PRESS RELEASE

TO: UIC News

From: Dick Simpson and Marilyn Getzov

Department of Political Science

(312) 996-8660

Improving College Teacher Training At UIC

Professors Dick Simpson of Political Science and Patricia Harkin of English were among 240 delegates attending a national meeting of the Preparing Future Faculty Program in Colorado Springs this month. They have been awarded $40,000 in grants to develop and improve training programs for future teachers in English and Political Science at various types of colleges and universities. The project is directed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the Council of Graduate Schools and funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, National Science Foundation and a private donor.

Professor Simpson will be working with City Colleges of Chicago, Joliet Junior College, University of Illinois at Springfield, Chicago State University and Illinois Wesleyan University. Professor Harkin's cluster includes Elmhurst College, North Central College and Purdue University - Calumet.

Along with Professor Simpson is a Political Science leadership team of Professor Barry Rundquist, Instructor Constance Mixon from Daley Community College, and Political Science Graduate Program Administrator Marilyn Getzov. Along with Professor Harkin is an English leadership team of .

The program includes new courses for Teaching Assistants at UIC and for graduate students who teach at the cluster colleges and universities, mentors at both schools, participation in on-going programs in teaching at UIC, preparation of teaching portfolios and help with adjunct teacher placements for graduate students and full time placements for graduates.

The UIC Political Science Department was one of four universities given these grants as was the English Department. Both won in national competitions conducted by their professional associations to develop pilot programs which will serve as models for this aspect of graduate student education throughout the country.

TWO PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PROVIDED FOR POSSIBLE USE BY UIC NEWS.

To read the Report for the PFF 4 How To Manual click here