If you are not familiar with TED Talks, you are in for a treat. TED talks are short (18 minutes or less), powerful talks that are designed to spread ideas. Presenters are often industry leaders and trailblazers. The TED community is actively involved both online and offline, and believes in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives, and the world. One of the most inspiring features of TED Talks is that they are solutions driven – with a focus on presenting constructive solutions to social issues
In honour of some of the great content that is freely available to anyone with an internet connection, we are going to start a monthly feature – TED Talk Tuesday. Each month, we will highlight one TED Talk and we encourage everyone to engage in a conversation about the topics.
This month, I want to share a TED Talk by Freeman Hrabowski called the “4 Pillars of College success in Science”. This talk focuses on the ways that Universities can help ensure that students who enter a science program will successful graduate with a science degree. Check it out:
UBC is consistently ranked as a Top 40 University in the Sciences, and implementing some of the four pillars of success that Hrabowski discusses in his presentation.
The first pillar of success is high expectations, at both the university and high school level.
The Faculty of Sciences, and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, sets high expectations of students from the start. The Faculty of Science has the highest admission averages, at 93.4% in 2012. Both Faculties take into consideration more than test scores and review applicant’s personal profiles (Sciences) and conduct interviews (Pharmacy). This ensures that students are well rounded and are passionate about their chosen field of study.
The second pillar of success is building a community in the STEM faculties. Rather than viewing classmates as competition for grades, internships, and jobs, students should work together and get to know each other as colleagues.
Science One and the Coordinated Science Program, alternative first year programs, help foster a sense of community among Science students. Students are placed in smaller classes and are encouraged to form frienships not just study groups. After first year, almost every science major has a Facebook group where students can interact with and get help from their peers. However, community building has to go past just the academics – which is why I was so pleased to see that there are groups such as PIGS – Pharmacy 2014 International Gastromers – a group of Pharmacy students who like to try out restaurants together.
The third pillar of success is that researchers produce researchers. Having opportunities for experiential learning, rather than just lectures, is critical to success in the sciences.
With the newly opened Pharmacists Clinic, UBC Pharm Sci students can shadow pharmacists and help provide a range of therapeutic services. This is the first University affiliated, licensed, patient care centered pharmacy. The BSc (Pharmacy) curriculum also emphasized experiential learning, in the form of clerkship completed at community hospital sites.
The last pillar is that the faculty must be willing to engage with students. A faulty that is truly invested in the success of its students is critical to their success.
Having just stared working with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, it is apparent to me how much the Faculty really does care and engage with its students. From trying to keep students informed about their admission status, to featuring their work, to providing opportunities and information about grants and scholarships, the Faculty is committed to the success of its students.
What do you think? Do you agree that these four pillars are part of student success in the sciences? What do you think UBC could be doing better? Tell us in the comments!
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