WHO WE ARE
a collaboration
The Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program (METP) is a collaboration between the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and Mississippi State University (MSU) to attract top-performing students into the education profession with valuable full financial support and invaluable professional incentives.
We aim to increase the import — and reduce the export — of talented educators to create a pipeline of new teachers committed to Mississippi's future. All students who enter the program make a five-year commitment to teach in Mississippi after graduation.
Funded by the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation of Jackson, MS, METP is designed to create a unique “honors college-style” learning experience for high achieving education students and promote collaboration between students and faculty at both universities.
BOTH OLE MISS AND MSU ACCEPT UP TO 30 STUDENTS EACH YEAR.
IN ADDITION TO FULL FINANCIAL
SUPPORT FOR UP TO FOUR YEARS,
METP Fellows receive a variety of benefits:
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EARLY EDUCATION EXPOSURE
Ole Miss METP students enter K-12 classrooms for observations and begin education courses fall of their freshman year — much earlier than traditional School of Education students.
TECHNOLOGY
Each Fellow receives reimbursement up to $1,000 on the purchase of a laptop or tablet of their choice.
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STUDY ABROAD / OFF-CAMPUS LEARNING
The summer before senior year, Fellows receive funding to study education issues abroad or visit top-performing schools in the nation to complete off-campus learning projects.
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ROOM AND BOARD
CROSS-CAMPUS LEARNING
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Our funding provides an allowance for housing and meals based on the institution’s Cost of Attendance, as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Excess funds available after METP pays institutional charges will be provided to the student and can be used to cover off-campus living expenses after freshman year.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
During senior year, METP Fellows receive the chance to attend a national or regional professional conference relevant to their teaching discipline. Fellows conduct original research on a topic of interest throughout their time in the program and must present their work as a thesis before graduation.
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Students have several opportunities to engage with students and faculty from each campus to grow professionally and build camaraderie with future colleagues, from short overnight stays to longer professional development events like our Residential Institute.
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WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
REQUIREMENTS
Admission decisions will be based on a combination of students’ academic achievement, record of service, experience in education and passion for teaching.
All applications are reviewed holistically.
Required application materials include:
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ACT or SAT scores
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High school transcript and dual enrollment transcripts
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Résumé detailing employment, extracurricular and education-related experience
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3 letters of recommendation from teachers and/or counselors
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Personal statement (200 words)
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Application essay (500–700 words)
Competitive applicants are expected to have an ACT composite score of 28 or SAT score of 1320 and a high school GPA of at least 3.5.
Scholarships will be awarded after students have received available financial aid.
All finalists will be interviewed via Zoom or other videoconferencing platform to screen for passion and dedication to the education profession.
If accepted, METP participants must complete all coursework on the Oxford campus of the university.
QUESTIONS?
WE HAVE ANSWERS
Check out our FAQ for detailed answers, and be sure to contact us if you have more questions!
OUR TEAM
Faculty and Staff
Professor of Teacher Education, Mathematics
METP Director and Associate Professor of Leadership & Counselor Education
Assistant Dean, Director of Assessment; Associate Professor of Teacher Education, Elementary
Instructor of Teacher Education, Science; Director of the MS Public School Consortium for Educational Access
Dean of School of Education and Professor of Teacher Education
Clinical Assistant Professor of Teacher Education; Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Assistant Dean, Certification & Advising; Assistant Professor of Higher Education
METP Program Manager