Urban University Blog

The state of California has awarded California State University, Los Angeles a nearly $250,000 grant to create a fast track for students studying to become math teachers. The grant from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) will be used to create an expedited Integrated Teacher Preparation Program in mathematics, commonly known as SCOPE. California is experiencing a shortage of K-12 teachers in science, technology, engineering and math. To become a credent

A diverse faculty body is essential for excellence in research, teaching, service, and patient care, and contributes to a climate of inclusion on campus. Hiring and promoting faculty from diverse backgrounds also diversifies the senior administrative leadership pipeline. Despite our best efforts, however, many universities are struggling to achieve faculty diversity goals. Promising hiring practices exist, but there is a need for greater evidence to support implementation and

Transitioning to college life can be a challenge, even for the most talented of students. The first few months are critical – students are learning to navigate their courses and campus resources, developing study skills, and forging their first friendships. As educators, we want to set our students up for success, but we also have high expectations for them. The summer bridge program isn’t a new idea, but at Rutgers Business School, we decided to take it to the next level: an

Photo Credit: University of Minnesota “Will this degree get me a job?” To help students, their families, faculty and employers see the connection between academic pursuits and career aspirations, and to motivate students to complete their degrees, Cleveland State University (CSU) introduced its Career Pathways Orientation to translate between majors and occupations more effectively. Rather than focusing on specific majors as the essential paths to get to specific jobs, career

Another innovative program unearthed by the Innovation Pitch Challenge funded with a grant from Lumina Foundation, is Fresno State’s Top Dog Talks. Next Stop:  Fresno, California Photo Credit: Fresno State University Still in the planning stages, “Top Dog Talks” will bring alumni who are leading employers to Fresno State campus to share their expertise and experience in a series of TED-like talks.  Fresno State’s “The Year of the Top Dogs” will feature multiple “Top Dog Talks