VCU participating in statewide agreement to encourage community college students to pursue teaching

By Mike Frontiero
VCU School of Education

Virginia Commonwealth University and eight other four-year state institutions have signed an agreement that will allow pre-teacher education students in Virginia’s community colleges to transfer as juniors into their teacher education programs. The move is an effort to ease a projected teacher shortage and prepare more highly qualified teachers for Virginia’s schools.

As elementary students and teachers at Richmond’s Woodville Elementary School looked on, Virginia Community College System Chancellor Glenn DuBois signed agreements with VCU, Virginia Union University, Virginia State University, Longwood University, Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Radford University, George Mason University and Mary Baldwin College.

VCU plans to pay half the tuition for five community college students who pass standard entrance requirements to attend VCU’s School of Education. Pre-teacher education students will enter the School’s five-year program with two years of credit, allowing them to graduate with a Master’s degree in three years. “When supply is down and demand is up we adjust our standards,” said School of Education Dean William C. Bosher, Ph.D. “We’re looking forward to bringing more students from Virginia’s community college system to VCU.”

The signing ceremony received excellent media coverage. To read the Richmond Times-Dispatch article click here, to read the Hampton Roads Daily Press article click here, to read the Winchester Star article click here and to read The Roanoke Times article click here.