from USC, where he also taught undergraduate composition. He has been helping students, including university students in Beijing, with their writing for nearly ten years.
Alumna Elected Co-Chair of NASPA Latino Community
naddia palacios

PASA graduate Naddia Palacios (ME '06) was elected as National Co-Chair of the Latino/a Knowledge Community for the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

The two-year term begins March 2012 and extends to March 2014. Prior to this term, Palacios will serve for one year as National Co-Chair-Elect, from March 2011 to March 2012.
Alumnus Delivers Message of Hope to Youth
gabe veas

Dr. Gabe Veas (EdD '07) has been speaking across the country in public schools, motivating students to reach for their dreams.

In his talk, "California Dreaming," Veas speaks to the realities of life growing up in a humble Mexican-American home in Los Angeles. Veas shares the motivational story of how he overcame the realities of inner-city life to persevere and be the positive role model that he is today.

In his "Leadership for Today" message, Veas addresses how important it is for students to remain grounded in their values as they move forward in life. He also highlights how students can obtain informal mentors who will help them to achieve their dreams.

More about Veas.
In Other NEws
White House Launches STEM Education Review
office of science and technology policy

Last Friday, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) held the first meeting of a new Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education.  

 

The committee will identify existing federal STEM education programs and write a five-year plan for improving STEM education, as called for in the America COMPETES Act. OSTP Associate Director Carl Weiman and National Science Foundation Director Subra Suresh co-chair the committee, which is comprised of representatives from 11 federal agencies.

 

Read more about the Committee on STEM Education. 

 

For more information or to speak with Jennifer Grodsky or Jean Brodeur, call 202-824-5860 or visit www.usc.edu/federalrelations. 

In This Issue
Rossier Gets Highest Ranking in School's History
Get the New Issue of Futures in Urban Ed
MAT@USC Receives Innovation Award & Releases iPhone and iPad App
Rossier Invites You to Literacy Panel
A Radical Kind of High School
Wohlstetter Discusses Merger of Two CMOs
Polikoff Talks about NCLB on KPCC's Air Talk
Faculty Discussion on Preparing Teachers for Diversity
This Week on 21st Century Scholar
Burch's Paper Informs Reauthorization of NCLB
Melguizo Work on Postsecondary Equity Continues
Dowd to Keynote STEP Grantees Meeting in D.C
New Writing Advisor Joins Rossier
Alumna Elected Co-Chair of NASPA Latino Community
Alumnus Delivers Message of Hope to Youth
White House Launches STEM Education Review
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