Madison College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education have announced a new transfer agreement that will create a direct pipeline for future elementary and special education teachers.
“Our School of Education is dedicated to helping students from our community follow their dreams of becoming educators,” says UW–Madison School of Education Dean Diana Hess in a statement. “We encourage everyone — including first-generation college students, students of color, students with language proficiencies other than English, and people who are considering a career change or earning a second degree — to consider utilizing this new transfer agreement to join our School of Education. I know our teacher education programs will greatly benefit from our growing connections to Madison College.”
The new agreement, which will be formalized at a press conference on Thursday, Sept. 30, noon, at Madison College’s Goodman South Campus, will guarantee admission into these teacher preparation programs for students who meet the requirements and students transferring into the programs become eligible for significant financial support. The UW–Madison School of Education Wisconsin Teacher Pledge program pays the equivalent of in-state tuition and fees, testing, and licensing costs for all teacher education students. In return, students pledge to work at a Wisconsin PK-12 institution for three to four years after graduation.
Madison College students will enroll and ultimately earn an associate of arts degree in the liberal arts transfer education pre-major, according to a press release from Madison College, and students also will complete an electronic declaration of intent to participate in the initiative with a Madison College advisor — which is then forwarded to the School of Education. Students also meet with a Madison College and School of Education advisor at least once per semester.
“It’s very exciting to learn that there will now be clear requirements and an easier pathway that make admission into UW–Madison’s School of Education attainable for Madison College students,” says Daniela Castellón, a UW–Madison senior who is pursuing her BS from the School of Education, with certification in elementary education and English as a second language (ESL).
Madison College students must also earn a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average or better in transferable Madison College coursework, and meet the requirements for admission to UW–Madison. The transfer agreement takes effect for students admitted to UW–Madison for the fall 2022 semester or later.
