The National Science Foundation has awarded Arcadia University a grant for $178,249 as part of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. The grant, totaling $1.32 million, is split between the collaborative Philadelphia Regional Noyce Partnership Scholarship Program (PRNP-S) that includes schools and universities throughout the area.

The grant will provide funding for students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teaching programs at Arcadia University, Saint Joseph’s University, Temple University, La Salle University, and Bryn Mawr College—member schools of the Philadelphia Regional Noyce Partnership (PRNP)—by providing one year of funding and an additional two years of professional support to assist with educator certifications and professional development in the teaching profession.

At Arcadia, 11 math or biology students will each be awarded $15,000 for one year throughout the five year grant cycle in order to pursue secondary STEM teaching certification. Students do not need to be enrolled in the Arcadia math or biology degree programs to qualify for the scholarship, but can transfer into the program. Dr. Augusto Macalalag, assistant professor of Education at Arcadia, who specializes in STEM teacher education, noted that Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) will be collaborating with Arcadia to encourage students to apply for the scholarship, as a transfer agreement already stands between the two institutions.

“This program will put more teachers in underserved communities,” said Dr. Macalalag. “We hope to create a cycle of improving opportunities for Philadelphia students by enabling graduates of the School District of Philadelphia to start at CCP and finish their program at Arcadia. Then, they’ll return to the Philadelphia School District as teachers.”

When students complete the program, they will have earned both a Master’s of Education and a bachelor’s degree in their undergraduate field. As part of the program, students will be placed as teachers in high need areas of the School District of Philadelphia for two years.

The scholarship is an initiative of PRNP, which in addition to the above six institutions, also includes Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania, West Chester University and the Philadelphia Education Fund.