FHSU Receives $1.45 Million Grant to Recruit and Train STEM Teachers for Underserved Rural Schools in Kansas

In an effort to address the challenge of staffing high-need rural schools with effective science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers, Fort Hays State University has received a $1.45 million grant from the National Science Foundation Robert Noyce program. This comes as the Kansas State Department of Education reported science educators in Kansas ranked fifth in teacher shortages in the fall of 2023.

FHSU’s Robert Noyce Scholarship-Certified Rural Enhanced STEM Teachers (CREST) program aims to recruit and provide cost-of-attendance scholarships for 29 STEM students, ultimately yielding 29 STEM teachers for underserved rural districts. The university is committed to filling the gap in STEM teacher shortages in rural areas and providing quality education for students in these underserved communities.

The project will work closely with Barton Community College, Colby Community College, Dodge City Community College, Garden City Community College, and Seward County Community College to recruit students to FHSU for a STEM/Secondary Education major. Community colleges will have resources to support their students financially as they prepare to transfer to FHSU. Those transferring to FHSU will be eligible for approximately $30,000 in scholarship funds to complete their degrees. Transfer students and those who start their degrees at FHSU are also eligible for the scholarships.

A key component of the project is the development of a certificate program to prepare STEM teachers to work in rural schools. FHSU aims to leverage its strengths in addressing the education and career needs of rural Kansas through this initiative. The university is dedicated to providing high-quality education and addressing teacher shortages in rural areas by recruiting talented STEM students and supporting them on their journey towards becoming effective teachers.