students walking on UCR Campus (c) UCR/Stan Lim

Noyce Scholars Program

Exclusively available to future science and mathematics teachers, the Robert Noyce Scholarship Program at the University of California, Riverside, is a project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).  It supports UCR's vision and commitment to increase the number of highly qualified secondary school mathematics and science teachers in high-need schools.  The program is administered in partnership with the UCR Science and Mathematics Initiative (SMI) and the School of Education (SOE), and local school districts including the Val Verde Unified School District (VVUSD). 
 

The Noyce Scholars Program offers:

  • Credential Scholarship awards: up to $18,120
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Network with STEM professionals
  • Network with school district partners
  • Extra mentoring and advising
  • SPECIAL NOTE: Undergraduate Noyce Scholars also receive paid employment as an SMI Peer Leader

Program Objectives

  • To recruit qualified SMI undergraduate seniors majoring in mathematics or science disciplines and SMI alumni pursuing single-subject credential program dedicated to teaching middle or high school mathematics or sciences in a high-need school district with readiness to promote STEM success for English Language Learners (ELL).
  • To provide support for strengthening content and pedagogical knowledge via intense classroom experiences, mentoring and professional activities.
  • Facilitate connections to public school districts to secure internships/teaching positions during and after completion of a teaching credential program. 


Program Details

  • Eligibility Requirements
    Academic Focus

    Recipient must have one of the affiliations listed immediately below:

    UCR SMI alumni entering the UCR Single-Subject Science or Mathematics Teaching Credential Candidate
     

    Academic Status

    Good Standing
     

    GPA

    3.0 or above (cumulative for credential candidates and completion of 90+ units for senior level students)
     

    Early (monitored) field experience completion

    Early field work experiences - EDUC 3 and EDUC 4 or equivalent
     

    Early methods course completion

    EDUC 104 (math) OR EDUC 105 (science)
     

    Early pedagogical course completion 

    (special note to undergraduate scholarship applicants: only need to complete 1 from this list): EDUC 132, EDUC 139, EDUC 147, EDUC 162,  EDUC 178,, EDUC 179A 
     

    Teaching Credential Potential

    Demonstrate eligibility (credential scholars) or progress toward meeting eligibility (undergraduate senior scholars) for UCR Teaching Credential Program 
     

    Teaching Commitment

    Demonstrate interest and commitment to teach in a low performing, high poverty/high ELL school
     

    Citizenship

    U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or Permanent Resident Alien
     

    Subject Matter Competency: Proof of completion
    • CBEST Exam
    • CSET preferred completion: science subtests I & II (at least one content)/ math subtests I & II & III 
    • CSET science subtest I/mathematics subtests I & II exam(s)  -- (foundation level for credential scholars; 1 subtest for undergraduate senior scholars)
       
    Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

    Complete and submit the FAFSA form as instructed on the FAFSA application
     

    Agreement to Teaching Terms and Condition stated below

    Accepting the Noyce award requires the recipient to commit to teaching in a high-need school district for two years for each year of Noyce Program support. If the teaching obligation is not met, the scholarship (remaining amount) must be repaid with interest.

     

  • Selection Criteria

    Selection Criteria

    Noyce Scholarship selection review will be based on:

    Academic Merit (Primary Consideration)
    • Demonstrated academic excellence as confirmed by academic transcripts
    • Meet/Potential to meet UCR credential program requirements
    • Personal Narrative Essays
    • Motivation and interest to the teaching profession
    • Professional references
    • Commitment to teach in high-needs/ELL school districts
    • Financial need (secondary consideration)
  • Informational Seminar

    Informational Seminar


    For Credential Scholar Applicants:     

    Friday, November 17, 2023

    1:00 to 1:50 pm

    via Zoom

    RSVP Required

  • Application Support Office Hours

    Application Support Office Hours

    Monday, November 20, 2023

    1:30 to 3:30 pm

    via Zoom

    Thursday, November 30, 2023

    8:00 am to 10:00 am

    via Zoom

    No registration required.  Come anytime during these office hours.

  • Contact Personnel

    Leslie Bushong

    Program Director 
    1114 Pierce Hall 
    Riverside, CA 92521 
    leslie.bushong@ucr.edu

     
  • What is a high-needs school district?

    What is a high-needs school district

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
     

    NSF defines a school district as high-need if it meets at least one of the following criteria: 

    1. It has at least one school in which 50% or more of the enrolled students are eligible for participation in the free and reduced price lunch program.*
    2. It has at least one school in which:**
       
      1. more than 34% of the academic classroom teachers at the secondary level (across all academic subjects) do not have an undergraduate degree with a major or minor in, or a graduate degree in, the academic field in which they teach the largest percentage of their classes; OR
      2. more than 34% of the teachers in two of the academic departments do not have an undergraduate degree with a major or minor in, or a graduate degree in, the academic field in which they teach the largest percentage of their classes.
         
    3. It has at least one school whose teacher attrition rate has been 15% or more over the last three school years.**
       

    *To verify if a school meets criterion 1, search for it in the Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory.

    **To assess criteria 2 and 3, see the School Accountability Report Card for the school of interest.

     


Call for
2024-25 Noyce Scholarship Applications

All NSF Scholarship Applicants must also submit FAFSA Application to FAFSA 

FAFSA Application

Credential Scholar Applicants


  • Priority Deadline:
    Friday, December 8, 2023 at 12:00p.m. (noon)
  • Regular Deadline:
    Friday, January 19, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (noon)

Credential Scholar Application

Let us help you with your search