EMU STEM Grant

Posted: Sunday, 14 September 2008 6:21PM

EMU Gets Grant For Science, Math Teacher Instruction

Money from the National Science Foundation to provide scholarships for teacher education students in science, technology, engineering and math Eastern Michigan University’s Honors College has received a $749,000, five-year grant from the National Science Foundation to help provide scholarships to teacher education students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

“This grant will provide scholarship support and curriculum linkages for secondary education students majoring in science, math, technology and engineering,” said Jim Knapp, director of the honors college. “The idea is to increase the number and retention of qualified science and math teachers in high need districts.”

EMU will partner with Willow Run, Ypsilanti, Lincoln Consolidated, Inkster, Wayne, Westland and Washtenaw Intermediate school districts.

“This program provides scholarships for two years, up to $13,000 a year, to teachers who agree to teach in a partner or other high need district for two years for every one year they receive the scholarship,” Knapp said.

EMU’s program will be called Developing Urban Education Teachers in STEM Subjects (DUETSs). It is part of the national Robert Noyce Scholarship Program.

Knapp said that the grant proposal grew out of the need for STEM teachers and two of EMU’s unique programs, Minority Achievement Retention and Success Program (MARS), and Creative Scientific Inquiry Experience (CSIE).

Knapp said DUETSs will provide scholarship support to 10 students a year for the first four years and five students in the fifth year.

Recipients of the scholarships will have been admitted to the College of Education teacher prep program; have a 3.0 grade point average; have completed 56 credit hours; and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien.

Knapp said he hopes to have the first selections for DUETSs this fall.

“The idea is give this money away this year to help students,” said Knapp. “This money is going right to students. More than $600,000 of the grant will go directly to students.”

“This is another piece in our ongoing effort to focus on STEM education and take advantage of our strategic position,” Knapp said.

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