Teaching Eagles Scholarship Program

Students interested in becoming Teaching Eagles must complete the application form (the link is on the right) and submit it to the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education office (ED 1104).

Program Overview:

The purpose of the Teaching Eagles Scholarship Program is to increase the number of content-rich, classroom-ready science and mathematics teacher candidates graduating from the University of Southern Indiana. The program is designed to recruit science and mathematics teacher candidates from the large pool of students majoring in STEM fields (Secondary Teaching Eagles) and to recruit education majors who wish to minor in mathematics or science content (Elementary Teaching Eagles).  The program will support approximately 90 students to pursue degrees in STEM Education fields. The program is housed in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education and is funded by the Indiana STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund, which is administered by the Indiana Education Roundtable.

Eligibility:

Secondary Teaching Eagles are students who are currently pursuing a degree in Biology, Biophysics, Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, Mathematics Teaching, or Science Teaching who would like to seek a Secondary Education Licensure Minor.

Elementary Teaching Eagles are students who are currently pursuing a degree in Elementary Education, Special Education, or Early Childhood Education who would like to seek a minor in Mathematics Teaching (Elementary or Elementary & Middle-Level) or Science Teaching (Elementary School).

The grant is a two-year commitment. As a result, the grant is only open to students who plan to enroll in both the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 academic years. Only students with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above are eligible to apply.

Teaching Eagles will receive the following benefits:

• Tuition for up to 27 credit hours for Elementary Teaching Eagles or 30 credit hours for Secondary Teaching Eagles
• Funding (up to $500) for travel to state conferences focused on teaching mathematics or science (e.g., Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics or Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Inc.)
• Funding for CASA testing registration fees (if applicable)
• Mentoring from the USI community and networking opportunities with local school personnel
• Additional learning opportunities for professional growth in STEM education

Obligations: Teaching Eagles are expected to

• 1) Complete a major in a STEM field and a Secondary Education Licensure minor OR 2) complete a major in an education field and a minor in a STEM field
• Fulfill requirements of the USI Teacher Education program, including maintaining a 2.75 cumulative, major and minor GPA and a C or better in all coursework leading to the degree
• Seek licensure to teach science and/or mathematics in Indiana
• Seek employment in an Indiana K-12 public school (including charter schools) and accept employment or a contract for services if offered
• Attend at least two Teaching Eagles meetings each semester of the two-year program (one Road to Success Workshop; one Teaching Eagle Employment Workshop)
• Participate in a Teaching Eagle special interest group (or SIG)
• Participate regularly in extra-curricular STEM outreach initiatives throughout the course of the program; STEM outreach initiatives might include volunteering at a SwISTEM-sponsored event (e.g., Tri-State Science & Engineering Fair, Sea Perch Challenge, First Lego League tournament) or leading a STEM experience in a K-12 school that is not required for USI coursework

Application Process:

Students interested in becoming Teaching Eagles must complete the application from the link to the right and submit it to Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education (Dean's office, ED 1104). Admissions are on a rolling schedule. Applications are accepted year round.

Students eligible to participate in the program will be invited to a personal interview to discuss their interest in the program. Each applicant will be rated on strength of application essay, grade point average, readiness to begin the program, personal interview, and potential success in completing the program. Admission to the program will be selective.

Contact Information: For more information about the Teaching Eagles program or the application process, contact the project director:

Dr. Kelly Sparks, USI Teacher Education Department, ED 3132, (812) 461-5384, kmsparks1@usi.edu

Courses Covered by Teaching Eagles Grant:

The courses listed below may be funded by the Teaching Eagles program. The courses in the Secondary Teaching Eagles program correspond to the Secondary Education Licensure minor as well as coursework in the major specific to teaching candidates. The courses in Elementary Teaching Eagles Program correspond to the Mathematics Teaching Minor (Elementary & Middle-Level) and Science Teaching Minor (Elementary School). The program will fund up to 30 credit hours for Secondary Teaching Eagles and up to 27 credit hours for Elementary Teaching Eagles. The Teaching Eagles program is NOT retroactive, meaning that it cannot fund courses that were taken prior to the Summer 2014 semester.

*Courses vary based on placement and minor selected.

**For students who are completing the Elementary Science Minor under a previous bulletin, the grant may also fund BIOL 133, CHEM 107, PHYS 101, GEOL 161/151 in place of BIOL 108, CHEM 108, GEOL 108, and PHYS 108.