[STEM Education Institute] [STEP Program] [Licensure Requirements]  [School of Education]

The National Science Foundation Robert Noyce scholarship program is named in honor of the co-founder of Intel. It seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers. The program provides $500,000 over three years to support scholarships, stipends, and programs for students who commit to teaching in high-need schools. Specifically, they must agree to teach two years in such a school for every year they receive funding. The school may be anywhere in the United States.  STEM Bridge is a joint effort of the UMass School of Education and the STEM Education Institute. The lead Principal Investigator is STEM Ed Associate Director Allan Feldman (Science Education); co-PIs are Mort Sternheim (STEM Ed Director), Farshid Hajir (Mathematics), and Portia Elliot (Math Education). An advisory board assists in recruiting and selecting the scholars. 

Who can apply?

• UMass undergraduates who will be juniors or seniors in Fall 2007.
• Transfer students who are accepted as UMass juniors or seniors for Fall 2007.
• UMass seniors who will be UMass grad students in Fall 2007.
• Recent UMass graduates (a bachelors degree in 2005 or 2006) who will be UMass grad students in Fall 2007.
• Majors in math, science, and engineering. Those in related fields, such as public health or natural resources and environment, may also be eligible.
• Minority students, community college transfers, part-time students, and UWW and other nontraditional students are encouraged to apply.
• You must be a US citizen or permanent resident.

Benefits

• Awards are $10,000 per year for full-time students. Part-time students will be eligible for reduced awards.

• Graduate students who are enrolled in a regular UMass masters program will also receive waivers of their tuition and curriculum fees.

• Graduate students who are enrolled in continuing education programs such as 180 Days or Bridges to the Future will not receive tuition or fee waivers.

• Juniors who receive awards may receive a second year of funding if they are making satisfactory progress in their programs.  Students who receive awards in their senior year will receive a second year of post-BS funding if they are making satisfactory progress and need additional time to complete all the requirements.

• Graduate students who received bachelor's degrees from UMass may receive one year of funding to complete certification requirements.

• STEM Bridge scholars will be supported through an introductory course in math and science teaching (for juniors), academic and social events, and mentors and advisors. 

• Once the scholars are in the classroom, new teacher support will include Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars, STEM Ed seminars, and the opportunity to enroll in several innovative M.Ed. programs for math and science teachers.   

Requirements

• You must be a UMass Amherst undergraduate or transfer applicant to UMass who expects to graduate in one or two years, or a recent UMass bachelor's graduate (2005 or 2006).  You must be a US citizen or permanent resident.
• You must have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in recent course work.
• You must have a major in mathematics, engineering, or a science discipline.
• You must enroll in the UMass Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) and take the requisite courses.
• You must agree  to teach middle or high school mathematics or science for at least two years in a high-need district for each year that you receive a scholarship. The high-need designation applies to many districts, large and small, urban and rural, throughout the United States.

What is a high-need district?

1. It has at least one school in which 50 percent or more of the enrolled students are eligible for participation in the free and reduced price lunch program.
2. It has at least one school in which: (i) more than 34 percent of the academic classroom teachers at the secondary level (across all academic subjects) do not have an undergraduate degree with a major or minor in, or a graduate degree in, the academic field in which they teach the largest percentage of their classes; or (ii) more than 34 percent of the teachers in two of the academic departments do not have an undergraduate degree with a major or minor in, or a graduate degree in, the academic field in which they teach the largest percentage of their classes.
3. It has at least one school whose teacher attrition rate has been 15 percent or more over the last three school years.

This includes a great many districts in Massachusetts and in every other state. Amherst, for example, qualifies as a high need district. Click here for a partial list of Massachusetts high need districts.

Application Forms

More information: Contact Project Manager STEM Education Institute Hasbrouck 237 University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 Voice: 413-545-0734  Fax: 413-545-3697          bridge@umassk12.net

UMass Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) 121B Furcolo Hall University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 (413)545-4397   stepadv@educ.umass.edu