Grant Helps OSU-Tulsa Students
In an effort to combat Oklahoma shortages in math, science, foreign education, reading, and special education, Oklahoma State University’s College of Education is participating in a new U.S. Department of Education federal grant program designed to make a college degree or licensure program more affordable for current and future teachers.
The new Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants up to $16,000 for undergraduate students and $8,000 for graduate students to cover the cost of tuition and other school-related expenses.
Dr. Jamie Van Dycke, assistant professor and program coordinator in the OSU College of Education, says she is excited about the TEACH program and the opportunities it will provide for students at OSU-Tulsa and OSU-Stillwater because they will be getting the funding they need for undergraduate and graduate coursework.
In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, students agree to serve as a full-time teacher for at least four academic years in a high-need field in an elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. Low-income schools are those schools that have a 30 percent reduced or free lunch count or higher.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, high-need fields include mathematics, science, bilingual education, special education, foreign languages and reading specialists.
To quality for a TEACH grant, students must be admitted to an approved OSU undergraduate or graduate education program; meet academic achievement requirements (generally, a GPA of at least 3.25); and commit to teaching in a low-income school for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program. Students do not need to demonstrate financial need to qualify for the program.
For more information about TEACH grants, call Stacey Coleman at (918)594-8527. For general information about financial aid and other OSU-Tulsa scholarship opportunities, call (918) 594-8000 or visit www.osu-tulsa.okstate.edu.
Updated 11-24-2008
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