The W.K. Kellogg Foundation's
Woodrow Wilson Michigan Teaching Fellowship
Frequently Asked Questions
- General Information
- Eligibility
- Application Process
- Master's Program
- University Admission and Support
- Teaching Commitment and Other Obligations
- Program Completion
General Information
Q: What is the W.K. Kellogg Foundation-Woodrow Wilson Michigan Teaching Fellowship?
A: The WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship offers recent graduates and career changers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) a stipend of $30,000 to complete a specially-designed, cutting-edge master's degree program, in exchange for a commitment to teach for three years in high-need secondary urban or rural schools. The program provides Fellows with this stipend to help offset the cost of tuition and living expenses during a full-time year of master’s study and to help support Fellows in their preparation for teaching, including in-depth classroom experience in one of several universities and their Michigan teacher education programs. Fellows attend classes and complete their clinical year as a cohort with other STEM-oriented Teaching Fellows.
Successful Fellows are eligible for teacher certification at the end of the second summer of full-time master's coursework. Once certified teachers, Fellows are able to seek employment in a high-need school or school district. University partners provide mentoring and support throughout the three-year Fellowship period. The Fellowship is administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and is funded with a $16.7 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Leadership from the Governor's office is also a key part of the program.
The schools, along with university partners, will provide mentoring and support throughout the three-year Fellowship period. The Fellowship is administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and is funded with a $16.7 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Leadership from the Governor's office is also a key part of the program.
Q: What makes the WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship different from other teacher certification programs?
A: The WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship combines several best practices in teacher preparation by bringing together:
- Immediate impact and ongoing support. Fellows teach in schools with high-need student populations as soon as they begin their master's study year. As soon as they begin teaching, Fellows will receive mentoring from their universities and experienced teachers and teacher leaders in their schools or districts.
- Highly selective admission. The WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship seeks to increase the quality of teaching candidates, not just the quantity. As a prestigious pathway to teaching for gifted undergraduates and accomplished career changers, the Fellowship will bring new talent into teaching, elevate the teaching profession, and provide the preparation and ongoing support needed for success in the classroom.
- Excellent, paid preparation. The WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship offers Fellows a $30,000 stipend to pursue a high-quality master's degree in teaching. Ideally, the stipend will allow Fellows to offset the cost of tuition, attendance, and living costs.
- Preparation to hit the ground running. By the time WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellows enter their own classrooms as full-time teachers of record, they have already been in classrooms for one full year. Fellows are learning, observing and teaching during their year of master’s study and, by and large, the hallmark of being a Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow is the preparation to hit the ground running it offers Fellows.
- A launchpad for a lifetime teaching career. While WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellows make a three-year commitment to teach in high-need schools, we believe that the high-quality teacher preparation and support the Fellowship provides positions Fellows for a sustained and successful career in teaching. The Fellowship is not intended to be a short-term Peace Corps-like experience. Rather, it is designed as a launch pad for teacher development and professional growth that will help shape a new generation of outstanding educators and teacher leaders in Michigan classrooms.
- A new approach to teacher education The Fellowship is more than a scholarship program. It seeks to transform teacher education while preparing future leaders in the teaching profession. The program provides participating universities with new resources to develop model teacher education programs that prepare teachers in math- and science-related fields. While there is not one Woodrow Wilson teacher education model, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation is working with hand-selected universities in a broad range of areas: redesigning curricula to improve teacher preparation; creating clinical classroom experiences in schools to help teacher candidates succeed; and assessing candidates' performance in the classroom. In the long term, this approach may lead to the adoption of more rigorous teacher education standards nationwide.
Q: Which Michigan institutions are participating?
A: The Woodrow Wilson Foundation has partnered with six Michigan higher education institutions with high-quality teacher education preparation programs. These universities have demonstrated their willingness to put in place bold, innovative approaches that can prepare teachers for a time in which our schools are undergoing dramatic changes. The six institutions are Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Western Michigan University.
Eligibility
Q: Who is eligible for the WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship?
A: The WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship is open to college seniors, graduates, and career changers who:
- demonstrate a commitment to the program and its goals;
- have U.S. citizenship or permanent residency;
- have attained, or expect to attain by June 30, 2013, a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university;
- have majored in and/or have a strong professional background in a STEM field;
- a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale is preferred (comparable for applicants from institutions that do not employ a 4.0 GPA scale).
Q: Do I need to have completed my undergraduate education in Michigan?
A: No, but the master's degree must be completed at one of the six Michigan partner institutions and the three-year teaching commitment must be fulfilled at a designated Michigan high-need secondary school.
Q: I already have some teaching experience (full-time, substitute, para-professional, private school, etc.). May I apply for the Fellowship?
A: Ideally, WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellows have an undergraduate major in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) discipline or substantial work experience in a STEM-related field and are seeking a master's degree in STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) education and clinical (classroom) teaching experience in a Michigan public secondary school. Prior teaching experience does not exclude a candidate from eligibility. All applications are considered in their entirety and selection is based on merit.
Q: Do I need to be an education major or have taken education classes to apply? What academic preparation should I have?
A: The Teaching Fellowship program is looking primarily for applicants with an undergraduate major in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) field. Others who may not have majored in a STEM field, but who have a minor or significant work experience in one of these fields, are also encouraged to apply. Those applicants with significant credit hours in a STEM-related field are also welcome to apply. These applications will be judged on their merits.
Q: If my field is one of the professions that draws heavily on science and math (such as physical therapy or accounting), or perhaps a social science with major STEM components (such as economics), may I apply?
A: You are welcome to apply. In the course of Teaching Fellowship selection, we will review all applicant transcripts to clarify the work each candidate has already completed in STEM fields. Some additional undergraduate courses may be required by a partner institution if a candidate's previous experience does not yet meet the institution's minimum standard for content knowledge in a given area.
Q: I graduated from college a few years ago. Can I still apply?
A: Yes, absolutely. Career changers of all ages are welcome to apply and can use professional accomplishments (for example, awards, professional certifications, service records) to demonstrate their potential. Partner institutions will work individually with candidates to certify that career changers selected as Teaching Fellows satisfy the requirements for demonstrated content knowledge.
Q: I am interested in the Fellowship program, but I don't want to teach in Michigan. Do you have programs in other states?
A: The WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship requires that recipients teach in Michigan schools. The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship is currently being offered in Indiana, Ohio, and-coming soon-New Jersey. Other states are expected to launch Woodrow Wilson state teaching fellowship programs in the future.
Application Process
Q: What is the process for applying? Can I apply online? Do I need to apply separately to each institution in which I might be interested? When will I find out if I am accepted?
A: Applicants will apply to the Woodrow Wilson Foundation for the WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship. Applications are currently available on the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship website. Fellows will be selected by late spring 2013 and will begin graduate studies in summer 2013. All applications will be accepted online only and only through the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. You should not apply separately or submit any supporting documentation to the partner institution(s).
Q: Is there an application fee?
A: Application for a WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship is free. Partner universities have chosen to waive their application fees. The WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship application is the only application candidates must submit.
Q: Will I need to pay tuition?
A: Yes. Each campus will have its own tuition and financial aid arrangements for Fellows. Click here for Michigan tuition information.
Q: Which schools qualify as high-need?
A: For a list of schools that qualify as high-need, please visit the Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits.
The Annual Directory is updated in the fall of each year. For a comprehensive listing of high-need schools, you may check the previous year's directory or periodically check the directory for the latest updates.
Q: When would I receive my Fellowship stipend?
A: WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellows will receive their stipends in two or three equal payments and may select the payment option that works best for them. Fellows will choose the payment schedule once they have been selected and have accepted a Fellowship award.
Q: How many Fellowships will be awarded annually?
A: The Woodrow Wilson Foundation expects to award a total of 90 WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowships—15 to each of the six participating universities. In addition, the Foundation will select a number of alternate candidates who may be offered the Fellowship if those originally selected choose to decline for any reason.
Q: What is the application process?
A: All Teaching Fellowship candidates will complete the online application. In addition to the online application, candidates will provide letters of recommendation and transcripts from all institutions attended. Candidates who are selected as finalists will also interview with a team of Woodrow Wilson selectors who are veteran teachers and teacher educators.
Q: What if I have a transcript from a foreign university/college?
A: Follow these steps to have your foreign transcript evaluated:
- Have your official transcript(s) translated (if necessary) into English.
- Send your transcript(s), course descriptions, and the English translation to a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. A fee is required. Be sure to request a "course-by-course/detail" evaluation.
* Foreign transcripts which are already in English, still will require a course-by-course/detail evaluation. - Have an official copy of the transcript and translation sent to:
Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowships
P.O. Box 5281
Princeton, NJ 08543-5281
Q: Where and when will interviews be conducted?
A: Interviews will be conducted at various sites throughout Michigan in fall and winter 2012-2013. Applicants selected for an interview will be asked to select the date and location that best works for them. The interview will begin at 9:30 AM and end at 3:30 PM. The interview day will consist of a one-on-one interview and various activities including a sample teaching lesson. Applicants selected for an interview who live outside of Michigan will be provided with alternate opportunities to fully participate in the interview process.
Q: Is it possible that I could receive a WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship but not be admitted to the institution where I am placed?
A: No. The WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship application is aligned with admission requirements and review at the participating universities.
Q: If I do not receive a WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship but would still like to enroll in a teacher preparation program at one of the partner institutions, may I do so?
A: Yes, if that university admits you. It will likely be necessary for you to take additional steps to apply to that institution. It is also possible that you will be invited to apply by one or more of the partner institutions, as your application will have been shared with whichever partner institutions you have indicated as your preferences.
Q: If I am not accepted for the Fellowship and choose not to pursue the master's without it, can I apply for the Fellowship again in the following year?
A: Absolutely. We welcome your continued interest.
Q: Am I allowed to work at another job while I am studying for my master's degree? While I am teaching?
A: Fellows have a very demanding coursework and clinical (in school) schedule. It should be clear that the Fellowship program will essentially be the equivalent of a full-time job.
Master's Program
Q: What type of master's degree will I receive?
A: WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellows will receive a master's degree following successful completion of the partner university's master's degree program. The partner institutions may offer degrees with slightly different titles. In all cases, however, Fellows will receive a master's degree and complete all the preparatory requirements necessary in order to take exams for Michigan teaching licensure and certification.
Q: Am I able to choose where I will study for my master's degree?
A: In the application, candidates will be asked to indicate, in ranked order, their top three preferences among the six participating universities. Every effort will be made to match a candidate with his or her first-choice institution.
Q: Is there a required program of study?
A: While the program of study varies among the six institutions, each university will offer a master's in teaching degree, redesigned in consultation with the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. Each program will encompass a rigorous curriculum coupled with intensive clinical teaching experiences, with the goal of giving Fellows the best possible preparation for advancing student learning in middle- and high-school classrooms.
Q: When will coursework begin?
A: Coursework will likely begin in late May or June 2013, depending on the curricula developed by the six partnering universities.
Q: Will I get teaching experience?
A: Yes. All six master's degree programs include significant experience teaching in public secondary schools. Both the master's coursework and clinical teaching experience will focus on providing the practical, subject-specific education needed to prepare Fellows to succeed with students in high-need schools.
Q: What exams do I need to take? Are there any costs involved in getting certified?
A: While the master's degree program will include all the necessary coursework for getting a Michigan teaching license, teacher licensure candidates will eventually need to pass the appropriate Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification (MTTC).
MTTC I (Basic Skills) and MTTC II (Content) tests are not required for applicants to the Teaching Fellowship program; but applicants are highly encouraged to register for and take the MTTC I Basic Skills test prior to becoming a Teaching Fellow.
MTTC I and II are requirements for teacher certification in Michigan and all accepted Teaching Fellows will eventually need to pass both tests. For more information about the MTTC tests, candidates may visit the MTTC Website. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) does charge a small application fee for a first teaching license.
Q: What grades and subjects will I be certified to teach after I receive my degree?
A: The Teaching Fellowship focuses on secondary teaching in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. However, the different university campuses will emphasize particular subjects and teacher certification/licensure areas. The type of teaching certification will depend upon which program a Fellow enrolls in and/or which courses s/he takes.
Q: What if I still have specific questions about one or more of the university programs?
A: For any remaining questions, please contact the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowships team for more information. Alternatively, you may also contact the Program Director at the university you would like to attend.
University Admission and Support
Q: What about special circumstances that may limit how far I can travel to complete the master's degree or where I can be placed for my teaching assignment?
A: The application contains a section to note extenuating circumstances, which will be taken into consideration when your application is reviewed. However, Fellows must be as open and flexible as possible about future teaching placements.
Q: Will I be on my own once I start teaching?
A: No. From the beginning, Michigan Teaching Fellows are part of a cohort that will be assisted in securing teaching placements in the same school districts at the same time and will continue working together, helping to promote a community of support and learning within and across their schools.
Q: Can I switch schools during my three-year teaching obligation? Or grade levels/subjects?
A: The WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship focuses on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) teaching at the secondary level in high-need schools in Michigan. It is strongly preferred that, if at all possible, a Fellow remains at the school site where s/he is originally placed so that s/he will have the full benefit of mentoring. It is possible that a Fellow who transfers to another teaching assignment may lose some or all of the mentoring benefit, as well as some of the ongoing university services.
Teaching Commitment and Other Obligations
Q: How long must I teach to fulfill my commitment to the program?
A: WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellows agree to teach for three years in Michigan high-need secondary urban or rural schools, contingent on completing their master's in teaching degree program and attaining their teaching licensure/certification.
Q: Can I teach for only one or two years?
A: No. Michigan Teaching Fellows commit to teaching for three years in Michigan when they accept the Fellowship.
Program Completion
Q: What happens at the conclusion of the three-year teaching commitment?
A: While Fellows will be free to choose the future direction of their teaching careers, we believe that the high-quality teacher preparation and support the Fellowship provides will position Fellows for a sustained and successful career in teaching. Once selected as Fellows, the WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellows become lifelong members of a national network of intellectual leaders. Today's 20,000 Woodrow Wilson Fellows include 13 Nobel Laureates, 35 MacArthur "genius grant" recipients, 15 Pulitzer Prize winners, two Fields Medalists in mathematics, and many other noted scholars and leaders.
Q: Can I teach in another state after I complete my three-year commitment?
A: Yes. Once the three-year teaching commitment in Michigan is fulfilled, Michigan Teaching Fellows may teach anywhere they choose, assuming they meet applicable licensure standards in their new state.
Q: What will be my involvement with the WKKF-WW Michigan Teaching Fellowship and future Woodrow Wilson Fellows after my commitment is complete?
A: Even after their teaching certification is obtained, their master's program and three-year teaching commitment are completed, Fellows remain part of a statewide network of Michigan Teaching Fellows, as well as the larger national network of 20,000 Woodrow Wilson Fellows. In addition, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation can support Fellows in finding out about requirements for National Board Certification—for which Fellows will be eligible after three years of teaching—and may arrange mentorships with new Michigan Teaching Fellows.
Contact
Other questions that are not answered in the information posted on this site can be directed by email to the Woodrow Wilson Foundation or by calling 609-452-7007 ext. 141.