TEST Initiative Advances Undergraduate Learning in UAH’s College of Science
UAH College of Science launches Toward Excellence in Science Teaching (TEST) initiative to support projects that strengthen instruction, particularly in high-enrollment courses.
In Fall 2025, the College of Science at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, launched a new project aimed at strengthening teaching and enhancing undergraduate student learning. The initiative, known as Toward Excellence in Science Teaching, or TEST, invited all College of Science faculty to propose innovative, evidence-based projects designed to make a meaningful and lasting impact on science education.
The response from faculty demonstrated innovation, creativity and a sustained commitment to advancing their academic disciplines. With generous support from a private donor, the Office of the Provost and the Institute of Science Education, six proposals have been approved for funding and are being implemented during Spring 2026.
TEST was designed to support projects that strengthen instruction, particularly in high-enrollment courses, and promote sustainable improvements in teaching and learning. While the six projects selected for the 2026 funding cycle represent a range of disciplines and approaches, all are unified by a shared focus on improving the undergraduate academic experience.
In the Department of Chemistry, Dr. Sharifa Love-Rutledge and Dr. Elizabeth Okoth are leading a project titled “Replacing the Recitation,” which integrates Peer Assisted Study Sessions into General Chemistry. The initiative is designed to improve student self-efficacy, increase use of institutional learning resources and support instructors implementing partially flipped classrooms. Okoth is also leading a second chemistry-focused project that aims to identify and support student success by strengthening foundational arithmetic skills, a critical component of success in introductory chemistry courses.
In the Department of Computer Science, Dr. Timothy S. Newman is leading a project to enhance training for teaching assistants. By strengthening Teaching Assistant preparation, the project seeks to improve consistency and quality in instruction across computer science courses.
Faculty in the Department of Physics and Astronomy are leading two projects that target both laboratory and conceptual learning. Dr. Themis Chronis is enhancing undergraduate physics laboratory instruction through improved Teaching Assistant training and the development of digital resources. Dr. Pushpawela and Dr. Waldron are exploring the use of virtual reality laboratories to deepen conceptual understanding in algebra-based physics courses.
In the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Shelley Lenahan is expanding the Learning Assistant model in Calculus I. The project is designed to improve student success in one of the most widely taken gateway courses at the university.
Together, these projects reflect the College of Science’s commitment to teaching, faculty collaboration, and student-centered learning. Through the TEST initiative, the college is investing not only in individual courses, but also in practices that can strengthen science education across UAH.
As these projects launch in Spring 2026 and continue into Fall 2026, the UAH College of Science looks forward to sharing outcomes and lessons learned, further advancing its mission to provide exceptional science education for all students.
