The United States Conference on Teaching Statistics (USCOTS) was held May 17 – 19 in Columbus, OH. This year’s theme was taking statistics ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ to the “next level”. Ayesha Delpish and Alan Russell presented their latest work as part of the Idea Exchange Forum. Ayesha is working with a cluster group dedicated to the creation and study of a proto-typical second courses in statistics. Jan Mays and Alan Russell are working with a cluster group focused on assessing the classroom value of a variety of statistical activities. All three are expected to present with their clusters at the next USCOTS meeting in 2009. ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ can share with pride that the mathematics department was regarded by many as “way ahead of the curve” in pioneering classes and excellent practices in statistics ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ.