"EMSW21-MCTP" The University of Tennessee Math Honors Program

一所中等选择性的公立研究型大学的系级荣誉项目可以在培养有才华的美国学生的数学教育中发挥重要作用。这样的大学撒下了一张大网。高额优秀奖吸引了一些拥有优异高中成绩的学生，而每年有数千名学生来到这里，无论是出于什么原因，他们都没有积累到进入高选择性院校所需的高SAT/ACT分数和领导职位。通过对后者的筛选，可以发现有一小部分人拥有潜在的高数学天赋，但数量很大。这些沉睡的学生在第一次接触抽象数学时就变得活跃起来，他们在高级课程中的成绩可以赶上或超过在高中表现优异的同龄人。强大的系级荣誉计划可以成为识别和支持这一多样化群体的框架，利用系里的研究生和研究资源，引导他们尽快过渡到高级抽象和应用数学。田纳西大学数学荣誉计划提供人才的早期识别，灵活的课程安排，最早在大二就将本科生安排在研究生课程中，荣誉研讨会，以及重要的指导和建议。该项目借鉴了周围的阿巴拉契亚农村地区，为那些在高中时可能在数学能力方面几乎没有得到支持和刺激的学生提供机会。超过75%的助学金用于通过奖学金、研究津贴和暑期学费减免等形式向学生提供直接经济支持。奖学金将颁发给少数新生，但主要发放给德克萨斯大学的在校生，他们决定通过荣誉计划加快步伐。大学费用分摊接近助学金总额的10%，这将使该计划能够提供超过五年助学金期限的多年奖学金。额外的资金支持研究生作为本科生的暑期研究导师，管理和评估该项目。由该基金资助的一项“数学大使”计划将把优等生送到高中，以提高人们对数学的兴趣，尤其是德克萨斯大学的数学荣誉计划。这笔资金预计将使德克萨斯大学数学荣誉计划的规模增加50%以上。

A departmental honors program at a moderately selective public research university can play a significant role in the mathematics education of talented American students. Such universities cast a wide net. Large merit awards draw a few students with sterling high school records while thousands arrive each year having, for whatever reason, not amassed the high SAT/ACT scores and leadership roles needed to gain admission to highly selective institutions. Sifting through the latter group reveals a small but significant number with latent high mathematical talent. These 'sleeper' students come to life during their first exposure to abstract math, and their work in advanced courses can match or exceed that of their peers who excelled in high school. A strong departmental honors program can be the framework that identifies and supports this diverse group, drawing on the department's graduate and research resources as it guides them as rapidly as possible through the transition to advanced abstract and applied mathematics.The University of Tennessee Math Honors Program provides early identification of talent, a flexible curriculum that places undergraduates in graduate courses as early as the sophomore year, an honors seminar, and significant mentoring and advising. The program draws on the surrounding rural Appalachian region, providing opportunity to students who may have received little support and stimulation in high school for their mathematical abilities. More than 75% of the grant is devoted to direct financial support to students in the form of merit and need-based scholarships, research stipends and summer tuition remission. Scholarships will be awarded to a few incoming freshmen, but mainly to current UT students who decide to follow an accelerated track through the honors program. University cost sharing of close to 10% of the grant total will allow the program to offer multi-year scholarships extending beyond the five-year term of the grant. Additional funding supports graduate students as summer research mentors for undergraduates, administration and assessment of the program. A 'math ambassadors' program funded by the grant will send honors students to high schools to increase interest in mathematics in general and the UT Math Honors program in particular. The funding is expected increase the size of the UT Math Honors program by more than 50%.