Members were asked to consider adopting an augmented version of this program as the unit's minority recruitment plan. The focus was to increase the representation of minority teachers in education. In 1991, there were two or three minority teacher education candidates. Currently, there are 143 minority education majors. Dr. Rys's office provides a support network aimed at retaining the students.
Retention is as important as recruitment.
Following the discussion of the program elements, UCTE's attention turned to the budget and revisions needed in the program so that it would encompass all teacher education programs. Dr. Rys presented her thinking regarding needed revisions. These include the need to work closely with the Admissions Office to supplement, rather than repeat, this Office's recruitment efforts, identification of additional people in areas outside the School of Education to implement the retention activities found to be successful, and creation of an advisory board with representatives from each college with a teacher education program Dr. Rys provided a budget, increased to support the recruitment and retention of minority teacher education candidates in all programs, not just those in the School of Education. She also agreed to provide yearly reports of the implementation of the plan to UCTE and recommendations for revisions. In this way, UCTE would monitor the implementation of the plan.