UC Joins National Effort to Ease Shortage of Math and Science Teachers

University of Cincinnati President Gregory H. Williams is among leaders representing 120 universities today pledging to address the national shortage of math and science teachers. In a letter presented today to U.S. President Barack Obama and signed by UC President Gregory H. Williams, the university leaders pledged to substantially increase the number and diversity of high-quality science and mathematics teachers graduating from universities as well as build better partnerships to support math and science education.

UC is among 41 public research universities pledging to double the number of graduates of science and math teacher preparation programs by 2015. For UC, that target number will result in an increase of 60 graduates out of its math and science middle school and secondary teacher education programs.

This initiative, called the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative (SMTI), aims to prepare more than 10,000 highly qualified math and science teachers nationally each year by 2015, for an additional 7,500 new teachers over the next five years.

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), of which UC is a member, launched the SMTI in 2008 to increase the number and diversity of high-quality middle and high school science and math teachers. The initiative is now represented by universities across 41 states.

The letter was presented as President Obama today announced the expansion of the White House’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign to improve the performance of the nation’s students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Anthony J. Perzigian, UC senior vice president and provost, and Nelson Vincent, associate dean for the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH), are currently representing UC at the APLU – SMTI leadership retreat in Miami, Fla.

Perzigian stated that “UC is out in front of the national investment in transforming science and mathematics literacy in the United States of America. The UC portfolio in STEM research and education programs demonstrates how together the whole campus is responding to the national call to prepare students who are prepared for life and work in the 21st Century.”

Graduates of UC’s teacher education programs consistently achieve high scores on state-mandated licensure assessments, both written (Praxis II) and performance-based (Praxis III) assessments. All programs in the UC School of Education meet rigorous accreditation standards of the State of Ohio and National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Last spring, NCATE announced new requirements to transform its teacher education programs, highlighting UC as a national model in preparing outstanding teachers and in forming partnerships with Pre-K-12 schools. Recent UC partnerships supporting and building STEM education include Cincinnati Public’s redesigned Taft Elementary into a STEM-themed school, as well as last fall’s opening of the Hughes Center’s STEM high school. Field and clinical experiences for UC education students will be a part of partnership.

UC 2009 Education Graduates with a Middle School Math Concentration – 16
UC 2009 Education Grads with a Secondary Education Math Concentration – 4
UC 2009 Education Graduates with a Middle School Science Concentration – 10
UC 2009 Education Grads with a Secondary Education Science Concentration – 10

Read the National SMTI News Release

List of Universities Committing to the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative

Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities