Recruitment & Retention

2000-2001

During the Spring 2001 semester, the New Mexico Collaborative for Excellence in Teacher Preparation (CETP) hired a recruiter for math and science teachers. While success is not measurable yet in all areas, it is certain that in the future, as more recruiting programming is developed, the numbers of candidates in all areas of education will climb.

The recruiter has developed a series of correspondence that is geared toward increasing the interest of incoming freshman to study education. The college made written contact with nearly every incoming freshman that indicated they might be interested in becoming a teacher. This correspondence was credible in that it was from the Dean's or Advising Office and was followed up by a phone call from the recruiter. The candidates contacted often had questions that the college could answer and it is certain that the follow-up phone calls were appreciated. This effort should continue, however, current candidates in the CoE should play a role in the phone calling. Correspondence was also developed to congratulate graduating seniors and introduce them to graduate programs. Additionally, letters were sent to graduating seniors in the College of Engineering and to science majors to inform them about College of Education graduate programs.

A successful method of advertising has been at the local movie theater. CETP purchased an advertisement that runs like a slide show before the movie begins at the theater. The advertisement began running in March and in May we received a call from a potential secondary social studies teacher interested in attending NMSU. We will run the advertisement from April until September.

In trying to reach out to the area high school students, an information table was set up at Mayfield High School one day during the students' lunch hour. This and other activities will continue in Fall 2001.

One successful encounter with a high school classroom was at Oñate High School. The college visited the teacher pathway class in order to introduce those students, who have already expressed an interest in the field of education, to NMSU. We were able to answer many questions the students had about NMSU and college in general. Meeting with that class at Oñate should continue. Mayfield is scheduled to have a teacher pathway class next year, so they should be visited as well.

Throughout the semester the college met with department heads from the departments of biology, chemistry, geology, and physics and with associate deans from Engineering and Business Administration. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss programs of study for students in those departments who decide to become teachers in their junior or senior year. These "hybrid" programs enable students to graduate with only one additional year of coursework beyond their bachelor degree to teach in their specific field, rather than changing their major to education and facing 2-3 years worth of additional undergraduate coursework.