In 2021, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) entered into a new collective bargaining agreement that approved teachers to receive a pay increase if they have a master’s degree from an approved Indiana Department of Education content area. EVSC administrators reached out to USI, along with several other universities in the area, to see if there would be potential for a partnership between the district and the University’s teacher education graduate program to provide a high-quality and affordable education for their current teachers. After several meetings, EVSC opted to form a partnership with USI, which will include a variety of programmatic options for local teachers.
In response to an inquiry from EVSC, two of USI’s Teacher Education faculty, Dr. Tori Colson, Associate Professor of Education and Director of Graduate Programs, and Dr. Moriah Smothers, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education and Director of Masters and Certificate Programs in Education, are working to expand graduate degree opportunities at the master’s level to local teachers. The partnership has been a collaborative effort from the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education, the College of Liberal Arts, and EVSC.
Currently, the Teacher Education Department has a Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Curriculum and Instruction, Secondary Mathematics or Educational Leadership in Administration. The MSE in Curriculum and Instruction has a variety of programs that students can select based on their interests and future goals.
The partnership helps teachers in the EVSC obtain an advanced degree while expanding their content knowledge. Once teachers have obtained a master’s degree, their career pathway opens even further to pursue USI’s Doctor of Education (EdD) program. USI offers all education pathways, from earning a bachelor's degree to a master's degree and a Doctor of Education degree.
Excitingly, the Doctor of Education program has also seen growth. Many doctoral candidates in the first cohort are preparing or defending their dissertations and several are expected to graduate this spring.
This expansion is valuable because it will allow EVSC teachers to earn a pay increase from the new collective bargaining agreement. It will also provide advanced learning and knowledge in their current pedagogical area, or it may allow them to expand their current role. There will also be additional opportunities to become a College Achievement Program (CAP) instructor at USI if they are eligible and interested.
Expanding the master’s program benefits USI by increasing enrollment and visibility within our community. The newly developed concentrations and course delivery will begin this summer. This is an exciting partnership for both USI and EVSC because it was developed to be mutually beneficial for our local teachers as well as USI educational stakeholders.
The partnership adds value to many departments around campus because it will likely yield an increase in enrollment. It’s exciting for faculty because it provides an opportunity to impart their expertise in a way that will impact our local P-12 students and schools.
Furthermore, undergraduate teacher candidates currently enrolled in their bachelor’s degree have a high-quality way to continue their educational journey by pursuing their graduate degree at their alma mater. Familiarity with faculty, the learning management system (Blackboard), and the values of an institution are all factors that support and encourage alumni to return and pursue a graduate degree.
The expansion includes the development of new concentrations with the MSE program and cross-college coordination to offer other master-level graduate programs. The following are all the degrees or programs of studies that are tentatively being offered.
Program options
Program of studies with an * are in the process of being developed.