SHU Receives $1.4 Million for STEM Scholarship Program

Grant aims to increase pool of highly qualified STEM educators for high-need school districts

Sacred Heart University has received more than $1.4 million from the National Science Foundation’s five-year, Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships and Stipends program, “Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science Educator Scholarship Program.” (BioCheMaCS).

The program has two top goals: to increase the number of highly qualified science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers who graduate from SHU and go on to work in high-need secondary school districts; and to increase the overall effectiveness of STEM teachers in high-need schools in CT and around the U.S. “One of the foci of this grant that truly excites me is giving students the experience to work in priority-needs school districts and serve underrepresented students in K-12 schools,” said Bonnie Maur, co-director of the science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) program at the Isabelle Farrington College of Education.

Each Noyce scholar enrolled in the BioCheMaCS program will earn a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, mathematics or computer science followed by a post-baccalaureate year during which they will earn their secondary teacher certification in Connecticut. The scholars also will earn a master of arts degree in teaching during their fifth year. Thanks to this grant, the scholars will receive more than $40,500 in order to support their quest to become teachers. Eligible applicants are students enrolled at SHU who have not yet reached their junior year, or transfer students who are accepted to SHU as a junior in biology, mathematics, chemistry or computer science.

This program is a follow-up to a prior Noyce grant-funded project for biology and math majors, “The Biology and Mathematics Educator Scholarship Project to Prepare Future Secondary Education STEM Teachers (BioME).” The BioCheMaCS program adds to BioME’s existing curriculum with the inclusion of culturally responsive coursework, incorporating computer science as a possible major and enhancing a STEM education seminar for undergraduates to include culturally responsive teaching, immersive technology and distance learning, grant writing and job seeking in challenging times. It also entails mentoring, service-learning and community involvement to develop the scholars’ professional identities as teachers equipped to thrive in high-need school districts. Schools in Ansonia, Bridgeport and Stratford will participate as mentor schools.

“Another spectacular highlight of this program is the opportunity for Noyce scholars to work with master mentors who are well versed in STEM education, attend and present at national conferences and have a rich variety of STEM experiences throughout their time as undergraduate and graduate students. I am so excited to expand upon past programs along with my teammates, Mark Beekey, Andrew Lazowski and Kristin Rainville here at SHU,” said Maur.

This BioCheMaCS program also introduces a new partnership with Housatonic Community College (HCC) in Bridgeport in order to create a direct pathway for HCC’s STEM related majors to SHU’s five-year teacher preparatory program. Of HCC’s 4,455 students, 71% are from underrepresented minorities, 32% are first-generation and 66% are eligible for Pell grants, which are awarded to students with high levels of unmet financial need. Eighty-one HCC students transferred to Sacred Heart between 2015 and 2018. Through this new relationship, eligible candidates will have several more scholarship opportunities to continue their education at SHU.

“This grant has enabled us to partner with Housatonic Community College in order to initiate a pipeline to transition students directly from HCC to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Sacred Heart University, leading to their teaching certification in a STEM-endorsed discipline,” said Maur. “It can also afford other students the option to spend their four years at SHU and also complete their master’s program at the Isabelle Farrington College of Education in STEM-related areas.”

“Noyce is an incredible opportunity for HCC STEM and teaching students, allowing student tuition support, mentorship, and technology access while they pipeline from HCC as a graduate and matriculate into Sacred Heart University,” said Robin Avant, HCC dean of academic affairs.

Sacred Heart will collaborate with HCC to develop strong joint programs that create a seamless pathway from community college into secondary STEM education. Long-term results of the BioCheMaCS program include an increase in Connecticut’s highly qualified secondary STEM teachers, particularly in high-need classrooms, and higher enrollment in the state’s first cross certification in computer science. This will improve local secondary school proficiency in math and science.

“I am excited about Housatonic Community College partnering with Sacred Heart University on the National Science Foundation’s Noyce Grant,” said Dwayne Smith, HCC chief executive officer. “The grant’s impact on diversifying the STEM teacher workforce is dramatic, and this partnership will be a gamechanger.”

Amanda Wagner, assistant director of transfer admissions at SHU, will host a WebEx information session on March 25 about the program. Viewers can tune in online at 1:45 p.m.

Photo: Professor Bonnie Maur, right, talks with teachers during a STEM science fair at Sacred Heart.