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Recruiting and Selecting High Caliber Mathematics and Science Students: Successes, formative changes and lessons learned. Noyce Scholarship Program, University of Houston Dr. Laveria Hutchison, Dr. Robert Houston, and Dr. Susan William. University of Houston Noyce Scholarship Program.
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Recruiting and Selecting High Caliber Mathematics and Science Students: Successes, formative changes and lessons learned Noyce Scholarship Program, University of Houston Dr. Laveria Hutchison, Dr. Robert Houston, and Dr. Susan William
University of Houston Noyce Scholarship Program • An undergraduate teacher preparation program for math and science majors
Need for • 23% of students in Texas reside in Greater Houston Area • 170 high schools • 18,000 HS teachers • Over the last 10 years,the number of full-time high school teachers assigned out-of-field increased by 65% for science and 30% for mathematics.
Need for With 23% of Texas’ students living in the Greater Houston Area, the University of Houston is strategically positioned to: • generate additional highly-qualified high school science and math teachers • who are knowledgeable of research-based science and math curriculum, • comfortable with a variety of instructional strategies and technologies, and • trained to teach in urban schools.
Recruitment: • Recruiting Events:Freshman Orientation, Transfer Student Orientation, NSM Classroom Visits, Cougar Travel (Texas High School Counselors)
Recruitment: teachHouston • Recruiting Events:UH Cougar Preview, Cougar Fridays, Cat’s Back, Activities Fair, High School Visits
Recruitment: teachHouston • Media Coverage: TV, Houston Chronicle, Daily Cougar, Facebook
Recruitment: teachHouston • Professional Events:teachHOUSTON posters, display boards with talking points
Recruitment: • teachHOUSTONEnd-of-Year Celebration and teachHOUSTON Open House - events that create greater community access and program visibility.
Recruitment: teachHouston • Electronic: teachHOUSTON, NSM, & COE Websites, You Tube Videos, E-mail Blasts, and NSM & COE LCD Monitor Ads
Website • Designed to be student oriented, user friendly, and informative for both current and prospective tH students: www.teachhouston.uh.edu • Targets organizations and individuals interested in the professional and financial support of teachHOUSTON students. • Website is linked to the University of Houston , College of Education and College of NSM homepages.
Partnerships: teachHouston • Partnerships: NSM Undergraduate Advising Office, COE Advising Office, Admissions, NSM Faculty and Faculty Advisors, Scholar Enrichment Program
Partnerships: teachHouston • Partnerships: School District Partners (Fort Bend ISD,Houston ISD, Spring Branch ISD)
Partnerships: • Partnerships: Strong business connection built through the teachHOUSTON Advisory Board.
Partnerships: teachHouston • Partnerships: teachHOUSTON Student Society
Branding: ouston • Promotional Items: t-shirts, pen/pencils, notepads, mousepads, frisbees, mugs, stadium cups, etc.
Branding: Houston • Print Materials: flyers, recruiting brochures, and personalized post cards targeted to UH/NSM undergraduate students.
B R A N D I N G Recruiting, developing, and retaining a new generation of STEM teachers.
Recruiting Focus Unique Attributes of • Undergraduate teacher preparation program for STEM majors. • Scholarships and internships for academically talented students. • Passion for teaching math and science with instructional technologies in urban schools. • Teaching experiences begin 1st semester. • Five field-based semesters (including 14 weeks of student teaching). • STEM degree and certification in 4 years.
Recruitment: teachHouston • Key Recruiting Approaches • Freshman Orientations • NSM, COE, and teachHOUSTON Advisors • Email Blasts and On-Campus Electronic Ads • NSM Classroom Visits • Noyce Teacher Scholarships • Best Promotional Items • Brochures • teachHOUSTON T-Shirts and Pens
Steps to Enrollment Once student is admitted to the College ofNatural Science and Mathematics, they 1. Complete teachHOUSTON interest form. 2. Meet with teachHOUSTON Advisor. 3. Meet with NSM Advisor. 4. Enroll in STEP I- CUIN 1101.
Results of Recruiting Total Student Enrollment
- MajorsEffect of Noyce Teacher Scholarships Of the 362 students, 48% are math majors and 52% are science majors. • Biology Majors 114 • Chemistry/Bio-Chem *50 • Geo-Sciences 09 • Physics Majors *14 • Mathematics 175
Results of Recruiting teachHOUSTON Student Ethnicity Houston Ethnicity
Partner School Districts • Three School District Partners • Fort Bend ISD • Houston ISD • Spring Branch ISD • Goal is to train students in urban settings. • 80% of the schools we are using this semester serve predominately underrepresented populations
Graduates • Of the 28 students who graduated prior to this spring semester, 23 of them (82%) are teaching. • Of those 23 who are teaching, 100% of them are teaching in the Greater Houston Area.
Graduates • Of the 28 students who graduated prior to this spring, 13 (46%) are Noyce Scholars. • All but one of the 13 Noyce Scholars are teaching. • Of the 14 students who just graduated this spring, 6 of them (43%) are Noyce Scholars. • The Noyce Teacher Scholarships are clearly having an impact on the teachHOUSTONprogram.
Noyce Scholar Opportunities Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp • BHSSC is a two-week, academic, residential camp for 54 historically underrepresented middle school students. • Goal of camp - increase students’ math and science skills while introducing them to college life and stimulating their interest in science and engineering career paths. • Noyce Scholars serve as BHSSC counselors.
Noyce Scholar Opportunities Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp • Noyce Scholars assist with the instructional activities, projects, and field trips. • They are paid for their services through teachHOUSTON Internship funds.
Noyce Scholar Opportunities Mars Rover Celebration and Contest • Noyce Scholars share an instructional activity with Mars Rover Contestants.
Noyce Scholar Opportunities Presentation for Student Society • TheteachHOUSTON Student Society is a student organization that provides professional development, service, tutoring, and social experiences for students in the program. • Approximately one professional development opportunity is provided each week. • Approximately one service event is provided bi-monthly. • Weekly tutoring sessions are held by the tHSS.
Noyce Scholar Opportunities Presentation for Student Society • NoyceScholars are encouraged to present a professional development workshop at least once each semester. • Noyce Scholars are encouraged to assist with the tutoring sessions.
Noyce Scholar Opportunities • teachHOUSTON sponsored a regional T3 Conference this fall. • The program included not only “expert” workshops but also “student-led” workshops. • Noyce Scholars were assisted in preparing a student presentation for the conference. • Many administrators and department chairs chose to attend these “student-led” sessions to “preview” potential teacher candidates.
Noyce Scholar Opportunities Induction Support for Noyce Scholars • 30% of Texas teachers leave the profession within their first 2 years of service. • 55% of Texas teachers leave the profession within their first 3 years of service. • To address this difficult problem, teachHOUSTON has joined forces with UTeach Austin and UTeach Dallas to supply induction support to approximately 250 graduates of the programs in the Austin, Houston, and Dallas/Fort Worth areas.
Noyce Scholar Opportunities Induction Support for Noyce Scholars • New teachers are provided induction support during their first 2 years of teaching. • Each new teacher is visited once a week.
A Formula that Works • Early and Continued Field Experiences • Master & Mentor Teachers • Strong Content Coupled with Education Minor • Education Courses focused on Math & Science • Training Infused with Instructional Technologies • Scholarships & Internships • New Teacher Induction Support