Oklahoma State University Awarded $1.45 Million Grant to Implement Highly Successful UTeach Program
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Grant will help recruit, train new teachers in STEM disciplines
Oklahoma State University today announced a $1.45 million grant from the National
Math and Science Initiative to replicate UTeach, a secondary science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) teacher preparation initiative that is addressing the
nation’s STEM education crisis by producing qualified math and science teachers across
the country.
“It is an honor to be selected as the only UTeach university in our state, allowing
us to carry out our land-grant mission by helping transform K-12 STEM education throughout
Oklahoma,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “This new program – OSUTeach -- will build
a STEM pipeline that will impact the economic health of the state and regional industries
as well as future generations.”
OSU is one of five universities across the country to receive the five-year grant,
made possible by a generous contribution from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Beginning in the fall of 2014, the UTeach program will be made available to students
at OSU as well as Drexel University, Florida International University, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, and University of Maryland, College Park.
With the expansion of UTeach to these universities and five more in the fall of 2015,
the program will be in 45 universities and is expected to produce more than 9,000
new math and science teachers in the United States by 2020 – nearly 10 percent of
the 100Kin10 national goal of producing 100,000 new STEM teachers by 2021.
“Educating future math and science teachers through a collaborative effort between
the College of Education and College of Arts and Sciences provides an innovative model
for teacher education,” said Pamela ’Sissi’ Carroll, Dean of the OSU College of Education.
“I have seen the impact of the UTeach model in other states, and look forward to the
increase in the number of highly qualified secondary math and science teachers in
our communities, as well as to the enhanced partnership between the university and
public schools,”
The grant is unique in that it offers an opportunity for industry and community partners
to make investments in OSUTeach that will benefit countless schools throughout the
state and permanently establish and sustain the program with a comprehensive fundraising
initiative. OSU will be changing the face of STEM education and the future workforce
for STEM-related careers.
“What a wonderful opportunity for Oklahoma State,” said Bret Danilowicz, Dean of the
OSU College of Arts and Sciences. “OSUTeach faculty members are eager to educate more
science and mathematics teachers who will in turn educate the leaders and workers
of tomorrow. We are honored to be chosen for this grant and for the opportunity to
partner with the College of Education to implement this tremendous model of teacher
education.”
The grant will subsidize core elements of the UTeach program, which include recruitment
and retention incentives, a compact degree program, a strong focus on research-based
strategies for teaching and learning math and science, intensive field teaching experience,
and personal guidance from master teachers and faculty.
An OSUTeach website (http://osuteach.okstate.edu/) has been developed to provide updates
and information about the progress of the OSUTeach program.
Universities were selected to participate in the UTeach program through a competitive
proposal process. Five additional research universities will be awarded UTeach grants
in the coming year. Interested schools can learn more about eligibility requirements
and apply now by visiting http://www.uteach-institute.org/files/uploads/2014-uteach-rfp.pdf.
“The severe shortage of qualified math and science teachers in the United States is
undoubtedly contributing to our nation's growing STEM education crisis,” said NMSI
CEO Sara Martinez Tucker. “By increasing access to the proven UTeach model, we're
helping create a STEM pipeline of highly-skilled teachers.”
The UTeach program, first developed in 1997 at the University of Texas Austin, has
been implemented at 35 universities across the country with a total enrollment of
more than 6,000 students. UTeach recruits and prepares students studying mathematics,
science, and computer science disciplines to enter careers in secondary education
by enabling them to earn both a degree in their major and a teaching certification
without adding time or expense to their four-year degree program. Since 2008, NMSI
has actively worked with the UTeach Institute to expand the program to colleges and
universities around the country.
Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students
for success. OSU is America’s Brightest Orange. Through leadership and service, OSU
is preparing students for a bright future and building a brighter world for all.
As Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of
people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching,
research, and outreach. OSU has more than 37,000 students across its five-campus system
and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students
from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated
more than 240,000 students to serve the state of Oklahoma, the nation and the world.
About National Math and Science Initiative: NMSI, a non-profit organization, was launched
in 2007 by top leaders in business, education, and science to transform education
in the United States. NMSI has received national recognition for training 3-12 teachers
and improving student performance through the rapid expansion of these highly successful
programs: NMSI's Comprehensive AP program, NMSI Teacher Training program, and UT Austin’s UTeach program. Inaugural funding for NMSI, was provided by the Exxon Mobil Corporation, the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. For more information,
visit http://www.nms.org/.
About UTeach Institute: Established in 2006 at UT Austin, The UTeach Institute assists
universities with implementation of the UTeach program and supports a growing, national
network of K-12 educators and university-based research and clinical faculty collaborating
to strengthen STEM education in the United States. This work is supported through
a variety of strategic partnerships at the national, state, and local levels. For
more information, visit http://www.uteach-institute.org.
About Howard Hughes Medical Institute: The Howard Hughes Medical Institute plays a
powerful role in advancing scientific research and education in the United States.
Its scientists, located across the United States and around the world, have made important
discoveries that advance both human health and our fundamental understanding of biology.
The Institute also aims to transform science education into a creative, interdisciplinary
endeavor that reflects the excitement of real research. www.hhmi.org