TAHLEQUAH — Students looking to enter the teaching profession through studies at Northeastern State University are now eligible to apply for up to $4,000 in grant funding per year through a new federal program that is seeking educators in critical subject areas.

NSU is among the first universities in Oklahoma to participate in the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program, which provides financial support to qualified recipients.

“The intent of the TEACH Grant program is to increase the number of fully prepared teachers in critical shortage areas who will teach in high need schools,” Dr. Kay Grant, dean of the NSU College of Education, said in a media release. “Having been in on the discussion in Washington last summer when this was initially going through Congress, it is great to see it coming a reality to assist our candidates achieve their professional goals.”

The subject areas eligible under the grant program include science education, math education, special education, Spanish education and Cherokee education, along with the Master in Reading program, which prepares candidates to be reading specialists.

Students at the Tahlequah, Muskogee and Broken Arrow campuses are eligible to apply for grant program. Undergraduate candidates can receive up to four years of funding, but may also qualify if they are already enrolled in one the College of Education’s programs. Graduate students may qualify for up to two full years.

“This is a great deal for education majors in these high need fields and helps students reduce the amount of loan debt they have upon graduation,” said Teri Cochran, director of Student Financial Services. “The program is not based on income or financial need, so everyone qualifies for the program as long as they meet the other criteria.”

For more information or to sign up for the TEACH grant program, contact the NSU Office of Student Financial Services at 444-3456.