Thirteen students graduate from East Carolina University this summer through Wachovia’s Partnership East
A group of 13 students walked in East Carolina’s College of Education Graduate Recognition Ceremony held on May 5, 2006. For many of these students, the trip to the recognition ceremony was the first time they ever stepped foot on the East Carolina University (ECU) campus.
Upon the completion of six more credits this summer, these students will be the second of two graduating Elementary Education cohorts to receive their degree in Elementary Education through Wachovia Partnership East.
ECU’s College of Education established a partnership with community colleges and public school’s within the university’s service region in order to lessen the state’s teaching shortage, while improving teacher recruitment and retention.
Wachovia Partnership East makes it possible for students to remain at home and complete a four-year degree in Elementary Education, or Special Education. The students complete the first two years at their local community colleges and then continue through ECU at one of the three hub sites (Craven Community College, Wayne Community College, and Nash Community College) for the last two years. Teachers from ECU teach at each of the three hub sites and course work materials from ECU are delivered directly to the homes of the students, or made available online.
The program makes it convenient for working adults or parents with an interest in becoming teachers to earn college degrees, as well as help reduce the statewide teacher shortage.
“The population we can access through this partnership are community-based folks, people who have lived here for years,” Chris Locklear, Wachovia Partnership East on-campus coordinator, said. “When they finish this program, we believe that they will stay in the eastern North Carolina area because they’re part of that community.”
The first Elementary Education cohort graduated 16 students in December 2005.
“ECU’s first Special Education cohort of 12 students will also graduate at ECU in late July through Wachovia Partnership East,” Locklear said. “By the end of the summer ECU will have graduated two Elementary Education and one Special Education cohorts, representing 41 degree completers.”
These 41 students will help narrow the estimated 8,000 teachers North Carolina public schools will need within the next 10 years.”
In 2004, The Wachovia Foundation donated a gift of $1.25 million to be paid over the course of five years. The majority of these funds will be used toward student scholarships. An $800,000 federal grant was also awarded to ECU for the recruitment of special education teachers.
“Education is one of Wachovia’s top priorities,” David Parker, Wachovia’s regional president for Eastern North Carolina, said. “We are so pleased to partner with East Carolina University to help grow our base of highly-qualified teachers who are committed to living, teaching, and improving education in our region.”
Employees interested in learning more about Wachovia Partnership East may visit the East Carolina University website at: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/partner_east/Index.cfm
Also see: Wachovia Foundation Announces New Education Grants Program