Oakland, CA—November 15, 2008. The National Science Foundation has awarded Mills College with a $750,000 grant to prepare science and math educators and help tackle the problem of teacher shortages.

Starting in fall 2009 and continuing over the next four years, 36 graduate students in the School of Education will receive $15,000 scholarships and 12 seniors in science and math fields will receive $10,000 scholarships.

The purpose of the program, entitled "Open the Gate," is to increase the number of graduates in science and math education. Nationally as well as locally in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties, school districts face an acute shortage of math and science teachers. To serve this demand, Mills scholarship recipients upon graduation will be required to teach in an underserved urban school.

"The shortage of math and science teachers is particularly alarming for students of color and low income students because these fields open doors to college entrance and higher paying occupations," said Mills College Professor of Education Ruth Cossey, who is leading the program.

The Mills College School of Education is partnering with the Departments of Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology to recruit students in their junior year to consider teaching as a profession and to apply for the funding for their senior year.

The graduate scholarships are open to all applicants or current students in the School of Education interested in math and science education. Professionals currently working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields interested in education are encouraged to apply.

The School of Education has 170 students enrolled in a variety of graduate programs from early childhood education to educational leadership to teacher preparation. About 40 students are pursuing their California state teaching credentials.

"Given our long history of diversity and the School of Education's dedication to preparing educators, this program will become the model of teacher education in science and math, producing highly qualified teachers committed to social justice," said Joseph Kahne, dean of the School of Education.

For information about admissions to the Mills College School of Education, contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 510.430.3309 or grad-admission@mills.edu.

More information about the School of Education is available at http://www.mills.edu/education.

Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California, Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering a dynamic progressive education that fosters leadership, social responsibility, and creativity to approximately 950 undergraduate women and 500 graduate women and men. Since 2000, applications to Mills College have more than doubled. The College is named one of the top colleges in the West by U.S. News & World Report, one of the Best 368 Colleges by the Princeton Review, and ranks 75th among America's best colleges by Forbes.com. Visit us at www.mills.edu.

PRESS CONTACT:
Quynh Tran
Media Relations Manager
510.430.2300