Original Post
)
and there is no football team.
An interesting look at Freeman Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County and his approach to education. UMBC was once a little known commuter school is now graduating outstanding scientists and engineers, many of whom are minorities.
Excerpts from transcr
ipt:
Hrabowski: An educator focused on math and science
Under Freeman Hrabowski's leadership, the University of Maryland Baltimore County has become a powerhouse in math, science, and engineering
Freeman Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, has an unusual name -- and an even more unusual approach to education. His "Meyerhoff Scholars," for instance, are expected to adhere to a rigorous schedule and strict rules designed to instill discipline and build community. As Byron Pitts reports, what was once a little known commuter school is now graduating outstanding scientists and engineers, many of whom are minorities.
Freeman Hrabowski says the United States is not producing enough scientists and engineers - professions critical to creating more jobs.
Hrabowski is president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County. UMBC, as it's called, was once known primarily as a commuter school. Today, this mid-sized state university has earned a reputation as one of the most innovative schools in the country. Especially when it comes to getting students into math and science and keeping them there.
How Freeman Hrabowski got to UMBC is a journey through American history. And there's a story in his name.
. . .(see link) . . .
In May 1963, Hrabowski was in the "Children's March," organized by Martin Luther King, Jr. - a march made infamous when Sheriff Eugene "Bull" Connor unleashed dogs and fire hoses on the demonstrators. In the midst of it was twelve-year-old Freeman Hrabowski, who had his own encounter with Bull Connor.
Hrabowski: He asked me, 'What do you want, little Negro?' I was so scared. And-- big guy. And I said, 'We want to kneel and pray.' All we wanted to do was to kneel and pray for our freedom. And he picked me up, he spat in my face and threw me into the paddy wagon.
Pitts: He spit on you?
Hrabowski: He did, indeed. He did, indeed. It was an awful experience and it took years for me to get over that. It taught me that even kids can make decisions that can have an impact on the rest of their lives. And it also taught me the importance of getting support from each other in that experience. It was frightening. I was there five days.
Pitts: In jail for five days?
Hrabowski: In jail for five days. It was awful. And yet, it was rich.
Hrabowski excelled in school. At age 12, he was in the ninth grade. At 15, he went to college, where he studied math and began a career devoted to higher education. Since 1992, he's been president of UMBC - a state university on the outskirts of Baltimore.
He uses the lessons from that Birmingham jail...of the importance of commitment and support from others...as he leads the university today.
. . ..(see link) . . .
Much of the hard work at UMBC is in science, engineering and math which accounted for 41 percent of the bachelor's degrees earned there last year - well above the national average of 25 percent. Nationwide, most college students who start off in the sciences either change to a different major or don't graduate. UMBC keeps undergrads engaged by including them in research typically left to graduate students. These students are investigating the secrets of HIV.
Hrabowski: We need hands on experiences. We need to be encouraging that curiosity. And people cannot-- should not be allowed simply to sit back and be bored.
Students can also get jobs and internships at one of 76 companies located on campus. Most are technology startups. They get help growing their businesses and tax credits, along with access to students and faculty. One thing you won't find at UMBC...
Pitts: You had a chance to get a football team at UMBC, right? And you said no?
Hrabowski: People talk about that. Right. I mean, well-- well, first of all, it takes a lot of money for a football team to win.
Hrabowski prefers to win on different playing fields. Incoming freshman Francois Rice noticed right away.
Francois Rice: It seems like everything's flipped. Where, you might go to another university and the football team might be top dog. Here, it's the chess team that's top dog. And it's--
Pitts: The chess team?
Rice: Yeah, it's cool to be smart.
Rice is part of the 23rd incoming class of Meyerhoff Scholars - a program that recruits high achievers in math, science and engineering who are aiming for graduate degrees and careers in research.
Pitts: The Meyerhoff Scholars. What's that concept?
Hrabowski: It is that we can create a program that focuses on both excellence and inclusiveness, starting with African Americans and then Hispanics and now whites and Asians, students of all races, who are excellent in science and engineering. We need people from all backgrounds. And Meyerhoff says, 'It can be done.'
The program started in 1988 when Hrabowski teamed up with billionaire philanthropist Robert Meyerhoff. Both men worried that African American males were shut out from careers in the sciences from lack of opportunity, not talent. Over the years, the program expanded to all students and helped put UMBC - and Hrabowski - on the map of higher education.
. . ..(see link) . . .
So far, 873 students have come out of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program and nearly 90 percent of them have gone on to graduate school.
Hrabowski worries, though, that the U.S. is not doing enough to create more homegrown scientists.
Hrabowski: Most people don't realize that only about 10 percent of Americans in 1965 had a college education.
Pitts: And today?
Hrabowski: And today we're up to about 25 percent.
He says the difference is that 50 years ago, most jobs didn't require a college degree.
Hrabowski: Today, we need more education. We need people with post secondary training. We need people with two-year degrees and four-year degrees and people in graduate programs. If we're going to talk about making sure they can take care of their families and if we're gonna talk about meeting the needs of companies and agencies in our country.
. . ..(see link) . . .
Hrabowski: We say at the beginning of the year, 'Look at the student to your left, look at the student to your right.' Most people who have gone to college heard the dean say, "One of you will not graduate." Alright? And it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. If I'm at all insecure, or if I know I'm a little immature, I'm gonna say, 'Oh my goodness, he's talking about me. So, I may as well party this year, because I'm not gonna be here next year anyway.' And it happens, right? We say, 'Look at the student to your left. Look at the student to your right. Our goal is to make sure all three of you graduate and if you don't, we fail. And we don't plan to fail because we accepted you and we know you can do this work.'
Pitts: But aren't you just romanticizing the possibilities. 'Cause there are many kids who just won't make it, because they won't do the work or they're not bright enough to be there and be successful.
Hrabowski: But, so, do you just say, 'Well, those who were already ready to-- to study hard, they'll make it and let the rest fail?' I think that's not what an educator should do.
Full transcript and video:
http:/
)