By KRWG News
Las Cruces – The Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders at New Mexico State University received a $1.2 million grant this fall to assist five students in earning a doctoral degree in special education.
The grant, Special Education Leaders for a Diverse Society, aims to produce five special education leadership personnel who will be qualified for entry level professor positions, with a dual focus on research and teaching aimed at the needs of multicultural students with disabilities in public schools.
"The project emphasizes both of these areas through coursework and research and teaching opportunities," said Kathleen Cronin, assistant professor for the department. "This combination of teaching and research will make the doctoral students uniquely qualified to accept leadership positions in special education."
For the first two years of the project, participants will engage in 15 hours of research with a special education faculty member. They will gain practical experience with research design, data collection and publication of results. Participants also will engage in five hours of university teaching, which includes teaching core special education classes and supervision of practicum students and student teachers.
"This project provides the hands-on research and teaching experience that may not otherwise be available to students who are trying to juggle classes and full-time employment," Cronin said.
The grant will provide fulltime graduate tuition for the fall and spring semesters and for six credit hours during the summer session. The grant also will provide a monthly stipend of $2,900 and yearly conference travel up to $1,000.
"The ideal candidate to receive this grant is someone who is passionate about special education and wants to make a difference in the lives of children with exceptionalities," Cronin said. "I encourage students to apply because it is a great opportunity to work with faculty who are recognized in their fields."
The deadline to apply for the grant is 5 p.m. Nov. 28. For more information or to apply, visit http://education.nmsu.edu/news-current/documents/nm-selds.pdf or contact Cronin at 646-7831.