UB's Gifted Math Program Seeks Nominations for Fall 2009 Class

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Gifted Math Program at the University at Buffalo is looking for outstanding sixth-grade mathematics students for its Fall 2009 entering class. Nominations from school officials and parents for the nationally recognized program will be accepted until Jan. 26.

UB's Gifted Math program, administered by the Department of Learning and Instruction in UB's Graduate School of Education, and now in its 29th year, enrolls approximately 250 students from secondary schools in Erie, Niagara and Orleans counties. The students enter UB's program as seventh graders and continue their studies throughout their high school years.

The program offers advanced mathematics courses, which replace mathematics classes in students' home schools and are designed to challenge students who are proven high achievers.

Students in grades seven to 10 study an enriched and accelerated mathematics program; 11th and 12th graders take university-level courses in calculus and linear algebra. They complete four semesters of university-level mathematics as part of the six-year program and may accumulate a total of 22 college credit hours.

Students nominated for the six-year program will take a three-hour battery of tests in March, including the math section of the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test. About 200 students nominated by their parents or their schools will compete for 60 available spots in the new class.

Classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. Seventh and eighth-graders attend class from 3:30-6 p.m. Senior-high students meet from 6:15-8:45 p.m.

Informational meetings for the families of nominated students and others interested in the program will be held at UB in February.

A review group established by the National Science Teachers Association, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the American Association of School Administrators recently recognized UB's program as one of 10 outstanding math-science activities nationwide.

The program was founded by Betty J. Krist, professor emerita of mathematics at Buffalo State College, and Gerald R. Rising, Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus in the UB Department of Learning and Instruction. Thomas L. Schroeder, interim director, is an associate professor in the UB Department of Learning and Instruction.

For more information or to obtain a schedule of information meetings, call Anne Szczesny, Gifted Math Program administrator at 645-2455 ext. 1045, or visit the Web site at http://giftedmath.buffalo.edu.