Hendrix, UCA sign teaching degree partnership

Hendrix College students now have a seamless pathway to becoming transformational teachers and leaders in education, thanks to a new academic degree partnership with the University of Central Arkansas.

The new opportunity for Hendrix seniors preparing for careers in classroom teaching was announced Thursday (June 20) by Hendrix President Karen Petersen and UCA President Houston Davis, who signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at a ceremony in the Dawkins Welcome Center on the Hendrix campus.

Under the agreement, qualified Hendrix students can begin the initial hours of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree online at UCA while still enrolled in their undergraduate degree studies at Hendrix. After graduating from Hendrix, students can complete the remaining hours of the MAT program, including a six-credit hour internship.

Hendrix graduates who are enrolled in the MAT program, have passed the required Arkansas licensure exams, and have a job offer for a teaching position may qualify for a provisional license in Arkansas or apply for reciprocity for licensure in another state, allowing them to start teaching while completing the MAT program.

“Our institutions exist to change the lives of our students and inspire them to make a difference,” said Petersen. “This partnership exemplifies our shared mission and the positive impact of our institutions in this community and in Arkansas. I am grateful to President Davis and the UCA College of Education leadership for their commitment to making this program possible.”

“Students aspiring to be classroom teachers can earn a bachelor’s while also working to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching. School districts will be able to hire even more highly skilled teachers, and K-12 students will learn from these teachers. This is a big win for the City of Colleges and our entire state,” Davis said. “We all benefit from this collaboration.”

Both institutions are are hoping to bring more qualified teachers into the profession and help address teacher shortages in Arkansas.