Utica University Receives $1.2 Million NYS Grant for Accelerated Educator Preparation Program; Teacher Candidate Applications Now Open

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Utica University Receives $1.2 Million NYS Grant for Accelerated Educator Preparation Program; Teacher Candidate Applications Now Open

Teacher in a classroom with students raising their hands.

With the grant funds, Utica University plans to enhance its Transitional B Program by adding a certification in special education for Masters’ students. This addition helps extend the
University’s reach, network, and partnerships in the education field.

Utica University has been awarded more than $1.2 million to help expand its Accelerated Educator Preparation Program, also referred to as Utica’s Transitional B Apprenticeship Program.

As part of New York State’s Education Workforce Investment, Governor Kathy Hochul announced more than $13.7 million in Workforce Development Awards have been allocated to twelve public and private colleges and universities in the state.

With the grant funds, Utica University plans to enhance its Transitional B Program by adding a certification in special education for Masters’ students. This addition helps extend the University’s reach, network, and partnerships in the education field.

In addition to the special education certification, the grant provides more than $985,000 in scholarship funds. Qualified teacher candidate applicants may now apply for a scholarship of over $36,000 per student and additional funding which will cover a cover a student’s books, miscellaneous fees, and a small stipend to offset other related costs. Scholarships are, however, limited and will be awarded through a competitive application process.

The first cohort of students of the Transitional B program will start in the Spring of 2025, followed by the second cohort in Spring 2026. Applications for the upcoming cohort are now open. The deadline to apply is October 1.

If you’re interested in applying for the Transitional B Apprenticeship Program, click here. For more information contact: uticaeducation@utica.edu

Things to know about Utica University’s Transitional B Online Education Masters’ Program:

Areas of study: Special Education (Pre-K-Grade 12), Adolescence Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, Technology)
Full scholarship available for qualified applicants beginning in Spring 2025 (covering annual tuition, books, fees, plus a stipend)
Funding is limited and competitive
Student application deadline: October 1, 2024

Admission/Program Requirements:

3.0 GPA required for admissions
Undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in content area for adolescent education and liberal arts/sciences for special education candidates
6 credits in Math, Science, English and Social Sciences
Must be employed full-time as teacher for the entire duration of the program
Complete 38-credit hours (includes combination of coursework and classroom supervision)

Utica University is now also partnering with Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES to help with the Masters’ program recruitment, all while addressing our region’s teacher shortage. High need staffing areas include Special Education, Foreign Language, Math, and Science in the HFM BOCES Districts. The goal is to have Transitional B students simultaneously teach within the HFM BOCES Districts. However, it is not required.

David Ziskin, Ed.D., District Superintendent of Schools, Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES said: “We are pleased to join Utica University to address the teacher educator shortage in our region. We believe this apprenticeship model for individuals that fast-tracks educators bolsters our efforts to ensure that every student receives quality instruction from a well-prepared, certified teacher. This partnership allows apprentices with a bachelor’s degree to gain their transitional B certification in an identified high-need subject area to begin their teaching career in September—and, it is backed by a robust support system including mentorship and a Professional Learning Community. This apprenticeship model makes a career shift to teaching more accessible for adults who wish to enter the teaching field. There is a substantial financial advantage for candidates who are compensated as certified teachers starting in September. Their college fees and tuition are also reduced by $20,000 making this rich preparation experience financially viable.”

President Todd Pfannestiel of Utica University said: “We are grateful for the Governor’s ongoing commitment to and investment in New York’s teacher workforce. Utica University has a long history of preparing top quality teachers as well as addressing teacher shortages through innovation and collaboration. With the support of this funding, and through partnership efforts with New York State and Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES, we will advance research-supported curriculum development and, most significantly, offer full-tuition support to twenty aspiring students who, upon graduation, will advance our region’s teacher workforce.”

Megan Foster, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Special Education, Utica University and Xinyue Liu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Education, Utica University said: “We are excited to partner with HFM BOCES to address the teacher shortage in our region. Our Educator Preparation Program at Utica University was recently awarded $1.2m to expand apprenticeship programs that directly address the teacher shortage in the larger Mohawk Valley. This grant not only underscores our commitment to high-quality education but also provides a financially viable pathway for aspiring teachers. Through our new Special Education Apprenticeship program, we are dedicated to fostering our students’ professional growth and making a difference for all students by providing them with quality education.”

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York State said: “We have a responsibility to ensure our future teachers and paraprofessionals are ready to educate and support the next generation of New Yorkers. Through this funding for workforce development programs, we are investing in our educators and creating pathways for our students to pursue a career in the education field.”

In order to be certified to teach in New York state, prospective teachers are required to complete a bachelor’s degree, including the education program requirements, to pass the mandatory New York State Teacher Certification Examinations, and to meet all other regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education.