Saint Joseph’s University Awarded $1.45 Million Grant from National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation has awarded Saint Joseph’s University a $1.45 million grant through the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. The grant will provide funding to the six local colleges and universities to encourage students to pursue and sustain a career as educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Once students in Noyce the program have completed their necessary certifications, they will be required to serve for two years as educators in high-need schools.
PHILADELPHIA (July 3, 2018) — The National Science Foundation has awarded Saint Joseph’s University a $1.45 million grant through the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. The grant will provide funding to the six local colleges and universities who are involved with the Philadelphia Regional Noyce Partnership Scholars Program to encourage students to pursue and sustain a career as educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in high needs secondary schools. A total of 55 undergraduate students will benefit from this award.
Although this is the third grant of this kind that Saint Joseph’s University has received, this is the first time that the University has been recognized as a leader among local institutions. Students in STEM programs at Saint Joseph’s University, Temple University, Arcadia University, La Salle University and Bryn Mawr College will each receive one year of funding and an additional two years of professional support to assist with educator certifications and professional development in the teaching profession. Additionally, students from the Community College of Philadelphia will be involved in academic and professional experiences that encourage them to pursue a STEM teaching career at one of the participating universities.
“Our goal is to foster the development of culturally sensitive STEM teachers, school leaders and professionals that educate with sustainability in mind,” says Tetyana Berezovski, Ph.D., associate professor and director of graduate programs in mathematics education, who is the principal investigator of the grant. “This program aligns nicely with our University model: SJU provides five years of leadership that connects our Noyce scholars with peers from other universities and Noyce mentors who have already become teacher-leaders. That creates connections that these scholars can come back to for many years.”
The Noyce program is designed to increase the retention of STEM educators by providing collaborators with a supportive network and resources to span their career. Once students in the program have completed their necessary certifications, they will be required to serve for two years as educators in high-need schools.
“As a collaborative group, we capitalize on everyone’s strengths to provide our students with rich academic professional experiences,” says Berezovski.
