HoyerAnnounces Nearly $3 Million in Funding to USM for First in the World Grant Program

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) announced today that the University System of Maryland (USM) was awarded a $2,998,464 million grant for the First in the World (FITW) program.The grant from the U.S. Department of Education will help USM test and develop innovative strategies to improve student outcomes.

"I'm pleased that the University System of Maryland and its partners will receive this highly competitive funding for their First in the World Maryland Mathematics Reform Initiative," said Congressman Steny Hoyer. "USM recognizes the need for innovation and this grant will improve math skills for many students, especially those from underserved communities, and help them realize their full potential. I'm proud that USM is committed to ensuring that Maryland students have the same opportunities to succeed."

"USM and our partners took a serious look at one of the biggest barriers to college completion, developmental mathematics, and asked ourselves:  How can we make math a meaningful part of students' college education by connecting it more directly to students' majors?," stated Dr. Robert L. Caret, chancellor of the University System of Maryland. "Our project will introduce a new statistics pathway for students who are in the liberal arts and social sciences. This pathway will be as rigorous as the traditional algebra/calculus sequence, but will be much more relevant to what students need for their majors and will, we are sure, lead to more student success going forward."

"The College of Southern Maryland is excited to be a partner on this important grant and to collaborate with colleagues at both two-year and four-year colleges in carrying out this mathematics reform initiative," said Dr. Brad Gottfried, president of the College of Southern Maryland. "The results from this partnership will be critical in developing a pathway through which we can help all students become more confident and more successful with college-level mathematics, and especially those who face great challenges in completing their degree programs."

"We are excited to be joining other institutions within the University System of Maryland in conducting this important research," said Matthew Prineas, dean of the undergraduate school at University of Maryland University College. "Work under this First in the World grant will forge a new and exciting commitment to a deeper understanding of mathematical pathways for students and broaden our own faculty's professional development, as they learn the best strategies for teaching. The ultimate goal is to equip the great majority of our students with the quantitative literacy skills they need to succeed in their field of study and in the workplace."

The grant is a part of nearly $60 million awarded to 17 colleges and universities in the First in the World grant program announced by the Obama administration today to drive innovation and keep a higher education within reach for all Americans, Other Maryland institutions partnering with USM are Anne Arundel Community College, Cecil College, Coppin State University, Garrett College, Harford Community College, Howard Community College, Montgomery College, Towson University, University of Baltimore, and the  University of Maryland Baltimore County.