Noyce Signature Experiences

  • NKSP Scholars’ Orientation: NKSP scholars will take part in an orientation program conducted by the NSKP PI/Co-PIs in Fall of each year that will provide an introduction to NKSP so that the scholars have a clear understanding of the Noyce program’s demands, expectations, opportunities and support services. NKSP Scholars must attend the Orientation program that will introduce the NKSP scholars about the Noyce Knights Scholars Program’s expectations.
  • Spring Welcoming Reception: NKSP scholars will take part in a Spring or Welcome Backreception each year. These is a community-building event that welcomes scholars across the Noyce cohorts and the leadership team for networking and team bonding activities. Annual events are outlined and reviewed.
  • STEM Teacher Education Learning Community: NKSP Scholars will take part in STEM Teacher Education Learning Community (STELC) activities. STELC will provide a support network among pre-service STEM teacher education students, in-service STEM teachers, and STEM/Education faculty and peer mentors. Upon graduation, Noyce scholars will become professional members of STELC as Noyce STEM teachers.
  • STEM Maker Fair: As part of this NKSP project, Noyce scholars will join the STELC will host an annual STEM Maker Fair event (an enrichment opportunity to showcase creativity and innovation) in partnership with the Kentucky Science Center for Bellarmine and KCTCS community college students, that will also include participation of students from the STEM Academies of Louisville. NKSP scholars will develop an engaging hands-on project, experiment or science demonstrations and engage in conversations with other STEM students, to inspire their interest in STEM teaching. This STEM Maker Fair event will also create a recruitment pipeline for NKSP.
  • Internship at the Kentucky Science Center: NKSP Scholars can take part in a paid summer internship in STEM Education at the Kentucky Science Center. Each Noyce intern will receive $1250 for this internship – a stipend of $800 (20 hours/week for four-weeks at $10/hour) and $450 as subsistence towards housing expenses for one month.
  • Kentucky Noyce Scholars’ Professional Learning: NKSP Scholars will join forces with Noyce scholars across the state at all expenses paid summer professional development workshops offered at the University of Kentucky.
  • Field Experiences: NKSP scholars in the Graduate Certification Pathway (Early Entry MAT or the Traditional MAT program) will be required to a complete a minimum of 200 hours of field experience that will provide classroom teaching experiences in diverse settings at JCPS schools.
  • Community Partner Events: NKSP scholars will take part in the KY Science Center’s Maker Days and Engineering Days each Fall and Spring to host interactive showcases for visitors as they explore the museum and the various partner stations and activities.
  • New Teacher Induction Seminars: In the final year of the program, NKSP scholars participate in monthly Induction Seminars focused on topics relevant to their transition from student to teacher. These sessions often include guest speakers from local school districts and topics related to job searches, new teacher challenges, mentoring, and continued learning opportunities.
  • National Noyce Conference: Eachyear, one NKSP scholar will be chosen to attend the national NSF Noyce Summit in Washington D.C. with a NKSP faculty. All travel expenses paid.
  • Regional Noyce Conference: Eachyear, two NKSP scholars will be chosen to attend the Regional Noyce Meeting with the NKSP faculty. All travel expenses paid.
  • Mentoring After Certification: Upon certification, STELC will assign NKSP scholars a BU faculty mentor, a teacher mentor (in consultation with the school district) at the high-needs school district where scholars will be assigned to teach, as well as a Noyce scholar who is a teacher at a JCPS school or at another high-needs school district in KY. Based on Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) mandate, school districts offer robust and mandatory induction/orientation and a professional development program for new teachers so that they can become highly effective teachers and grow professionally.
  • STELC Transfer Ambassadors: For NKSP scholars from the KCTCS community colleges, STELC will assign as transfer ambassador from their respective STEM department at BU who will mentor and provide peer coaching to an incoming NKSP scholars from KCTCS community colleges to help them transition to BU.
  • Support from Counseling Center: If needed, in consultation with STELC Co-Directors, STELC will arrange for a staff from the Counseling Center to meet with NKSP scholars for counseling. Counseling Center offers a series of online workshops on topics such as test anxiety, time management, as well as stress management and self-care practices.
  • Support from Career Development Center: In consultation with STELC Co-Directors, Career Development Center will assist with the placement of NKSP graduates in JCPS or in another high-need school district and will provide various professional development workshops to NKSP scholars, such as how to write a resume/cover letter and to develop strong communication skills.
  • Faculty Advising: Noyce Knights meet with their assigned education and STEM advisor each semester to plan courses and review program progress. Advisors provide additional mentoring and support for students throughout the semester with issues that arise, applications for alternative certification, field or course concerns, and other general support and mentoring.
  • Peer-to-Peer Mentorship and Coaching: NKSP have support available to them through the Student Success Center’s Peer-to-Peer tutoring. Noyce Knights are encouraged to serve as peer mentors for other Noyce Scholars as new cohorts come into the program.
  • University Supervision and Support:Each Noyce Knights is assigned an experienced University Supervisor for every semester. The University Supervisor visits the scholar in the field throughout the placement, providing both formative and summative feedback on planning, pedagogy, and classroom environment.
  • STEM Master Teacher Mentors: STEM Master Teacher mentors will be paired with each Noyce scholar and are certified mentor teachers with an advanced degree, a minimum of three years teaching experience who are identified by their administrator as exemplary teachers capable of mentoring teacher candidates.
  • Peer-to-Peer Mentorship and Coaching: NKSP have support available to them through the Student Success Center’s Peer-to-Peer tutoring. Noyce Knights are encouraged to serve as peer mentors for other Noyce Scholars as new cohorts come into the program.  
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