Background:
This project is designing a unified teacher preparation program (UTPP) by establishing learning partnerships among faculty in Education, Arts and Sciences, Health and Human Services and local school districts. As part of this project, we are establishing collaborations through the integration of coursework, co-teaching classes, utilizing a variety of teaching strategies to meet diverse learning needs of students, infuse literacy strategies in General Education Requirements and the utilization of distance learning technology that will provide a link from the university to other educational institutions and focus on strategies of differentiated instruction and unifying general and special education. The mini-grant approach replicates the model for encouraging and facilitating faculty collaboration between Schools of Arts & Sciences and Education developed by Lydia Conca and Kathleen Butler at St. Joseph College, West Hartford, CT. Additional information can be accessed at the St. Joseph College Unification Grant website.

Specific objectives of our project are to:

• Align the content in at least three general education requirements for a liberal arts education with the pedagogical course content in the Elementary/Special Education teacher preparation program within the School of Education.
• Integrate performance-based teacher competencies across at least three different departments as measured by the NCATE standards of the professional associations of those departments.
• Integrate effective, research-based teaching methods and practices into co-taught classes between and among faculty in the School of Education, the School of Arts and Sciences and faculty from two local school districts.
• Integrate technology into all coursework and field-based experiences of students.

Additional information concerning the goals and activities of the UTPP grant can be accessed on-line. As part of this program we are inviting SCSU Faculty to participate by proposing new projects consistent with the goals and objectives of the UTTP for consideration for funding.

Examples of appropriate proposals include, but are not limited to:

• New course or revision of an existing course that is taken by teacher candidates (All University Requirements)
• New pedagogy that better reflects the needs of diverse learners
• Improve the math, science, and technology literacy of teacher candidates
• Courses or activities that facilitate collaboration among departments and schools
• Speaker or presentation to support creative teaching strategies

Review of Proposals:
All submitted proposals will be reviewed by a minimum of three members of the UTPP Council on Integrated Teacher Education, an advisory council to the Project Coordinators. Decisions concerning the merit of the submitted proposals by the CITE committee are final. No feedback will be provided for unsuccessful proposals. The committee will be rating the quality and completeness of the submitted proposals according to the following criteria:

1. Significance: Evidence of a well-focused and worthy purpose consistent with the goals and objectives of the UTPP program. Proposals which show evidence of collaboration or impact on students or faculty from different departments or schools are especially encouraged.

2. Outcomes: Likelihood of significant outcomes (development of new or revised course, collaborative workshop, revised curriculum, publication).

3. Budget Proposal: Inclusion of a realistic budget that is clearly stated and justified.

Funding and Timing:
We anticipate funding three to six proposals with awards ranging from $5,000-10,000 per award. Proposals should be submitted by February 15, 2006 and awards will be announced March 5, 2006. It is expected that the proposed work will be completed by September 15, 2006.

Funded proposals will be made available for examination by the Connecticut State Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education. Funded proposals, and the results of those funded projects, will also be posted on the UTPP website. Products of the completed activities will also be featured on the website and will be included in reports submitted by the UTPP project coordinators to funding agencies.


Submission Procedures:
Please submit four copies of the completed proposal no later than February 15, 2006 at 4:00 pm to Patricia Zibluk, Director, Sponsored Programs and Research, Engleman Hall Office A 220 B, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT 06515.

If you have any questions concerning the development or the submission of proposals please contact either of the UTPP project coordinators: