University of Cincinnati awarded $275k to expand teacher recruitment project

Recruiting talented high school students to become science and math teachers is what the Southwest Center of Excellence STEM Teaching Academy is all about. The project, led by the University of Cincinnati and Miami University, was just awarded $275,000 by the state of Ohio to expand its recruitment of African-American and urban-Appalachian students.
 
Last summer, 44 high school seniors began a year-long academy that will end with earning three credit hours of college math. It also includes mentoring, college visits and Saturday academies where students meet with admissions staff to learn about college entrance requirements, advising and financial aid. They also receive a $1,000 stipend.
 
Partners in the project include Cincinnati Public Schools, Princeton City Schools, Oak Hills School District and GEARUP – the federally funded partnership that helps at-risk students pursue college. The 2008 funding will expand to include 50 students.  “There’s so much that we can accomplish by having an excellent, diverse teaching staff that reflects the student population in the schools,”
says Nelson Vincent, associate dean for the UC College of Education,
Criminal Justice, and Human Services.

Writer: David Holthaus
Source: Dawn Fuller, University of Cincinnati