Dalton State to Offer 4-Year Math, Science

By Erin Fuchs, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.

Aug. 12–DALTON, Ga. — As part of a statewide push to train more math and science teachers, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has approved new four-year math and biology programs at Dalton State College.

Both programs, to begin in 2008, will offer an option for secondary education certification.

“There … is a real shortage of teachers in math and science in the state,” said Dr. Sandra Stone, vice chancellor for academic planning and programs at the Board of Regents, which approved Dalton State’s programs Wednesday.

In 2006, public universities in the state graduated 678 middle- and high school math and science teachers, according to the Regents. That number must double to meet the state’s needs, the same report said.

“Those who have a proclivity for math and science,” said Dr. James Burran, president of Dalton State, “are going to have many job offers.”

Six new professors will fill the biology and math posts; two will specialize in teaching secondary education.

Those opting for secondary education in math or biology “will actually end up with a double major,” according to Patricia White, assistant vice president for academics at Dalton State.

Secondary education students will spend 1,000 hours in Northwest Georgia classrooms starting as early as their sophomore year, Dr. Burran said.

That way, if teaching isn’t for them, they’ll know early enough to switch majors, he said.

“Years ago, you would never set foot in a high school until you were about to graduate,” Dr. Burran said.

Dalton State will require 100 more classroom hours than the state minimum of 900, Dr. Burran said.

But aside from this requirement, Dr. Burran said, the programs are like most four-year math and biology programs.

“I don’t think the curriculum in either case has any unique twist,” Dr. Burran said, but being able to earn these degrees from a local, affordable college will generate “a lot of excitement and buzz.”

Cohutta, Ga., resident Faith Wimpey is starting her second year at Dalton State and had planned to transfer to complete a science degree that would prepare her for medical school.

But now that Dalton State will offer a four-year biology program, she just might stay.

“I live at home,” Ms. Wimpey said. “I save a lot of money coming here.”

Chatsworth, Ga., resident Michael Knight was on campus Friday, applying to Dalton State just five days before the deadline to register for classes.

A Marine reservist, Mr. Knight said he likes the idea of settling down in the same place for four years.

“I don’t want to go to some big university,” said Mr. Knight, an aspiring high-school science teacher. “I’m in the Marines. I’m away from home enough.”

Other students still might opt to transfer to larger, more established universities.

Math major Stephanie Cook said she would consider the bachelor’s program at Dalton State in 2008. But that’s only if she doesn’t get into Georgia Tech, she said.

“Georgia Tech is a very prestigious school,” she said. “If I want to earn my Ph.D., I know that it (a degree from Georgia Tech) would look better trying to get into grad school than a degree from Dalton State.”

She said she’s still excited that her hometown college is expanding.

“I want to be a math professor,” she said. “I think it would be cool to come back to Dalton State and maybe teach.”

E-mail Erin Fuchs at efuchs@timesfreepress.com

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