CUNY City College will establish a program of recruitment, orientation, and retention of students interested in pursuing a career in Secondary Science and Mathematics Teaching. The program will focus on attracting students who have interest and ability in science but had not considered teaching as a career and supporting these students through their freshman year, a period in which the attrition rate is highest. The project director intends to submit another proposal later addressing the program beyond the freshman year. The program will place heavy emphasis on establishing contacts with the high schools in New York City to inform students, especially minority students, about careers in science and mathematics teaching. Those students not ready for the rigors of college-level course work will be given the opportunity to participate in a preparatory semester to strengthen academic skills, increase confidence, and become oriented to college life. This preparatory semester will include an integrated laboratory science course, a pre-calculus course, a writing course, and an orientation seminar, all in a participatory, non-threatening atmosphere. There will be a major emphasis in the preparatory semester on developing problem-solving and study skills in a setting of peer group support. The regular freshman mathematics and science courses will be restructured to bring them into concurrence with the philosophy of the project, and there will be weekly tutorial sessions to reinforce the learning in these courses. A freshman seminar will be held weekly that will focus on helping students understand and meet the demands of college life, cultivate dialogue between students and faculty, and bring in guest speakers to talk about the teaching profession and encourage students to persist in achieving their goals. CUNY City College will contribute 82% of NSF's amount as cost- sharing.
