Education News

Future Teacher Conference Celebrates 10 Years, Expands Audience Internationally

January 24, 2025 鈥� More than 500 high school and community college students will participate in the free, day-long conference.

A group of students wearing the same shirt smiling at the camera

Can We Predict Career Choice? Student Researcher Aims to Find Out

December 16, 2024 鈥� Graduate student hopes her research can help instructors design a curriculum that fosters recruitment and retention and increases students鈥� comfort, confidence and interest in the geosciences.

Focused geologist examining rock specimens outdoors.

Better Typeface = Better Learning?

November 12, 2024 鈥� Student research examines the impact of typeface on mathematics learning and performance.

Hand holding an open book surrounded by numbers coming off the pages.

SWAG视频鈥檚 Graduate School Waives Application Fee for Current Students and Alumni

November 12, 2024 鈥� SWAG视频 is dedicated to creating opportunities and breaking down barriers for our students 鈥� both current and past students. The Graduate School has taken their commitment to uplift and empower students upon itself by waiving application fees for students and alumni.

Breaking Down Barriers for Prospective Teachers: Center for Innovative Educator Preparation

September 10, 2024 鈥� SWAG视频 has set the bar for educator preparation in Colorado for decades. Now, innovating how we provide access to high-quality education for those pursuing a career in teaching has been reinvigorated through the establishment of the Center for Innovative Educator Preparation.

Student in walking in line out of a classroom.

Isa Schulte Finds Community Through the Cumbres Teacher Preparation Program

September 10, 2024 鈥� Isa Schulte came to SWAG视频 from her home in Denver to pursue her passion of becoming a teacher. Once on campus, Schulte got involved in her community of future teachers through the Cumbres Teacher Preparation Program and other extracurriculars, even becoming the treasurer and Cumbres liaison for the Future Teacher Club.

Sowing Seeds of Change: Cultivating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Sport and Exercise Science Higher Education

September 3, 2024 鈥� Doctoral student's dissertation evaluates effectiveness of adding DEI course to undergraduate curriculum.

Graphic illustration of the silhouette of various athletes running and jogging on a colorful background

Student Researcher Examines Effectiveness of 'Systems Thinking' Teaching Approach in Chemical Education

August 8, 2024 鈥� New approach aims to amplify students' critical thinking powers and tie learning to real-world applications.

A student painted with blue and orange acrylic paints is studying chemistry from a textbook.

Student Researcher Aims to Bring Joy Back to Classroom Teachers

August 1, 2024 鈥� Veteran teacher researching strategies to better support educators at every level of their career.

Young teacher sitting on the floor in a kindergarten classroom and smiling.

Teacher Burnout Addressed in Research Project Investigating Yoga as an Intervention Strategy

July 9, 2024 鈥� Driven by her compassion for fellow educators, doctoral student and seasoned K-12 teacher and administrator explores whether yoga can work as a proactive intervention strategy to mitigate teacher stress.

Young teacher sitting at desk doing yoga.

Research in Cognition and Metacognition Aims to Improve Mathematical Communication

June 24, 2024 鈥� Graduate students' research is poised to push boundaries by examining metacognitive processes specifically during mathematical proof writing tasks.

Measuring School Performance: Looking Beyond Standardized Testing and Scores

June 17, 2024 鈥� Doctoral student 鈥榮 research supports popular educational ecosystem framework as a way to understand and address school reform.

An poster in a classroom showing a basic network topology diagram with labeled components for student learning.

Statistical Literacy Research to Benefit Students in Introductory Courses

May 30, 2024 鈥� Graduate student explores curriculum enhancements that would help students become better informed consumers of data-related news and messages.

Graphic image of a person sitting in front of several computer screens analyzing data.

Special Education Graduate Deeply Committed to Helping Those Who Need the Most Help

April 26, 2024 鈥� Studying at the University of Northern Colorado changed Fernando Beltran鈥檚 life. And now he is committed to changing the lives of others.

Fernando standing against a wall with his arms crossed smiling

Creating Better Educational Outcomes for Children with Visual Disorder

March 29, 2024 鈥� In first research of its kind, SWAG视频 graduate student explores how children with cortical/cerebral visual impairment are evaluated on a popular standardized cognitive assessment

Close up of a child's face surrounded by lights and shapes.

The Importance of Teaching Underrepresented Cultures

February 16, 2024 鈥� When it comes to talking about values, it is clear that David Barillas Ch贸n鈥檚, Ph.D., priorities are about the community. Barillas Ch贸n was recently hired as an assistant professor in the Chicana/o and Latinx Studies Department (CLAS) at the University of Northern Colorado.

Awarded for Recognizing Diversity in the Classroom

February 13, 2024 鈥� Center for Urban Education leaders gear up to receive an impactful award

Teacher pointing at shapes in front of young students

Student Research Suggests Achievement Emotions May Hold Key to Academic Success

January 23, 2024 鈥� Chemical Education doctoral student Alex Graves is researching whether achievement emotions affect how well a student performs a task.

Illustration of student standing near a staircase made of books, contemplating education and deep in thought

Education Conference Caters to Colorado鈥檚 Future Teachers

January 9, 2024 鈥� SWAG视频 is awarding two $1,000 student scholarships at the ninth annual Future Teacher Conference and Future Rural Teachers Summit Feb. 1-2.

group of diverse students attending last year's conference, standing together and smiling outside on Greeley's campus

School Psychologists in Short Supply as Youth Mental Health Concerns Increase

January 3, 2024 鈥� $5 Million Grant Expected to Increase Colorado鈥檚 Pipeline

A male educator holding a clipboard sitting in a chair next to a young male student

Hey, Teach! Or Should That be Professor?

November 30, 2023 鈥� Guest speakers bring a change of pace to any learning environment. In the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, two professors walk into a classroom, but it鈥檚 a high school classroom: Kyle Anne Nelson, Ph.D., MPH, professor and chair of the Sociology department and Chris Talbot, Ph.D., professor of Gender Studies.

Two woman standing in front of a dry erase board looking at each other while talking

VIDEO: Expand Your Horizons Internationally

November 9, 2023 鈥� International Education Week is an opportunity to learn about international academic experiences at SWAG视频.

Colorado Calling 鈥� Idaho Student Finds College Home in Greeley

September 8, 2023 鈥� Twelve hours from home and separated from the single mother who raised him as an only child, Parker Coffelt isn鈥檛 wasting any time getting acclimated to the college life.

Language Teacher Turns Card Games into Problem-Solving Lesson

August 18, 2023 鈥� Doctoral student researching ways teachers can use technology in their curriculum designs.

close up of female students reading flash cards during education lesson in classroom.

The Power of a Humanities Degree

August 11, 2023 鈥� Five years out, people with humanities degrees are making equivalent money to people from a STEM discipline. The kinds of things that folks in the humanities and the arts develop are the very things that corporations want in their employees

a person siting at a desk at the end of a library aisle

Doctoral Student Aims to Improve Preschool Inclusion in Rural Kansas

July 23, 2023 鈥� Lena Kisner鈥檚 passion for early childhood special education spurred her investigation of preschool inclusion rates in rural Kansas schools. She鈥檚 a special education director, overseeing children from birth to age 21 for five interlocal school districts.

Teacher sitting on the floor interacting with a group of preschool-age children.

Doctoral Student Studies Pandemic-era Anxiety, Depression and Resiliency

June 7, 2023 鈥� Kimberly Crystal Monroe is earning her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology in a University of Northern Colorado building a stone鈥檚 throw from her former preschool on a campus where several of her family members studied.

College students standing in a hallway wearing face masks

Teacher of Teachers Driven by Student Success Receives Honor

May 24, 2023 鈥� University of Northern Colorado Department of History Lecturer Kelly Langley Cook has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Sears Helgoth Distinguished Teaching Award.

Kelly Langly Cook on the floor teaching a hands on experience

Doctoral Candidate Probes COVID鈥檚 Impact on Special Education

May 11, 2023 鈥� When K-12 public schools shifted to online learning models during COVID-19, special education directors scrambled to meet students鈥� needs while adhering to strict legal requirements.

drawing of young student sitting in front of a laptop

Forging Connections Becomes Key Link to College Success

April 27, 2023 鈥� First-gen Nursing major Rosemary Gonzalez know attending college without her parents fully understanding all the steps it takes to get there would create some obstacles and adversities. Facing those is when she realized that for her to be successful in higher education, she needed to find a new support system. 鈥揟ambi茅n en espa帽ol

Rosemary Gonzalez sitting in nursing scrubs posing for the picture

Dissertation Examines Maya Education in Postcolonial Belize

March 15, 2023 鈥� Jenny Pettit went to Belize three times to conduct research for her dissertation 鈥淓ducational Experiences that Influence the Upward Mobility of Maya Women in Belize,鈥� which was awarded SWAG视频鈥檚 Graduate Dean鈥檚 Citation for Outstanding Dissertation last year. Pettit identified three Maya women who were leaders in their communities and examined how their educational and other life experiences had influenced their success.

Jenny Pettit wearing dean's citation medal

New Investment Expected to Increase Diversity and Add Numbers to Denver Metro鈥檚 Teacher Workforce

January 27, 2023 鈥� Since 2000, SWAG视频's Center for Urban Education has been enrolling and graduating paraeducators working in local schools, offering a hybrid program that pairs bachelor鈥檚-level coursework with clinical teaching experience that starts the first day of the program. CUE's educator programs have consistently high graduation and placement rates (over 90%) and its students鈥�70% of whom are people of color and 94% of whom are first-generation鈥攂ring diversity to Colorado鈥檚 educator workforce.

Hispanic/Latina teacher sitting beside young male student with a book

Students Explore Teaching Field at Future Teachers Conference

November 7, 2022 鈥� A year ago, Nayzeth Hernandez of Greeley was finishing the first semester of her senior year in high school, preparing to be one of 27 Greeley Central High School students attending the 2022 SWAG视频鈥檚 Future Teachers Conference with their teacher, Lauren Appelhans 鈥�14. Now, Hernandez is a freshman at SWAG视频, with the perspective of a college student majoring in Elementary Education just finishing up her first semester.

School of Teacher Education Faculty Member Wins Sears Helgoth Distinguished Teaching Award

August 23, 2022 鈥� University of Northern Colorado School of Teacher Education Professor Suzette Youngs, Ph.D., has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 Sears Helgoth Distinguished Teaching Award.

SWAG视频 Offering Scholarships to Students Who Started College but Left Before Graduating

March 25, 2022 鈥� SWAG视频 is one of 31 public institutions across the state enticing Colorado residents to return to college to earn their certificate or degree by offering financial assistance and support services through the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative鈥檚 (COSI) Finish What You Started program.

The Need for More Physical Education in Colorado Schools has SWAG视频 Alumni, Faculty and Doctoral Students Leaping for Change

March 3, 2022 鈥� As a teacher preparation institute, those in SWAG视频's College of Natural and Health Sciences take pride in pushing for more physical education classes in Colorado schools, though there is an uphill battle to overcome.

SWAG视频 Hosts Free Event to Inspire Future Teachers Across Colorado

January 19, 2022 鈥� High school and community college students interested in teaching careers have an opportunity to hear from professional educators and gain valuable knowledge about the field during a free two-day event, Feb. 17-18.

Students attending the Future Teacher Conference

SWAG视频 Receives Grant That Will Help Strengthen Colorado's Teaching Workforce

September 3, 2021 鈥� SWAG视频 was selected in a highly competitive grant process, as a recipient of a $850,000 Colorado Scholarship Opportunity Initiative (COSI) Back to Work grant. The funding will provide new career paths for workers displaced by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while also addressing the need for teachers in Colorado鈥檚 classrooms.

Student in SWAG视频's CUE program working in a classroom

Unanimous Vote Leads to Full Reauthorization of SWAG视频 Educator Preparation Programs

May 26, 2021 鈥� After three years of working with the Colorado Department of Higher Education鈥痑nd the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado State Board of Education voted unanimously on May 12 to fully reauthorize SWAG视频鈥檚 Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education programs.

Faculty Member Part of Group Awarded for Teacher-Preparation Research

March 4, 2021 鈥� A SWAG视频 faculty member was one of four individuals who received this year鈥檚 Edward C. Pomeroy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

David holding the award plague on campus

SWAG视频鈥檚 Future Teacher Conference Continues to Fuel the Teacher Pipeline

March 4, 2021 鈥� In a never-ending quest to fuel the teaching pipeline in Colorado and nationwide, SWAG视频 virtually hosted its sixth annual Future Teacher Conference on Feb. 19 with keynote speaker Governor Jared Polis.

Future Teacher Conference 21 with Gov Polis

SWAG视频 Names New Education Dean

January 28, 2021 鈥� SWAG视频 has announced that Jared Stallones, Ph.D., will become the next dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

SWAG视频 Active Schools Institute Receives $125,000 to Evaluate Physical Education Pilot Program and Develop Re-Entry Guidelines

December 8, 2020 鈥� The Active Schools Institute at SWAG视频 has received two grants totaling $125,000 from the Colorado Department of Education to improve the quality of physical education and physical activity opportunities for K-12 students in Colorado.

Learning about Acoustics with Build-Your-Own Cigar-Box Guitars, PVC Pipe Didgeridoos

September 9, 2020 鈥� Faculty members at SWAG视频 are finding creative ways to keep students involved virtually. Two Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences classes involve students receiving built-it-yourself kits of cigar box guitars and PVC pipe didgeridoos to learn about acoustics.

Finan's students with their newly made cigar-box guitars

State Reauthorizes SWAG视频 Teacher Education Programs with Extension of Conditions

June 12, 2020 鈥� The Colorado State Board of Education on Thursday approved reauthorization of the University of Northern Colorado鈥檚 34 teacher education programs with an extension of conditions in literacy instruction for two endorsement areas offered at the university.

Coronavirus Caused Rapid Changes in Education Model

April 10, 2020 鈥� As K-12 schools, colleges and universities turn to online instruction, the dean of SWAG视频鈥檚 College of Education and Behavioral Sciences offers tips for students, parents and educators to succeed in this new reality.

Child and parent doing remote learning, teaching

SWAG视频 Education Students, Alumni Step Up in New Environment

April 10, 2020 鈥� In addition to changes made at SWAG视频 to better support Bears going through the switch to online classes, SWAG视频 students and alumni in the teaching field are taking diverse approaches to supporting families in the switch to online learning for their children in preschool through high school.

Making a Game of It

March 24, 2020 鈥� Your kids鈥� schools are closed, and you鈥檙e working from home. Looking for some ideas to help all of you stay sane? Here鈥檚 how to engage your kids in something they love.

Two Students Attended International Education Celebration at Capitol

February 7, 2020 鈥� The StudyColorado Advocacy Day took place at the state capitol last week to showcase the benefits of international education in higher education institutions around the state. Two SWAG视频 students participated at the event.

SWAG视频 Students Attended International Education Celebration at Capitol

The Story of SWAG视频's First African American Graduate

January 29, 2020 鈥� Lucile Buchanan enrolled in a two-year teacher certification program at the now University of Northern Colorado in 1903 and was the only African American student in her 1905 graduating class and the first African-American student to earn a teaching degree at SWAG视频. Learn more about her story.

Lucile Buchanan with her graduating class at SWAG视频

SWAG视频鈥檚 Future Teacher Conference Introduces Students to Teaching

December 16, 2019 鈥� SWAG视频, in a never-ending quest to end the teaching shortage in Colorado and nationwide, will host the sixth annual Future Teacher Conference starting at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21.

SWAG视频 Hosts 21 International Secondary Teachers from 20 Countries

October 15, 2019 鈥� SWAG视频 is hosting a group of 21 international secondary teachers from 20 countries who are participating in the Fulbright Teacher Excellence and Achievement Exchange Program.

The group of teachers visiting SWAG视频 on campus

Game Design Studio Kicks Off on Campus for Two Weeks

July 10, 2019 鈥� The University of Northern Colorado Technology, Innovation and Pedagogy's Creativity Lab has partnered with iThrive Games to host Game Design Studio, a two-week summer day camp program, on campus July 8-19.

Game Studio Design participants learning about and playing a game to better understand the logistics.

SWAG视频 Grads Win Monthly Teacher Tuesday Contests

June 13, 2019 鈥� Once a month, students, parents, school staff and community members nominate a teacher in a Northern Colorado K-12 school for being an outstanding educator, and two SWAG视频 grads have won.

SWAG视频 alum Teacher Tuesday winners standing with Jonathan Shaw

Observable Beehive Installed in SWAG视频鈥檚 Ross Hall

May 14, 2019 鈥� SWAG视频 has new tenants on campus 鈥� thousands of them! In Ross Hall, an observable bee hive was installed with hardworking honeybees fortifying their new home.

SWAG视频 members installing the beehive in Ross Hall

Program Addresses Shortage of Certified ASL Interpreters in Rural Colorado

March 27, 2019 鈥� Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind and live in rural Colorado may see an increase in qualified American Sign Language interpreters as a new certification training program begins. The Rural Interpreting Services Project was made possible by a partnership between SWAG视频鈥檚 Department of American Sign Language and Interpreting Studies and the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind.

State Fully Reauthorizes SWAG视频 Educator Prep Programs with Areas to Address

March 15, 2019 鈥� The Colorado State Board of Education recently reauthorized all SWAG视频鈥檚 educator preparation programs, with conditions for reading instruction that SWAG视频 is already addressing.

SWAG视频 student teacher reading to students in a classroom setting.

SWAG视频 Professor Participates in Conference on Teaching STEM to English Language Learners

January 24, 2019 鈥� SWAG视频 education students can expect to take six-credit hours in preparation of better teaching of STEM subjects to English language learners. SWAG视频 Professor of Language Education and Associate Dean and School Director of Teacher Education Jingzi Huang, Ph.D., goes into more detail about these developments and her involvement in a recent conference.

Teacher teaching children their lessons in school

Mines, SWAG视频 Formalize Unique Teacher Prep Partnership

April 2, 2018 鈥� The Colorado School of Mines (Mines) and the University of Northern Colorado (SWAG视频) formalized an agreement for a program they developed to increase the number of students prepared to teach in secondary science and math.

SWAG视频 Again Hosting Teachers from Pakistan for Professional Development

August 28, 2017 鈥� For the sixth consecutive year, SWAG视频's School of Teacher Education is hosting English teachers from Pakistan as part of the Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and administered by the International Research and Exchanges Board.

Expert: Activity Dips, Weight Creeps up in Summer

July 14, 2017 鈥� The summer slide isn鈥檛 limited to academics, according to a nationally-known expert who delivered a keynote presentation Friday on childhood obesity at SWAG视频鈥檚 Physical Activity Leadership Academy.

SWAG视频 Rural Education Center Featured in National Story

July 12, 2017 鈥� "Most student teachers think that it would be really great to be in the bright lights of the big cities.... But the reality is there are great opportunities for teachers who would commit to student teaching in rural districts. We want to offer this as an incentive for them." 鈥� Center Director Harvey Rude to Christian Science Monitor

school bus driving on dirt road in rural Colorado

The Teacher Crisis in Rural Colorado

June 26, 2017 鈥� Cash-strapped small districts that serve 130,000 students struggle to attract and retain educators amid a shrinking pool of candidates

SWAG视频 Helping Build a Model for Healthier K-12 Schoolchildren

June 21, 2017 鈥� A Colorado Health Foundation-funded project being led by the University of Northern Colorado aims to get K-12 students healthier and more active in their classrooms throughout the school day.

Windsor elementary school students in class

Trailblazers from Colorado鈥檚 Political Scene Visit Center for Urban Education Classes

March 15, 2017 鈥� Students in classes offered at SWAG视频's Center for Urban Education in Denver recently benefited from the insights of two trailblazers from the state's political scene: former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and former state legislator Polly Baca.

SWAG视频