Central Washington University Board of Trustees May 15, 2020 ACTION – Bachelor of Arts STEM Teaching Program
The Department Science Education proposes the Bachelor of Arts STEM Teaching Program major which will replace the current STEM Teaching Program minor. The STEM Teaching Program prepares students to teach science, mathematics, or computer science at the middle or high school levels. Undergraduate students who successfully complete the STEM Teaching Program, a STEM major degree, and Washington State assessments, qualify for the Washington State Residency Teaching Certificate. Offering this enhanced degree option at CWU Ellensburg and the Des Moines University Center will expand enrollments into this high demand field of teaching. In Fall 2016, the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) conducted a survey of school principals. Results indicated an estimated cumulative teacher shortage of nearly 22,000 by the 2020-21 academic year due in large part to increases in retirements that had previously been postponed during the recession years as well as new state requirements on full-day kindergarten and K-3 rd grade class-size reductions. The survey highlighted the stress on rural, suburban, and urban schools, especially those in low-income districts, including a 45% vacancy rate in fully certified educator positions and with 93% of principals responding as being in “crisis mode” or “struggling” to find qualified teachers. This teacher shortage is particularly acute in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Nationwide Listing of Teacher Shortage Areas, Washington has seen a shortage of qualified middle level math and science teachers over the past decade. In the past three years, these shortages have increased to include Pre-K through 12 th grade. CWU is poised to supply the necessary qualified educators to meet these demands. We recommend the following motion: The Board of Trustees of Central Washington University endorses the recommendation of the Faculty Senate (Motion No. 19-57) and hereby approves the Bachelor of Arts STEM Teaching Program this day May 15, 2020. Submitted: Approved for Submittal to the Board:
James L. Gaudino President
Lynn Franken Provost/Vice President for Academic and Student Life
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