Noyce Scholars
Noyce Scholars are undergraduate STEM students who receive scholarships and support through the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). At UNO, these scholars commit to pursuing 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 $12,500 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.
Eligibility Requirements for Noyce Scholars
- Be a United States citizen, national, or permanent resident alien.
- Junior or Senior majoring in a STEM field (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Environmental Science or Mathematics.)
- Demonstrate a commitment to pursue a teaching certification and teach in a high-needs secondary school district. (Two years per number of scholarship award years required) within eight years of graduation.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above (aligns with UNO's teacher prep program requirements.)
- Demonstrate financial need.
Scholarship Application for Noyce Scholars
Noyce Scholar Application for undergraduate students: Noyce Scholar Application
If you have any questions, please email the UNO Noyce Project Manager, Deanna Johansen.
Network of Support for Noyce Scholars
To support UNO Noyce Scholarship 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 Noyce scholarship 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.
The UNO NoyceSTEM program provides Noyce scholars with:
- Faculty Mentoring
Scholars are paired with faculty mentors who provide guidance and support for creating a personal professional development plan - Peer Mentoring
STEM Professionals and Noyce Scholars have the opportunity to join small peer mentoring groups. These groups meet weekly for collaboration, reflection, and support, with the project manager helping to facilitate discussions. - Learning Assistant Experience
Noyce Scholars can gain hands-on classroom experience as Learning Assistants in active learning environments. They’ll work with small groups, support students one-on-one, and even lead supervised whole-class instruction alongside their faculty mentor. - Outreach Opportunities
Participants are invited to take part in established UNO outreach programs, offering meaningful ways to engage youth in STEM through informal education initiatives such as NE STEM 4U, Eureka, Code Crush, and Aim for the Stars. - Professional Development
Pre-service and in-service Noyce Scholars will have opportunities to come together, share experiences, and support one another’s growth.
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-needs school district” 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-needs school”?
The term "high-need local educational agency (or high-need LEA)", as defined in section 201 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021), means a U.S. local educational agency (e.g., school district) that has at least one school that:
1. Meets at least one of the following criteria:
- not less than 20% of the children served by the agency are from low-income families;
- serves at least 10,000 children from low-income families;
- is eligible for funding under the Small, Rural School Achievement Program under 20 U.S.C. 7345(b); or
- is eligible for funding under the Rural and Low-Income School Program under 20 U.S.C. 7351(b);
AND
2. Meets at least one of the following criteria:
- has a high percentage of teachers not teaching in the academic subject areas or grade levels in which the teachers were trained to teach;
- has a high teacher turnover rate or a high percentage of teachers with emergency, provisional, or temporary certification or licensure.
Note: The UNO Noyce Leadership team will help you to identify high-needs school districts.
What happens if I do not teach in a 'high-needs school district" at the completion of the program?
You are required to teach for two years in a high-need school district 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.
Return to the Noyce STEM Teacher Scholarship Program Home Page
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.