Recruiting and Selecting High Caliber Mathematics and Science Students:

Successes, formative changes and lessons learned

Noyce Scholarship Program, University of HoustonDr. Laveria Hutchison, Dr. Robert Houston,

and Dr. Susan William

University of Houston Noyce Scholarship Program

– An undergraduate teacher preparation program for math and science majors

Need for

• 23% of students in Texas reside in Greater Houston Area

• 170 high schools• 18,000 HS teachers

• Over the last 10 years,the number of full-time high school teachers assigned out-of-field increased by 65% for science and 30% for mathematics.

Need for

With 23% of Texas’ students living in the Greater Houston Area, the University of Houston is strategically positioned to:• generate additional highly-qualified high school

science and math teachers • who are knowledgeable of research-based science

and math curriculum,• comfortable with a variety of instructional

strategies and technologies, and• trained to teach in urban schools.

Recruitment: Recruiting Events: Freshman Orientation, Transfer

Student Orientation, NSM Classroom Visits, Cougar Travel (Texas High School Counselors)

Recruitment: teachHouston• Recruiting Events: UH Cougar Preview, Cougar Fridays,

Cat’s Back, Activities Fair, High School Visits

Recruitment: teachHouston

• Media Coverage: TV, Houston Chronicle, Daily Cougar, Facebook

Recruitment: teachHouston

• Professional Events: teachHOUSTON posters, display boards with talking points

Recruitment: teachHOUSTON End-of-Year Celebration and

teachHOUSTON Open House - events that create greater community access and program visibility.

Recruitment: teachHouston• Electronic: teachHOUSTON, NSM, & COE Websites, You Tube Videos,

E-mail Blasts, and NSM & COE LCD Monitor Ads

Website

Website Designed to be student oriented, user friendly, and

informative for both current and prospective tH students: www.teachhouston.uh.edu

Targets organizations and individuals interested in the professional and financial support of teachHOUSTON students.

Website is linked to the University of Houston , College of Education and College of NSM homepages.

Partnerships: teachHouston

• Partnerships: NSM Undergraduate Advising Office, COE Advising Office, Admissions, NSM Faculty and Faculty Advisors, Scholar Enrichment Program

Partnerships: teachHouston

• Partnerships: School District Partners (Fort Bend ISD,Houston ISD, Spring Branch ISD)

Partnerships: Partnerships: Strong business connection built

through the teachHOUSTON Advisory Board.

Partnerships: teachHouston

• Partnerships: teachHOUSTON Student Society

Branding: ouston• Promotional Items: t-shirts, pen/pencils, notepads,

mousepads, frisbees, mugs, stadium cups, etc.

Branding: Houston

• Print Materials: flyers, recruiting brochures, and personalized post cards targeted to UH/NSM undergraduate students.

Recruiting, developing, and retaining a new generation of STEM teachers.

BRANDING

Recruiting FocusUnique Attributes of• Undergraduate teacher preparation program

for STEM majors.• Scholarships and internships for academically

talented students.• Passion for teaching math and science with

instructional technologies in urban schools.• Teaching experiences begin 1st semester.• Five field-based semesters (including

14 weeks of student teaching).• STEM degree and certification in 4 years.

Recruitment: teachHouston

• Key Recruiting Approaches– Freshman Orientations– NSM, COE, and teachHOUSTON Advisors– Email Blasts and On-Campus Electronic Ads– NSM Classroom Visits– Noyce Teacher Scholarships

• Best Promotional Items– Brochures– teachHOUSTON T-Shirts and Pens

Steps to Enrollment

Once student is admitted to the College ofNatural Science and Mathematics, they1. Complete teachHOUSTON interest form.2. Meet with teachHOUSTON Advisor.3. Meet with NSM Advisor.4. Enroll in STEP I- CUIN 1101.

Course Title Field ExperienceSTEP 1: Teaching Science and Math in ES Elementary School

STEP 2: Teaching Science and Math in MS Middle School

Knowing & Learning Science and Math None

Classroom Interactions in Science and Math High School

Perspectives of Mathematics and Science None

Research Methods in Science and Math None

Multiple Teaching Strategies in Math & Science High School

Student Teaching High School

Results of Recruiting

Spring 2007

Fall 2007 Spring 2008

Fall 2008 Spring 2009

Fall 2009 Spring 2010

Fall 2010 Spring 2011

Fall 2011 Spring 2012

1432

65

128

171

270286

347 345

383362Total Student Enrollment

- MajorsEffect of Noyce Teacher Scholarships

Of the 362 students, 48% are math majors and 52% are science majors.• Biology Majors 114• Chemistry/Bio-Chem *50• Geo-Sciences 09• Physics Majors *14• Mathematics 175

Results of Recruiting teachHOUSTON Student Ethnicity

African American; 12%Asian; 18%

Hispanic; 37%

White; 32%

African Ameri-

can; 21%

Asian; 6%

Hispanic; 47%

White; 25%

Houston Ethnicity

Partner School Districts

• Three School District Partners– Fort Bend ISD– Houston ISD– Spring Branch ISD

• Goal is to train students in urban settings.• 80% of the schools we are using this

semester serve predominately underrepresented populations

Graduates

Spring 2009

Fall 2009

Spring 2010

Fall 2010

Spring 2011

Fall 2011

Spring 2012

Fall2012

Spring 2013

TOTAL

1 2 6 6 5 814

2030

92

• Of the 28 students who graduated prior to this spring semester, 23 of them (82%) are teaching.

• Of those 23 who are teaching, 100% of them are teaching in the Greater Houston Area.

Graduates

Spring 2009

Fall 2009

Spring 2010

Fall 2010

Spring 2011

Fall 2011

Spring 2012

Fall2012

Spring 2013

TOTAL

1 2 6 6 5 8 14 2030

92

• Of the 28 students who graduated prior to this spring, 13 (46%) are Noyce Scholars.

• All but one of the 13 Noyce Scholars are teaching.

• Of the 14 students who just graduated this spring, 6 of them (43%) are Noyce Scholars.

• The Noyce Teacher Scholarships are clearly having an impact on the teachHOUSTON program.

Noyce Scholar OpportunitiesBernard Harris Summer Science Camp • BHSSC is a two-week, academic, residential camp for 54

historically underrepresented middle school students. • Goal of camp - increase students’ math and science

skills while introducing them to college life and stimulating their interest in science and engineering career paths.

• Noyce Scholars serve as BHSSC counselors.

Noyce Scholar OpportunitiesBernard Harris Summer Science Camp • Noyce Scholars assist with the instructional

activities, projects, and field trips.• They are paid for their services through

teachHOUSTON Internship funds.

Noyce Scholar OpportunitiesMars Rover Celebration and Contest• Noyce Scholars share an instructional activity with

Mars Rover Contestants.

Noyce Scholar Opportunities

Presentation for Student Society• The teachHOUSTON Student Society is a student

organization that provides professional development, service, tutoring, and social experiences for students in the program.

• Approximately one professional development opportunity is provided each week.

• Approximately one service event is provided bi-monthly.• Weekly tutoring sessions are held by the tHSS.

Noyce Scholar Opportunities

Presentation for Student Society• Noyce Scholars are encouraged to present a professional

development workshop at least once each semester.• Noyce Scholars are encouraged to assist with the

tutoring sessions.

Noyce Scholar Opportunities• teachHOUSTON sponsored a regional T3

Conference this fall.• The program included not only “expert”

workshops but also “student-led” workshops.• Noyce Scholars were assisted in preparing a student

presentation for the conference.• Many administrators and department chairs chose to

attend these “student-led” sessions to “preview” potential teacher candidates.

Noyce Scholar OpportunitiesInduction Support for Noyce Scholars• 30% of Texas teachers leave the profession within their

first 2 years of service.• 55% of Texas teachers leave the profession within their

first 3 years of service.• To address this difficult problem, teachHOUSTON has

joined forces with UTeach Austin and UTeach Dallas to supply induction support to approximately 250 graduates of the programs in the Austin, Houston, and Dallas/Fort Worth areas.

Noyce Scholar OpportunitiesInduction Support for Noyce Scholars• New teachers are provided induction support during

their first 2 years of teaching. • Each new teacher is visited once a week.

A Formula that Works

• Early and Continued Field Experiences

• Master & Mentor Teachers • Strong Content Coupled

with Education Minor• Education Courses

focused on Math & Science• Training Infused with Instructional Technologies • Scholarships & Internships• New Teacher Induction Support