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The Multicultural Initiatives in Teaching (MIT) Program was formerly known as the Minorities in Teaching Program. The MIT Program was initiated in 1988 as a school/university partnership between the University of Northern Iowa and five Iowa school districts with large, ethnically diverse student populations. These districts included Davenport, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, and Des Moines.

The major goal of the program was to increase the number of ethnically diverse educators teaching in Iowa schools. The MIT Program was successful in accomplishing this goal by:

1. Initiating, as early as the sixth grade, a process to identify students of color with potential for and interest in teaching.
2. Including classroom teachers, counselors, administrators, and community members from participating school districts in cooperative endeavors with UNI faculty.
3. Involving students and their families in activities that enhance readiness for entrance to UNI.
4. Providing cognitive and affective experiences to help students prepare for the teaching profession.
5. Developing campus visitation activities to motivate prospective students to consider teaching careers and college attendance.
6. Instituting a concept of guaranteed admission for qualified applicants to UNI and the teacher education program.
7. Establishing scholarship support and financial aid through coordination of UNI, local communities, state, and federal programs.
8. Creating an MIT cohort support program to increase retention for students upon enrollment at UNI.
9. Supporting MIT graduates during their first three years of teaching.
10. Establishing an on-going program to ensure the continued professional development of ethnically and culturally diverse students within the teacher education program at the University of Northern Iowa..

Awards/Recognition

• 1990 Christa McAuliffe Showcase for Excellence Awards (American Association of State Colleges and Universities)
• 1991 The President’s Forum on Teaching as a Profession
• 1992 Council for Aid to Education
• 1999 Educational Equity Award ( Iowa State Board of Education)  

Scholarships

Multicultural Initiatives in Teaching Scholarships were established to assist students of color with tuition as they pursue a baccalaureate degree in teaching at the University of Northern Iowa. Students must meet academic requirements and maintain acceptable progress toward the completion of a baccalaureate degree in teaching to remain eligible to receive a scholarship each year. Eligible students may be awarded one of the following scholarships:

Ida May Wilson Scholarship
Lily Nina Furgerson Scholarship
William Randolph Hearst Scholarship

Additional information about each scholarship is available through the Enrollment Services Office in Gilchrist Hall.

Address: Multicultural Initiatives In Teaching Program Dean, College of Education 205 Schindler Education Center Cedar Falls , IA. 50614-0610 (319) 273-2717 campus maps

Contacts: Director, Multicultural Initiatives in Teaching Program Janet E. McClain 184 Schindler Education Center Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0615 (319 273-2924 janet.mcclain@uni.edu Assistant Director Admissions/Minority Recruitment 120 Gilchrist Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0018 (800) 772-2037 or (319) 273-2281 juanita.wright@uni.edu Director Teacher Education College of Education 159A Schindler Education Center Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0602 (319) 273-2265 merrie.schroeder@uni.edu