• $30,000 scholarships to earn teacher certification through Rowan's Master of Arts in STEM Education program
• Professional development and mentorship while teaching for at least two years in a high-need school district
• Competitive "mini-grant" supplemental funding for Noyce Scholars and Noyce Teachers for additional professional development and emergency expenses
• Early teaching experiences for Rowan STEM majors working as Noyce Interns

The Rowan Noyce Scholars Program recruits and prepares science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors as post-baccalaureate Noyce Scholars for careers in teaching secondary mathematics or science. The project addresses the urgent need for a qualified, diverse pool of mathematics and science teachers in South Jersey and the broader region. Rowan University recently developed an innovative Master of Arts in STEM Education (MA in STEM Ed) teacher preparation program that focuses on research-based best practices for teacher candidates, and centers around a yearlong residency in a high-need school. The project builds on this momentum and Rowan's growing student population in mathematics and the natural sciences to catalyze a self-reinforcing cycle that will increase interest in STEM careers as well as the overall level of mathematics and science literacy throughout South Jersey. By the end of the five-year project, 25 Noyce Teachers will have begun their teaching careers in high-need local education agencies in South Jersey and the broader region.

The project will increase the diversity of the STEM teacher workforce to more closely match that of their students by: 1) recruiting highly qualified candidates into the MA in STEM Ed program by providing Noyce Internships to undergraduate STEM majors and awarding Noyce Scholarships to students enrolled in the program; 2) supporting Noyce Scholars during their clinical field experience via targeted advising and competitive grants for unexpected expenses; 3) creating a coherent support structure by providing professional development to cooperating teachers and clinical supervisors working with Noyce Scholars; 4) supporting recent graduates as Noyce Teachers during their first two years of teaching by providing professional development, and mentorship from veteran teachers; 5) building a local community of educators that will persist beyond the period of the project; and 6) evaluating, disseminating, and sustaining the best recruitment and retention practices.

The main focus of the Rowan Noyce Scholars Program is the awarding of scholarships to highly qualified STEM graduates to earn teaching certification through Rowan's MA in STEM Ed program. The scholarships are competitive, and are worth $30,000 for the one-year (15 months) Masters' program. Noyce Scholars commit to teaching for two years in a high-need school district after graduation. Noyce Scholars may also be eligible for funding through the Teach Grant, an unaffiliated federal program that provides up to $3,736 to new teachers in high-need school districts.

After graduation, scholarship recipients commit to teaching for two years in a high-need school district as Noyce Teachers. During their first two years Noyce Teachers receive professional development at Rowan and are partnered with veteran mentor teachers. The program provides these supports to facilitate the transition into the teaching profession.

Noyce Scholars and Noyce Teachers are eligible for additional funding through competitive "mini-grants." This funding may be used for additional professional development, or to help alleviate emergency personal expenses.

Rowan undergraduate STEM majors can get a taste of the joys of teaching by working as Noyce Interns. These paid internships give STEM majors the opportunity to interact with students in informal educational setting through Rowan's summer programs. Current program partners are Rowan's STEAM Academy and Camp EduAdventures, and the Camden Dream CDF Freedom School. Noyce Interns share their love for math and science with students in these programs and have the chance to find out if teaching might be a good fit for them. They would later be eligible to apply for one of the Noyce scholarships.

• Trevor I. Smith, PhD Department of Physics & Astronomy
  Department of STEAM Education
  smithtr@rowan.edu
• Robert M. Wieman, PhD Department of STEAM Education
  wieman@rowan.edu
• Issam H. Abi-El-Mona, PhD Department of STEAM Education
  abi-el-mona@rowan.edu
• Jill A. Perry, PhD Department of STEAM Education
  perry@rowan.edu
• David R. Klassen, PhD Department of Physics & Astronomy
  klassen@rowan.edu

• National Science Foundation
• Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
• South Jersey STEM Education Scholars: Recruiting and Supporting STEM Teachers from Underrepresented Populations (DUE-1660694)
• Rowan's Master of Arts in STEM Education