Sanford Teacher Scholarship at City University of Seattle Reduces Tuition by Half for Current and Future Educators

SEATTLE, April 23, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- City University of Seattle (CityU), announced a new scholarship offering to help alleviate the state's critical issue in Teacher Shortage Areas (TSA). CityU is among the top producers of teachers in the state of Washington, and the Sanford Teacher Scholarship at City University can cover as much as 50 percent of a program's cost.

The Sanford Teacher Scholarship at City University is being launched to reduce the cost of TSA-specific certifications for current and future educators, and it is funded through the partnership of the private, nonprofit National University System, a network of education institutions that includes CityU. The scholarship reflects the mission of the Sanford Inspire program, which is being advanced regionally by CityU in coordination with National University System, to provide ongoing professional development resources that help teachers create inspiring classroom environments.

"The Sanford Teacher Scholarship at CityU reflects our commitment to develop and foster exceptional educators across the state by making educational and career development opportunities more affordable and accessible," said Randy C. Frisch, president of City University of Seattle - the only private university in Washington State ranked in the Top 50 this year by U.S. News & World Report for its online bachelor's degree programs. "We are dedicated to supporting and celebrating teachers by providing innovative resources, such as the Sanford Inspire program, that equip them with tools to foster engagement in curriculum for students."

Sanford Inspire, one of the sources of the new scholarship, is based on the vision of T. Denny Sanford to enrich learning environments through the support and development of inspiring teachers in every classroom. The program offers a toolkit of research-based teaching methodologies, and on-demand, self-guided modules that are accessible online to educators.

Sanford Inspire is one of three programs housed in the National University System and offered at CityU, which also includes the PreK-6 social emotional learning Sanford Harmony program. Sanford Harmony offers a suite of innovative resources and lesson plans that teach children collaborative skills to increase empathy and inclusiveness. CityU, which is one of a select group of universities nationally that are expanding the programs, maintains a deeper focus on the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest. Currently, about 200 schools in Washington including schools in Eastmont and Tumwater School districts have a connection to Sanford Inspire or Sanford Harmony, which are provided at no cost to the schools. To date, more than 6.5 million people have been educated in Sanford Programs through the national and global expansion efforts led by the National University System.

"Teachers are pillars of our communities and with the generous support of Mr. Denny Sanford, the National University System and City University of Seattle are pleased to offer Sanford Teacher Scholarships to support current and future educators in Washington," said Dr. Michael R. Cunningham, chancellor of the San Diego-based National University System (NUS), a network of affiliated private, nonprofit universities that also include teacher education programs through the Ph.D. level. "As a champion for teachers, we believe in providing accessible, ongoing professional development opportunities to inspire enthusiastic teaching in the classroom, and we are proud to be the home of Sanford Inspire – a program that creates a foundation for teacher and student success."

The Sanford Teacher Scholarship at CityU expands the University's existing efforts to attract and retain educators across the state through professional development support, and it also addresses a potential financial barrier for alternative route teaching candidates for those who are interested in seeking a TSA endorsement in subjects such as STEM, special education and English Language Learners. Due to legislative changes, these candidates will soon be required to earn an additional endorsement. Paraprofessionals and emergency substitutes, who make up most alternative route students, may incur more out-of-pocket costs since they will have to take unpaid leave from their jobs to obtain the required student teaching experience.

The scholarship aims to provide financial assistance for these future teachers to obtain a dual TSA endorsement, since non-degree endorsement programs are not eligible for federal financial aid. In addition to alternative route candidates, students currently enrolled in CityU's endorsement only program, which "re-tools" current teachers so that they can teach in TSA areas, are also eligible for this scholarship.

City University of Seattle offers flexible teaching certification options including alternative route and non-degree single endorsements online or at one of its several campuses. Alternative route and non-degree single endorsement applicants for the Sanford Teacher Scholarship at CityU must submit an application form and 500-word essay by July 1, 2019 to be considered for the next enrollment term.

For information on eligibility and to apply, visit: cityu.edu/sanford-scholarship

About City University of Seattle
City University of Seattle is a private, nonprofit university that has a rich heritage as one of the first Pacific Northwest universities to participate in distance and online education. The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities through the doctoral level and offers more than 60 online, onsite and performance-based academic and certificate programs. CityU has ranked in the national top 50 "Best Online Bachelor's Programs" by U.S. News & World Report from 2013-2019. Annually, CityU serves more than 6,000 students worldwide, and has an established tradition and commitment to personalized education. The priority is to treat each student as an individual with the care and service that is the hallmark of CityU. In-country, students can take classes in Seattle, Everett, Renton, Tacoma, at JBLM, or in Vancouver, Washington. Globally, CityU has partnerships with institutions in eight countries. For more information, visit CityU.edu.

About National University System/Sanford Programs
Established in 2001 to meet the emerging challenges and demands of education in the 21st Century, the National University System is a network of accredited nonprofit education institutions serving higher education and K-12 students that includes National University, Northcentral University, John F. Kennedy University, City University of Seattle, and the Division of Pre-College Programs. The Sanford Education Center at National University System's San Diego headquarters was established in 2014 through the generous support of philanthropist T. Denny Sanford to provide innovative programs in the nonprofit and PreK-12 sectors. The Center, in coordination with universities around the country, is leading the national expansion of three initiatives: Sanford Harmony, Sanford Inspire and the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy. Learn more at National University System and Sanford Programs.

SOURCE National University

Related Links

http://www.nu.edu