Elgin Community College, North Central College Partner to Support Future STEM Teachers

Elgin Community College (ECC) has partnered with North Central College to expand scholarship and transfer opportunities for students pursuing careers as secondary education STEM teachers.

Through the partnership, ECC students interested in teaching science or mathematics can transfer to North Central College and participate in the CREATE program, a National Science Foundation Noyce-funded initiative designed to recruit and support future educators.

CREATE (Commitment to Recruit, Educate, and Assist Teachers in Excellence) provides scholarships, mentoring, and professional development opportunities for students who pursue a double major in secondary education and a STEM field.

“Through Elgin Community College’s partnership with North Central College, the CREATE program provides students interested in STEM secondary education with a direct transfer pathway, along with resources and scholarship opportunities to support their journey to becoming educators,” said Tracy Vittone, director of transfer services at ECC.

Eligible students may pursue a double major in secondary education and a STEM field such as biology, chemistry, environmental science, mathematics, or physics.

The CREATE program offers scholarships that can cover up to the full cost of attendance, helping reduce out-of-pocket expenses for students preparing to enter the teaching profession.

“The best thing about the CREATE grant at North Central is that we help students follow their passion for science and education and become the best teachers they can be,” said Dr. Chandreyee Mitra, director of environmental studies, science, and business, associate professor of biology, and co-principal investigator of the NSF Noyce Program at North Central. “Happily, we do this by decreasing the financial burden of a college education for students and by providing active mentoring through their time as scholars and after, including on how to be resilient and take care of their own wellbeing (along with that of their future students).”

In addition to financial support, participants receive individualized mentoring from faculty members and experienced educators. The program also includes an orientation experience, cohort meetings, summer research opportunities, and continued mentoring and induction support after graduation.

The partnership helps create a clear pathway for ECC students interested in becoming STEM educators while addressing the growing demand for qualified teachers in STEM fields.

ABOUT CREATE

A scholarship program for North Central junior and senior students double-majoring in Secondary Education and STEM. The scholarship ranges up to the full cost of attendance to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

The program includes individual mentoring by faculty and a North Central graduate in the teaching field, an orientation program, cohort meetings, summer research funding, and continued mentoring and induction support after graduation.

ELIGIBILITY

Create scholars must meet the following criteria:

• Major in both Secondary Education and STEM (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Math, or Physics
• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher, with a GPA in Secondary Education of 3.0 or higher
• GPA in their content area of 2.5 or higher
• Have junior or senior standing (60+ transferable credits required)

Contact:
Elgin Community College
Communications
Office: 847.214.7838
Email: news@elgin.edu

About ECC: An Achieving the Dream Leader College and one of the Aspen Institute’s Top 200 schools in the nation, Elgin Community College (ECC) is a comprehensive, fully accredited public community college and serves approximately 16,000 students each year Programs of study include more than 30 major fields for university transfer, a full complement of pre-collegiate courses, corporate and continuing education, and more than 130 career-oriented occupational degrees and certificates. ECC is also a U.S. Department of Education-designated Hispanic Serving Institution.

ECC NEWS MEDIA PROTOCOL
All members of the media should utilize the communications department as the first point of contact. The director of communications may be reached at 847-214-7838 or news@elgin.edu. All Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests must be submitted in writing to Erin Schmalen, compliance officer, at eschmalen@elgin.edu or via fax at 847-214-7375.