Noyce Knights Scholars Program (NKSP) Certification, Pathways Eligibility and Compliance Requirements

About the Noyce Knights Scholars Program (NKSP): Kentucky is producing significantly fewer certified STEM teachers than needed to fill the vacant middle and high school science and mathematics teaching positions. Noyce Knights Scholars Program (NKSP) is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce program to prepare, support and certify 25 middle and high school science and mathematics teachers over five years.  Upon certification, all Noyce Knights Scholars will be placed at a JCPS (a high-need school district) middle or high school (based on the teaching certification) and MUST teach for at least two years for each year of the scholarship/stipend award within 6 years after graduation.  Noyce Knights Scholars can choose to teach at a high-need school district anywhere in the country for at least two years, for each year of the award within 6 years after graduation. The starting salary of a JCPS teacher with a MAT degree is $50,901 ($44,853 with a Bachelor’s degree) and the average teacher salary of a JCPS teacher is $63,000, with top earners making more than $90,000 per year.  Please refer to the Noyce scholarship/stipend compliance section for further information. The NKSP partners are - Kentucky Science Center (KSC), Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC), University of Kentucky (UK), Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), and JCPS Academies of Louisville. The Noyce Knights Scholars Program (NKSP) provides scholarships and stipends to STEM students majoring in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology(BMB), and Mathematics who are interested in career in STEM education as middle or high school science and mathematics teacher. Current BU students or BU graduates in any of the above STEM disciplines can apply for Noyce scholarship/stipend to obtain a teaching certification in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics via one of the following three certification pathways:

Undergraduate Certification Pathway:4-Year Undergraduate Certification Program for Mathematics Majors Only – BU students can obtain dual degree in both BA Mathematics and in BS Secondary Education with a high school teaching certification at the end of the 4^th year, prior to graduation. Scholarship is provided for junior and senior years in the amount of $19,200 max. per year (covers BU’s total cost of attendance after BU’s financial aid package). Total max. amount for two years - $38,400. 

BU Catalog Link: https://catalog.bellarmine.edu/2021-2022/requirements-secondary-high-school-education-mathematics-required-double-major. 

Graduate Certification Pathway (Option 1): 5-Year Early Entry MAT Certification Program for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, and BMB majors (4-Years Undergraduate and 1-Year Post-Baccalaureate MAT Graduate) – In the Early Entry MAT Certification Program, BU students can obtain a STEM degree at the end of the 4^th year and MAT degree at the end of the 5^th (post-baccalaureate) Year with middle or high school teaching certification at the end of 5^th year, prior to graduation. Students need to follow the Early Entry MAT Program curriculum in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, and BMB.  The Early Entry MAT degree requires the completion of 12 MAT courses (36 credit hours). Students will take 4 MAT courses (12 credit hours) in their senior year of their STEM degree that are counted towards the MAT degree. Graduate tuition expenses in the Senior year for the MAT courses are paid (waived) by the university. In their fifth post-baccalaureate year, students will take 8 MAT courses (24 credit hours) - 3 in Summer (9 credit hours), 3 in Fall (9 credit hours), and 2 in Spring (6 credit hours). Additionally, students must successfully complete a minimum of 200 hours of field experience: 55 field hours in Fall of senior year, and 35 hours in Summer of MAT year (55 hours in Fall of MAT year and 55 hours in Spring of MAT year). Out of the 55 hours, 42 hours must be in classroom settings and 13 hours must be out of the classroom. Stipend is provided for post-baccalaureate MAT year in the amount of $29,000 which covers full MAT Graduate Tuition and Fees of$16,560 in the MAT year with $10,000 for off-campus living expenses and $2,440 for miscellaneous expenses.

BU Catalog Links:
Chemistry: https://catalog.bellarmine.edu/2021-2022/requirements-chemistry-major-ba-early-entry-master-arts-teaching-mat-secondary-andor-middle-school-p.
Physics: https://catalog.bellarmine.edu/2021-2022/requirements-physics-major-ba-early-entry-master-arts-teaching-mat-secondary-or-middle-school-progra.
Biology: https://catalog.bellarmine.edu/2021-2022/requirements-biology-major-bs-organismal-track-early-entry-master-arts-teaching-mat-secondary-or-mid.
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: https://catalog.bellarmine.edu/2021-2022/requirements-biochemistry-and-molecular-biology-major-ba-early-entry-master-arts-teaching-mat-second.
Mathematics: https://catalog.bellarmine.edu/2021-2022/requirements-mathematics-major-ba-early-entry-master-arts-teaching-mat-secondary-andor-middle-school.

Graduate Certification Pathway (Option 2): 2-Year Traditional MAT Certification Program in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, and BMB – In the 2-Year Traditional MAT Certification Program, BU students who have graduated (prior to MAT admission) with a STEM degree in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, and BMB can obtain middle or high school teaching certification at the end of 2^nd year, prior to MAT graduation. Traditional MAT degree requires the completion of 12 MAT courses (36 credit hours) - 3 MAT courses (9 credit hours) in Fall of Year 1, 3 MAT courses (9 credit hours) in Spring of Year 1, and 3 MAT courses (9 credit hours) in Spring of Year 1, and 2 MAT courses (6 credit hours) in Summer of Year 1, 2 MAT courses (6 credit hours) in Fall of Year 2, and 2 MAT courses (6 credit hours) in Spring of Year 2. Additionally, students must successfully complete a minimum of 200 hours of field experience (55 field hours in Fall of MAT year, and 35 hours in Summer of MAT year, 55 hours in Fall of MAT year and 55 hours in Spring of MAT year). Out of the 55 hours, 42 hours must be in classroom settings and 13 hours must be out of the classroom. Stipend is provided in the MAT 2^nd year in the amount of $29,000 which covers full MAT Graduate Tuition and Fees of$24,840 for the two yearswith $4,200 for miscellaneous expenses.NOTE: Noyce scholars can defer their first year’s MAT tuition payment until the start of their second MAT year once they receive their Noyce stipend.

BU Catalog Links:
Middle School: https://catalog.bellarmine.edu/2021-2022/requirements-master-arts-teaching-mat-degree-middle-school-education-grades-5-9.
Secondary (High) School: https://catalog.bellarmine.edu/2021-2022/requirements-master-arts-teaching-mat-degree-secondary-education-grades-8-12.

NKSP Incentives and Required Activities:

• Attend the NSKP Orientation program that will inform the Noyce scholars about the NKSP’s expectations.
• Opportunity to take part in a paid summer internship in STEM Education for one month at the Kentucky Science Center. Each NKSP intern will receive $1250 for this internship – a stipend of $800 (20 hours/week for four-weeks at $10/hour) and $450 as subsistence towards housing expenses for one month.
• Participate in a paid Professional Development workshop in summer focused on Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) at the University of Kentucky for Noyce scholars who are in the post-baccalaureate MAT year (in summer prior to certification) for the Early Entry MAT pathway or in the summer after graduation (prior to certification) of the Mathematics Undergraduate Certification pathway or in the summer of the 1^st year of the Traditional MAT pathway. Each Noyce intern will receive $725 for this internship - a stipend of $500 and $225 as subsistence towards housing, meal and transportation expenses.
• Join the STEM Teacher Education Learning Community (STELC) to take part in NKSP activities. NKSP scholars must attend four seminars/workshops on CRT and two Induction Seminars, and take part in the annual STEM Maker Fair event at BU hosted by STELC. STELC will provide a support network among pre-service STEM teacher education students, in-service STEM teachers, and STEM/Education faculty and peer mentors. Upon graduation, NKSP scholars will become professional members of STELC as certified STEM teachers.
• NKSP scholars in the Graduate Certification Pathway (Early Entry MAT or the Traditional MAT program) will be required to a complete a minimum of 200 hours of field experience that will provide classroom teaching experiences in diverse settings at JCPS schools.
• Each year, one NKSP scholar will be chosen to attend the national NSF Noyce Summit in Washington D.C. with a NKSP faculty. All travel expenses paid. Each year, two NKSP scholars will be chosen to attend the Regional Noyce Meeting with the NKSP faculty. All travel expenses paid.
• NKSP scholars must participate in surveys and data collection (as needed) for NSKSP’s external evaluation. Noyce scholars must remain in contact with the NKSP Project’s Co-Directors for six years after graduation in order to collect data on employment status and teacher evaluations.

NKSP Support Services:
Faculty Mentoring: A pivotal aspect of NKSP scholars’ retention and persistence is directly related to opportunities to connect with a designated faculty mentor within the student's STEM discipline. Each NKSP scholar will be paired with the project’s STEM faculty coordinator who will serve as their mentor during their senior year. The Faculty mentor will oversee the Noyce scholars’ curricular and non-curricular progress in their senior and MAT year. STEM faculty mentors will work with Student Support Services (SSC) staff to determine if additional academic support is needed. In the MAT year, NKSP faculty mentors from the School of Education will provide mentorship with master teachers via observation and reflection during their student teacher practicum to ensure that they develop sound pedagogical skills needed to effectively teach the STEM content in high-need settings. Noyce scholars will be evaluated by the Project’s Co-Directors/NKSP faculty mentors at the end of each semester.

Peer Tutoring and Coaching: Seniors from each of the STEM disciplines will provide help as needed with the STEM courses materials/contents and tutoring via individual or small-group tutoring sessions. Paid by SSC, Noyce scholars will also be encouraged in their senior year (for the Early Entry MAT track) to serve as peer tutors for freshman and sophomores as part of their pre-service teaching experience. Graduating MAT students will be assigned to help in the teacher certification (Praxis) exams preparation sessions.

To be considered for this Noyce scholarship/stipend, the following eligibility criteria and requirements must be met:

1. At the time of application be a US Citizen, or US National, or US Permanent Resident.
2. For Graduate Certification Pathways - Submit the MAT application no later than the Spring semester of Junior Year for the Early Entry MAT Graduate Certification option or no later the Spring semester of Senior Year for the Traditional MAT Graduate Certification option, via the link - https://www.bellarmine.edu/admissions/apply-now/ - click on the “Graduate or Second Degree” option and select “Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)”. For questions about the MAT application, please contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 502-272-7200 or by email at gradadmissions@bellarmine.edu.
3. Submit the NKSP Application Form, use the link https://application.bellarmine.edu/register/?id=911bbc33-bc84-4d84-bed5-2897083ab30d.
4. Submit your resume, a biographical and background statement (one page max.), and an essay about professional goals and rationale for pursuing a career as a STEM teacher (two-pages max.). NOTE: Applicants for the Early Entry MAT and Traditional MAT Graduate Certification pathways can submit the same essay required for the MAT application form. You can upload these documents on the NKSP Application Form.
5. GPA Requirements:
   • For Undergraduate Students (Mathematics Undergraduate Certification pathway) – Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a GPA of 2.75 in the required Mathematics courses at the time of application. Upon acceptance, Noyce scholars must graduate with a Mathematics degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a GPA of 2.75 in Mathematics. 
   • For Graduate Students (Early Entry MAT Graduate Certification pathway) – Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and a GPA of 3.25 in the STEM major (that includes all STEM courses required for the major) at the time of application. Upon acceptance, Noyce scholars must graduate with a STEM degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and a GPA of 3.25 in the major (that includes all STEM courses required for the major). NKSP scholars must graduate with a MAT degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
   • For Graduate Students (Traditional MAT Graduate Certification pathway) – Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or a GPA of 3.00 on the last thirty (30) hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework. Official transcripts must be sent directly to BU. Upon acceptance, NKSP scholars must graduate with a MAT degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
6. Complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form (for the Early Entry MAT or Mathematics Undergraduate Certification pathways). The FAFSA form can be submitted online at www.fafsa.gov.
7. Commit to teach at a JCPS (or another high-need school district) middle or high school (based on teaching certification) for at least two years for each year of scholarship/stipend received within 6 years after graduation/certification by signing the NKSP Compliance Form.
8. Have a successful interview with the selection committee.
9. Additional requirements:
   • NKSP Scholars must (i) pass the Praxis Subject Area (Praxis II) Exam in their content area (minimum score for each content area is determined by the state) prior to Transition Point 1 in the MAT graduate program by end of the second semester (Spring semester of Year 1) in the traditional MAT program or prior to the end of the second semester (Spring semester of Senior Year) in the Early Entry MAT program; (ii) complete an exit interview upon graduation; and (iii) pass a background check prior to 6-12 teaching employment in Kentucky.

Noyce Scholarship Application form and the selection criteria will be posted on the NKSP website. Selection committee members: Dr. Akhtar Mahmood, Dr. Kristin Cook, Dr. Jessica Ivy, Dean of Undergraduate Admission, Dean of Graduate Admission, a staff from the Office of Enrollment, Marketing and Communication, and Director of Financial Aid. Application Deadline: August 19, 2022 (Early Submission is Highly Recommended).

Mandatory Compliance Requirement: Must sign a contract with BU stating their understanding that they must teach at a JCPS (or another high-need school district) middle or high school (based on the teaching certification) for at least two years for each year of scholarship/stipend received within 6 years after graduation. A Noyce scholar will need to repay the scholarship amount if they do not satisfy the teaching commitment (except for a deferment for a qualifying event). The Financial Aid Director and Dr. Akhtar Mahmood (NKSP Co-Director) will jointly oversee the compliance requirement. Scholarships/stipends will revert to a loan if a Noyce scholar: (1) withdraws from the program prior to completion, or (2) fails to maintain good standing level in the teacher certification program and graduate with the minimum GPA requirement, or (3) is dismissed from the teacher certification program or institution for disciplinary reasons, or (4) fails to complete all the Noyce Knights Scholars Program (NKSP) requirements, or (5) fails to graduate with a teaching certification, or (6) fails to complete the mandatory teaching obligation or do not intend to fulfill the mandatory teaching obligation. If a circumstance occurs during the mandatory teaching obligation period, the scholarship/stipend amount must be repaid as a proportion of the total scholarship/stipend received, prorated to reflect partial teaching completion.