The Governor Patrick/ Lt. Governor Murray administration  announces a $1.6 million STEM grant to UMass Lowell:

 Wednesday, December 14, 2011 – The Patrick-Murray Administration today announced a $1.6 million grant to the University of Massachusetts Lowell for the creation of a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teacher preparation program in Massachusetts.

This initiative, outlined in the Commonwealth’s successful Race to the Top plan, will bolster the Administration’s efforts to increase the number of highly qualified STEM teachers in Massachusetts.  UMass Lowell will administer the program in partnership with UTeach, a university-based secondary STEM teacher preparation program at the University of Texas at Austin.

“In our knowledge-based economy, it is critical that we get our young people engaged in the STEM fields,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “This program will help us attract highly-qualified teachers who are passionate about STEM education and can help expose students to new skills that will prepare them for success.” 

“Raising awareness about STEM education is a major part of our Administration’s efforts to prepare students for careers in STEM related fields,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, Chair of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.  “By partnering with UMass Lowell and UTeach, Massachusetts will deliver highly qualified professionals who will not only teach STEM, but also help ignite students with a spark to pursue opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math and participate Massachusetts’s future workforce.”

Read the full release here:http://www.mass.gov/edu/2-million-awarded-to-prepare-stem-teachers.html