UNI Minority Educators for Today and Tomorrow (UMETT)
Fifteen students from Waterloo and Marshalltown schools attended the inaugural UNI Minority Educators for Today and Tomorrow (UMETT) summer academy. The free program, which took place over the course of one week this past summer, is for future and current educators and aimed at addressing the nationwide shortage of diverse educators.
The participants spent five nights living on campus and experiencing college life, in addition to gaining hands-on experience with area youth, connecting with other students interested in a career in education, and learning how they can make a difference in students' lives as an educator. If the participants attend UNI after graduating high school or after going to an Iowa community college, they’ll be eligible for a scholarship of $500.
“The vision behind UMETT began with Terri Lasswell and Jen Beck, in particular their dedication to our shared vision of developing a pipeline of diverse teachers for the state of Iowa and beyond,” said Gaetane Jean-Marie, dean of the College of Education.
Jean-Marie emphasizes the vital importance of continued collaboration between the Waterloo and Marshalltown school districts, the UNI Center for Urban Education (UNI-CUE) and the broader university community, including faculty and staff, senior administration, and academic support services.
“Collectively, we are building capacity through our shared commitment to diversify the teacher education field,” said Jean-Marie. “I’m enthusiastic about the UMETT initiative, which is advancing UNI’s mission of inclusivity, diversity, community engagement, and campus vitality with an overarching goal of student success.”