UTICA, N.Y. — Utica University was awarded more than $1.2 million to expand its Accelerated Educator Preparation Program, also known as its Transitional B Apprenticeship Program, as part of the state’s Education Workforce Investment, the university announced. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced more than $13.7 million in total Education Workforce Investment awards to 12 public and […]
UTICA, N.Y. — Utica University was awarded more than $1.2 million to expand its Accelerated Educator Preparation Program, also known as its Transitional B Apprenticeship Program, as part of the state’s Education Workforce Investment, the university announced.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced more than $13.7 million in total Education Workforce Investment awards to 12 public and private colleges and universities around the state.
Utica University will use the money to expand its program by adding a certification in special education for masters’ degree students. The addition will extend the university’s reach, network, and partnerships in the education field.
Utica University is also partnering with Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services (HMF BOCES) to help with recruitment for the program to help address the region’s teacher shortage. High-need staffing areas include special education, foreign language, math, and science. The goal is to have students in the program simultaneously teach within the HMF BOCES school districts, but it is not a program requirement.
The grant also provides more than $985,000 in scholarship funds. Qualified teacher candidate applicants can apply for a scholarship of more than $36,000 per student along with additional funding to cover books, miscellaneous fees, and a small stipend to offset other related costs. The scholarships are limited and offered through a competitive application process.
The areas of study in the program are special education, adolescence education math, English, science, social studies, foreign language, and technology. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 and an undergraduate degree or equivalent in content area for adolescent education and liberal arts/sciences for special education candidates. Applicants must also have six credits in math, science, English, and social sciences and must be employed full-time as a teacher for the entire duration of the 38-credit-hour program.
The first cohort of students of the Transitional B program will start in the spring of 2025, followed by a second cohort in the spring of 2026. Applications for the upcoming cohort are open now and due by Oct. 1.
To be certified to teach in New York, prospective teachers are required to complete a bachelor’s degree, including the education program requirements and pass all mandatory state teacher-certification examinations as well as meet other regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education.
Utica University, founded in 1946, offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 40 majors.
