Deadline to apply for the next Teaching Fellows cohort: Sunday, Dec. 1 at 11:59 p.m.
Welcome, Future Teacher!
Available at 14 colleges and universities throughout the state, the South Carolina Teaching Fellows program recruits talented high school seniors to become teachers in the Palmetto State.
Each participating institution has a campus director who works closely with the cohort of Fellows throughout their higher education experience. Teaching Fellows participate in enrichment programs, have professional development opportunities, are involved with S.C. communities and businesses, and receive up to $6,000 in annual scholarships for four years while completing a degree leading to initial teacher certification.
Newberry College and Columbia College have partnered to host the first collaborative cohort in the history of the Teaching Fellows program, meaning you'll have built-in opportunities for networking and fellowship between the two institutions.
The Teaching Fellows program is administered by the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention & Advancement, or CERRA.
The SC Teaching Fellows application serves as the first step in the rigorous identification process for Teaching Fellows. The application submission window is open from Oct. 1 until Dec. 1. Test scores, transcripts, and reference surveys must be submitted by Dec. 6. Students must apply for Teaching Fellows during their final year of high school. Submit your Teaching Fellows application.
To apply for Teaching Fellows, you must be:
- a U.S. citizen or will be an eligible non-citizen under State Residency Statutes at the time of high school graduation (Please note - students categorized as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are not eligible for Teaching Fellows.)
- a legal resident of South Carolina (Please note - Residency will be verified by the Teaching Fellows Institution after a student has been offered an award.)
- a high school senior or junior graduating early
In addition to submitting your application for the Teaching Fellows program, you must also apply for admission to Newberry College. Newberry is proud to offer rolling admission, meaning you can apply any time and receive an admission decision within just a few weeks. Ready to take the next step toward finding your passion and fulfilling your dreams? Start your application to Newberry.
Membership in the Newberry College / Columbia College Teaching Fellow cohort provides not only up to $24,000 toward your education throughout your four years, but also a host of unique opportunities, including:
- Access to resources at both Newberry College and Columbia College
- Completion of a Public Policy Internship in agencies that support public education
- Attendance at statewide Teaching Fellows Conference sponsored by CERRA
- Annual visits from the SC Teacher of the Year
- A student-selected Inquiry Research Project presented during American Education Week
- Partnership and outreach with local Teacher Cadet sites and other Teaching Fellows institutions
While enrolled in the Teaching Fellows program, students must:
- maintain continuous progress toward SC teacher certification
- successfully complete 30 semester hours per academic year (or maintain status as a freshman with 30 completed hours, a sophomore with 60 completed hours, a junior with 90 completed hours, or a senior with 120 completed hours)
- maintain a minimum cumulative Teaching Fellows Institution (TFI) GPA of 2.80
- be accepted into the TFI's Teacher Education Program by their junior year
- remain a full-time student during each fall and spring term
- attend Teaching Fellows programs as assigned by the institution
- attend enrichment programs as assigned by the institution and CERRA
In return for the fellowship, Fellows agree to teach in a South Carolina public school for one year for every year they receive the fellowship. According to CERRA, 93.3% of graduates, or 2,465 fellows, have either satisfied their loan or are currently teaching for loan forgiveness in a South Carolina public school.
