Education Board

A strategic goal of the ASM is to educate individuals at all levels in the microbiological sciences. The Education Board endeavors to reach that goal through member generated initiatives. It supports both student and faculty development through fellowships, online publications, conferences, workshops, and institutes, and networking opportunities.

2010-2013 Education Board Strategic Plan
Outline of the Education Board's mission, core values, visions, key constituents, challenges and opportunities, strategic issues and goals.

Mission

The Education Board’s mission is to (i) promote access, excellence, professional development, and advancement in microbiology education, (ii) promote the community of microbiology students, postdoctoral scientists and educators, and (iii) lead in microbiology education worldwide.

Core Values

The Society’s core values provide the ethical and professional framework for the mission and fundamental aims of the Society. These include service, leadership, quality, and diversity. The Board has identified one guiding principle that is unique to microbiology education and provides direction throughout the 21st century. The guiding principle states, "We believe that continued development of an educator’s intellectual, technical, and creative capabilities is essential. For this reason, we are committed to life-long learning."

Key Constituents

Students and educators at the following levels:

Kindergarten through high school
Undergraduate
Graduate
Postdoctoral
Other professionals

Strategic Goals (last updated September 19, 2010)

Goal 1. Promote the importance of microbiology as a discipline.

Goal 2. Promote recognition of the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Goal 3. Improve the teaching of microbiology at all levels.

Goal 4. Promote programs for students and postdoctoral scientists in the microbiological sciences at all levels.

Goal 5. Provide and promote professional development for educators.

Goal 6. Collaborate with other ASM committees to increase participation in education at all levels.

Goal 7. Continue to increase participation of individuals from underrepresented groups in microbiology at all educational levels (same as ASM’s strategic goal #6).

Goal 8. Sustain effective communication about Board activities.

Goal 9.   Increase volunteer involvement, staff support, and financial resources to sustain Board programs.

Goal 10. Assess the effectiveness and impact of Board programs.

Vision

The Board articulated its vision for the future.

In the 21st century:

Students, postdoctoral scientists and teachers at every level will have an understanding about the roles of microorganisms and their significance in the environment, industry, and health profession.
ASM members will actively encourage the entrance and success of all students into the field of microbiology.
The community of microbiologists will have increased diversity.
Microbiology will be incorporated in science curricula from kindergarten through post-graduate and professional education.
The Board will lead in the development and worldwide dissemination of educational resources for microbiologists and teachers.
The Board will be the leader in using technology for education.
The Board will be the leader for life-long learning and career transitioning for microbiologists and microbiology educators.

Committees of the Education Board
Description of goals and initiatives of the Education Board's six committees.

Education Board Overview (10-slide presentation)
Education Board Organization (powerpoint)

Committee on K-12 Outreach
This Committee is charged with developing educational initiatives which promote excellence in K-12 education. Current activities include workshops at national teacher organizations, clearinghouse of classroom and outreach activities that illustrate the microbial world, and career materials. The current chair is Dr. Dave Westenberg, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri.

Committee on Undergraduate Education
This Committee is charged with advancing excellence and scholarship in undergraduate biology education. Current activities include sponsorship of the ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE); Focus on Microbiology Education; Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education (JMBE); the Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (URF); Biology Scholars Program; and Faculty Development Programs. The current chair is Dr. Marjorie Kelly Cowan of Miami University Middletown, Middletown, Ohio.

Committee on Graduate and Postdoctoral Education
This Committee is charged with the responsibility of increasing the number of students who enter and succeed in graduate and postdoctoral programs. In addition, the Committee provides leadership and direction in doctoral and postdoctoral education. Current activities include the ASM/CDC Program in Infectious Disease and Public Health Microbiology and the ASM Kadner Institute for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scientists in Preparation for Careers in Microbiology, ASM Institute for Scientific Writing and Publishing for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scientists, and the ASM Graduate and Postdoctoral Opportunities webpage. The current chair is Dr. Shelley M. Payne of University of Texas, Austin Texas.

Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education Editorial Committee
The Editorial Committee provides direction, oversight and management for the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education (JMBE). JMBE publishes original, previously unpublished, peer-reviewed articles. The scientific scope of the journal is rooted in microbiology while branching out to biology. The educational scope of the journal is primarily undergraduate education; however, submissions that feature good pedagogy and good design used in kindergarten through high school education or graduate and professional (e.g., medical school) education will be considered for publication. The editor-in-chief is Chris Woolverton, Kent State University, Kent, OH.

Microbe Library Editorial Committee
This Committee is charged with directing and managing MicrobeLibrary resources for undergraduate biology education. These resources are held in three collections - the visual collection, protocol collection (standard information about a single protocol, including purpose and theory, history, procedural steps, safety considerations, tips and comments, and references) and atlas collection (high quality images that illustrates the use, results and/or interpretation of a standard microbiology protocol). The current chair is Dr. Erica L. Suchman of Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Committee on Minority Education
This Committee is charged with developing educational initiatives which promote recruiting, fostering, and retaining underrepresented and underserved faculty and students in the microbiological sciences. Activities include the Microbiology Undergraduate Research Fellowship, the ASM/Robert D. Watkins Graduate Fellowship, and the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. The current chair is Dr. Mary Sanchez Lanier of Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.