The University of New Mexico College of Arts and Sciences has received $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support the Robert Noyce Scholarship Program. The grant provides funding to recruit science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors into teacher education programs.
“The schools are in need of teachers with an interest and enthusiasm in STEM content areas. The intent is to introduce teaching early on to these students as they are finishing up their majors. Giving them the opportunity to have early classroom experiences will let them know if teaching is a good career choice for them,” said Doug Earick, education outreach coordinator in UNM’s College of Arts and Sciences.
“The hypothesis is that we can improve the quality of math and science teaching in New Mexico schools by bringing to the profession those with a strong content background,” said Diane Marshall, UNM biology professor and principle investigator.
Earick said the students would take College of Education credits to become certified teachers.
“The grant offers the opportunity for students in STEM disciplines, as well as graduates, to get licensure with support to help fill a high need area,” said Kathryn Watkins, associate professor, director of secondary education, UNM College of Education and co-PI.
“We want to reach out to those students who are about to be seniors at the university. Perhaps they aren’t sure about going on to graduate school, say in biology. But maybe they would be interested in teaching biology,” Earick said.
The scholarship would provide up to $10,000 per year for one or two years to students selected for the program. The scholarship would help the student finish a final year in his or her undergraduate program plus provide for a following year of College of Education courses.
“It is hard for students to work while enrolled in teacher training because of student teaching. The grant makes it possible for them to take that step,” Marshall said.
In addition to identifying undergraduates in STEM majors, Earick said they are also looking at those who finished a degree and might be interested in teaching.
“We would follow these students into the classroom for the first year. We’ll be hiring master mentor teachers because we recognize that the first three years of teaching is critical. With greater support for new teachers, we would hope to retain more of these individuals as career educators,” Earick said.
The program does require a two-year teaching commitment for each year of the scholarship received, Earick said. In the spring, the program will offer a course on teaching environmental science.
“It is designed as an interdisciplinary course to draw a diverse group of potential teachers,” he said.
The course will be offered through the Biology Department and will incorporate working with children in informal and formal classroom experiences for the students enrolled.
Marshall said that she got on board because she recognized a need for science faculty to be involved if the program is to be successful.
“This is truly an altruistic gesture on the part of the PIs and the university. As PIs, we don’t get a summer salary for our work on the grant and the university isn’t getting any overhead. Our benefit is indirect. It is to help students to become great teachers,” Marshall said.
For more information or to apply for the Robert Noyce Scholarship, contact Doug Earick, 266-2070; Diane Marshall, 277-1168; or Kathryn Watkins, 277-8186.