Ball State University is among four universities in the state that are partnering with the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation to strengthen their teaching programs.
The Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship will offer students the opportunity to receive licensure in mathematics, physics or physical science, as well as a master's in secondary education. Participants will also receive a $30,000 stipend as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow after completing the program.
The goal of the program is to encourage students with degrees in science, technology, engineering or math to pursue teaching careers in Indiana.
The other universities participating in the program are Purdue University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the University of Indianapolis.
Constance Bond, senior program officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, said the foundation chose Ball State because of its commitment to teaching.
"We felt Ball State represented the capability, readiness and desire to make significant improvement in the Indiana school system," Bond said.
Susan Johnson, associate dean of the college of sciences and humanities, said the program is different than a traditional university program.
"We are going to have a one-year program where the fellows will start during the summer session and study on campus," Johnson said. "Then, during the academic semester they will work at one of four high schools. They will spend the whole day in the school setting, arriving at the same time as regular teachers and staying all day being completely immersed in the school setting."
Muncie Central High School, Muncie Southside High School, Anderson High School and Highland High School are participating in the program as part of Ball State's Professional Development Schools Network.
Fellows involved in the program will commit three years after graduating to teach in Indiana school systems. The program provides students with significant mentoring throughout their completion of their degree.
Laurie Mullen, associate dean of the Teachers College, said the program is special because of the amount of faculty assistance.
"Faculty in residence will be traveling out to the high schools mentoring the fellows or though video conference," Mullen said. "High-quality mentoring is needed in the profession right now to be really immersed in the classroom."
Bond said the foundation highlighted Indiana colleges and universities because the state wants to improve its school systems for the 21st century.
"I think there is no greater calling right now in this county to ensure our students are ready for this type of teaching," Bond said. "To remain globally competitive we need to have stronger science and math skills. The greatest way to improve student learning is to bring in great teachers. There is no better way to make a difference for Indiana's kids and Indiana's future. "
Students who qualify for the program need to have a bachelor's degree, a major in a STEM discipline, achieve a 3.0 GPA or higher and pass the Praxis I: pre-professional skills test.
The early deadline for submitting applications is Oct. 12 and the final deadline is Jan. 12, 2010.
Students interested in the program can register at bsu.edu/forms/distance/advising/ for an informational meeting. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Burris Laboratory School Rm. 219. Students can also follow the link provided after registration that will offer a live video Web-stream of the meeting.
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