Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State biological sciences professor is among distinguished scholars nationwide who will plan, develop and approve exams of the international 2006 College Board Advanced Placement Program.
Dwayne A. Wise, a university specialist in genetics and cell biology research, is serving as chief reader of the AP Biology Development Committee--one of 22 committees that will supervise 34 different AP exams around the country and abroad this year.
"This year, about 140,000 essay exams--each of which contains four essay questions--will be read and scored by about 480 biologists from around the world," said Wise, who earned a doctorate in genetics at Florida State University in 1972.
Robert Cannon of the University of North Carolina-Greensboro chairs the eight-member biology committee that plans, develops and approves the AP exam in that academic discipline. The committee includes college, university and high school educators from across the country.
Chief readers such as Wise typically are scholars who have attended the AP annual reading for many years, and have experience in the different positions of leadership associated with the international exam process.
"Dr. Wise has made outstanding contributions to the Advanced Placement Program in biological sciences for several years," said William A. Person, MSU director of graduate studies. "His work has been significant and worthy of recognition, as evidenced by his participation in the international scoring process."
The New York-based College Board is a nonprofit membership association that seeks to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools and 3,500 colleges.
The College Board's Advanced Placement Program allows high school students to take college-level courses and exams, and earn college credit or advanced placement. Sixty percent of U.S. high schools currently participate in the AP program.
Many institutions will grant up to a full year of college credit to students who earn a sufficient number of qualifying grades.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Dr. Wise at 662-325-7579 or daw1@ra.msstate.edu.