Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) provides scholarship funding and stipends for future STEM teachers with help from a National Science Foundation grant.
Noyce Scholarship Overview | Noyce Scholars |STEM Professionals | UNO Noyce Network of
Support | Eligibility Requirements | Academic Requirements | Application Information |
Information for References | FAQs | Noyce Scholarship Leadership Team | Acknowledgments
Noyce Scholarship Overview
The NSF (National Science Foundation) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program provides funding to institutions of higher education to provide scholarships, stipends, and programmatic support to recruit and prepare STEM majors and STEM professionals to become K-12 teachers. The program seeks to increase the number of K-12 teachers with strong STEM content knowledge who teach in high-need school districts.
The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Track 1 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha projects aims to serve the national need for preparing highly-qualified STEM teachers, which is crucial for preparing the nation’s competitive STEM workforce. Additionally, this project supports Noyce Scholars and STEM Professionals in the areas of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Mathematics, and Physics by providing scholarships, mentoring, outreach experiences, and professional development. The scholarship program will enable high-achieving prospective teachers to become secondary STEM teachers with extensive expertise in inquirybased teaching and learning.
Noyce Scholars
Noyce Scholars are undergrade STEM students or graduate STEM professionals who receive scholarships and support throught the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Porgram funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). At UNO, these scholars commit to pursing a secondary teaching careers in high-need schools, aiming to improve the quality of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and increase diversity in STEM fields. The program provides financial assistance, professional development, mentorship, and practical teaching experience to encourage talented individuals from STEM backgrounds to become teachers.
The UNO Noyce STEM program offers up to $16,000 per year to encourage talented undergraduate majors in one of the STEM fields (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Mathematics, and Physics) in their Junior or Senior year as well as STEM Professionals to earn a teaching credential, and commit to teaching in high-need school districts.
STEM Professionals
STEM Professionals are individuals who hold a degree in a Noyce-eligible STEM discipline and are either recently graduated or have a career in a STEM field. The UNO Noyce program aims to recruit these STEM professionals, as well as talented STEM undergraduates, to transition into careers as secondar teachers in high-need schools, providing them with the necessary financial support and preparation to become effective educators.
UNO Noyce Network of Support
To support UNO NoyceSTEM participants’ persistence and retention at UNO and in the classroom, UNO provides access to a wide array of services offered to all students at UNO. Moreover, the participants will engage in the UNO NoyceSTEM program activities focused on serving as learning assistants, supporting informal education outreach, and multi-tiered mentoring to develop their social capital and teacher self-efficacy.
Noyce Scholars Provided:
- Faculty Mentoring
Juniors and seniors who are selected as Noyce Scholars will be paired with faculty mentors. Each Scholar will work with an assigned mentor to prepare a personal professional development plan. - Peer Mentoring - STEM Professionals and Noyce Scholars are expected to participate in small group peer mentoring. These small groups will be expected to meet weekly, and the project manager will attend these meetings to take notes and help facilitate discussions.
- Learning Assistant Experience
Noyce scholars will be assigned to serve as Learning Assistants in active learning classrooms. In this capacity they will teach small groups, help students in one-on-one settings, and lead supervised whole-class instruction under the supervision of their faculty mentor. - Outreach Opportunities
All noyce participants will engage in established programs supported by various UNO departments and centers and include opportunities to work with youth through expanded learning opportunities via informal STEM education outreach efforts. (e.g. NE STEM 4U, Eureka, Code Crush, Aim for the Stars) - Professional development
The Noyce Scholars and STEM Professionals will be expected to participate in a virtual “book club” that will be facilitated through UNO’s learning management system, Canvas.
Eligibility Requirements
Noyce Scholars
- Be a United States citizen, national, or permanent resident alien at the time of application.
- Junior or Senior majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Environmental Science or Mathematics.
- Pursuing or plan to pursue a Secondary Education Major with a Certification in their STEM major.
- Demonstrate a commitment to pursue a teaching career in a high-need school. (2 years per number of of scholarship award years required.)
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or above (aligns with UNO's teacher prep program requirements.)
- Demonstrate financial need.
STEM Professionals
- Be a United States citizen, national, or permanent resident alien at the time of application.
- Hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field as defined by the NSF at any stages of their career (recent graduate to retiree)
- Pursuing or plan to pursue a Secondary Education Major with a Certification in their STEM major.
- Demonstrate a commitment to pursue a teaching career in a high-need school. (2 years per number of of scholarship award years required.)
- Demonstrate Financial Need
Academic Requirements
Our undergraduate and Teacher Preparation pathways are comprehensive four-year baccalaureate programs that require students to complete general education courses, professional core courses in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, and courses in their chosen STEM discipline.
Application Information
Noyce Scholars
- Complete the online form and written personal statement that reflects your motivation to teach.
- Submit transcripts.
- Submit at least two (2) letters of recommendation from past instructors/teachers (see below).
- If applicable, demonstrate financial need (usually done with your completed FAFSA information).
- Send the completed application form and direct your transcripts and letters of recommendation to:
Deanna Johansen
deannajohansen@unomaha.edu
STEM Professionals
Email the UNO Noyce Project Manager, Deanna Johansen, with your interest and area of STEM expertise. She will connect you with the best faculty member on the scholarship team for futher information.
Information for References (Noyce Scholars Only)
Thank you for writing a letter of reference for a student applying to the Robert Noyce Scholars Program. We are particularly interested in reading your opinion about the student's following characteristics:
- relationship with you (e.g., first semester chemistry instructor, science fair project mentor).
- attributes that suggest good potential as a science teacher.
- experiences, either inside or outside your class, that suggest significant preparation for a science teaching career.
- personality qualities compatible with successful teaching at the middle school or high school level.
Please use your institutional letterhead stationery and be sure to indicate your name, title, institution, and contact information at the close of your letter and send it via email to:
Deanna Johansen
deannajohansen@unomaha.edu
FAQs
Am I limited to teaching in Nebraska or can I teach anywhere?
You can teach anywhere in the USA, as long as it is considered a “high-need school.” However, your ability to teach in another state will depend on that state's requirements for teacher certification and reciprocity agreements with Nebraska.
What is a “high-need school”?
The term "a high-need local educational agency" as defined in section 201 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021) means a local educational agency (school district) that serves an elementary or secondary school located in an area that is characterized by at least one of the following:
- a high percentage (≥50%) of individuals from families with incomes below the poverty line;
- a high percentage (≥35%) of secondary school teachers not teaching in the content area in which they were trained to teach; or
- a high teacher turnover rate (≥15%/yr).
What happens if I do not teach in a 'high-need school" at the completion of the program?
You are required to teach for two years in a high-need school for each year of scholarship funding you received. This commitment must be completed within eight years of graduating. If you do not fulfill this teaching requirement, the scholarship money will revert to a loan that must be repaid with interest.
Must I demonstrate financial need to apply?
Anyone can apply, but preference is given to those who demonstrate financial need.
Noyce Scholarship Leadership Team
- Dr. Michael Matthews
Professor of Mathematics, Haddix Community Chair in Mathematics - Dr. Claudia Rauter
Associate Professor of Biology, director of UNO’s NE STEM4U, Haddix Community Chair in Science - Dr. Chris Moore
Director of the STEM TRAIL Center, Professor of Physics, Haddix Community Chair in Physical Science - Dr. Paual Jakopovic
Assistant Professor of STEM Education in the Teacher Education Department at UNO - Dr. Tracie Reding
Research Director at the STEM TRAIL Center with a background in STEM education research. - Dr. Alfredo J. Perez
Associate Professor with the Department of Computer Science - Dr. Derrick Nero
Assistant Professor with the Teacher Education Department - Deanna Johansen
STEM TRAIL Center Project Coordinator, Noyce Program Manager
Acknowledgments
The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, authorized under the National Science Foundation responds to the critical need for K-12 teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by encouraging talented STEM students and professionals to pursue teaching careers in elementary and secondary schools.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DUE-2448147.