Science and Mathematics Teaching Imperative

APLU Impact

• Advancing effective STEM education practices that are essential to meeting rapidly growing demand for STEM-educated teachers, workers, and citizens.
• SMTI’s work centers currently centers on the STEM Education Centers Network, Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership, SEMINAL initiative, and other projects.

APLU launched the Science and Mathematics Teaching Imperative (SMTI) in 2008 to increase the number of high-quality science and mathematics teachers, prepare excellent teachers through partnerships with K-12 schools, and improve undergraduate STEM teaching and learning by galvanizing university leadership and collaborating with other professional and educational organizations.

Today, more than 215 universities and 13 systems participate in SMTI initiatives and projects focused on increasing the quantity, quality, and diversity of science and mathematics teachers in response to the need to improve national science and mathematics education. APLU provides strategic direction as it works with partner institutions to conduct research, develop tools, strengthen networks, and identify models that address this important challenge.

SMTI’s work currently centers on the following initiatives and projects:

• The STEM Education Centers Network fosters communication and interaction among STEM education centers to improve their undergraduate STEM education.
• Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership (MTEP) provides a coordinated research, development, and implementation effort for secondary mathematics teacher preparation programs.
• Student Engagement in Mathematics through an Institutional Network for Active Learning (SEMINAL) project, initiated through MTEP, studies and works to scale the implementation of active learning in undergraduate mathematics.

What is SMTI?

Lee T. Todd, Jr., former chair of the SMTI Executive Committee and former president of the University of Kentucky, discusses why producing more high-quality science and mathematics teachers is not just important for middle and high schools but is an essential component to ensure a robust economy.