NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – A new University of Oklahoma program will help future teachers graduate with less debt and a built-in network of mentors and peers, with the goal of putting more teachers with standard certification in Oklahoma classrooms.
The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education Scholars Program, supported by a $5 million gift from Gene and Jeannine Rainbolt, will provide eligible Oklahoma residents pursuing undergraduate education degrees with $9,500 over four years. It will welcome its first students in fall 2027.
“Every one of us can point to a teacher who believed in us, challenged us and helped shape who we would become. That influence can last a lifetime, and it’s why preparing the next generation of great teachers is one of the most important investments we can make in Oklahoma’s future,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “As the state’s flagship university, we have a responsibility to make that path more accessible and affordable for talented students who feel called to teach. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Gene and Jeannine Rainbolt, we’re not just investing in future teachers – we’re investing in the countless Oklahoma children whose lives they will one day change.”
The number of students completing traditional university teacher-preparation programs in the state has fallen nearly 40 percent since 2013. Since 2018, fewer than half of Oklahoma’s first-year teachers have entered the classroom with a standard certification, and last year alone, the state issued nearly 4,000 emergency teaching certificates.
“Few investments are more important to Oklahoma’s future than preparing the next generation of teachers. Strong schools build strong communities and if we want talented young people to choose teaching and remain in the profession, we must find new and meaningful ways to support them along the way,” said Stacy Reeder, Ph.D., dean of the college.
Every student who meets the program’s eligibility requirements will receive the scholarship. The college anticipates approximately 20 students in the first group. Scholars will take part in regular gatherings with peers, faculty, staff, college leaders and education professionals, and the college plans to develop a peer mentoring structure in which upper-level Scholars support incoming students.
Students will receive $2,000 in each of their first two years, $2,500 in their third year and $3,000 in their fourth year, provided they continue to meet the program’s requirements. The scholarship may be combined with other financial aid for which students qualify.
To help students graduate with as little student loan debt as possible, the college has significantly increased student scholarships. Annual scholarship awards have grown from approximately $320,000 four years ago to $822,000 this year.
In addition to the Scholars Program, current education students at OU can apply for scholarships through OU's Centralized Academic Scholarship Hub (CASH). Currently, about 37% of the college’s students apply for scholarships through CASH, Ortiz said. “We want to increase that participation.”
The Scholars Program is open to incoming OU freshmen who are Oklahoma residents, enroll full time in an eligible education major and have a family adjusted gross income of $135,000 or less as documented through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students eligible for Oklahoma’s Promise or OU Onward are not eligible for the program. Additional eligibility requirements apply.
Students must maintain a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA, make satisfactory academic progress and remain in the college to continue receiving the scholarship.
Incoming fall 2027 students interested in a Jeannie Rainbolt College of Education major will be selected for the first-year scholarship after applying to OU and completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Juanita Ortiz, Ph.D., senior college operations specialist, will work directly with students as the program develops.
“An important part of the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education Scholars Program is helping students understand and pursue financial support opportunities,” Ortiz said.
Each student within the Scholars Program can also participate in a study-abroad experience at OU’s campus in Puebla. The college plans to offer the trip every other year, with each student able to participate once during the four-year program.
The Cathey A. Simmons Humphreys Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship will cover the trip, marking the fund’s first full-cost study-abroad award.
The application for fall 2027 is currently open. Students can apply at apply.ou.edu and select a major in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education on their OU application. OU's final scholarship admissions deadline is December 15. For more information, visit https://link.ou.edu/jrcoe-scholars.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and healthcare needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
From expanding educational opportunity and strengthening Oklahoma’s workforce to advancing research, improving health care and driving economic growth, the University of Oklahoma is directing its resources, expertise and partnerships to address the most pressing needs of the state.
A new University of Oklahoma program will help future teachers graduate with less debt and a built-in network of mentors and peers, with the goal of putting more teachers with standard certification in Oklahoma classrooms.
A dietary supplement called urolithin A increased blood flow to the brain during mental activity in middle-aged adults with obesity, according to a University of Oklahoma study published in JAMA Network Open. The findings could help researchers better understand the relationship between the supplement, blood vessel function and brain health.
