Project UNITED

University of Northern Iowa Teacher Education for Diverse Learners

Project UNITED is committed to preparing teachers to work with emergent bilingual learners in Iowa while addressing the shortage of teachers prepared to teach ESL . Through a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Project UNITED will provide undergraduate and graduate scholarships for select TESOL-related degrees while simultaneously offering up-to-date coursework and field experiences to teacher candidates and practicing teachers. Check out the related articles featuring Project UNITED:

Read more about Project UNITED, our initiatives, and our undergraduate and graduate scholarship opportunities below.

Project UNITED Scholarships

Check out more information about the Project UNITED scholarships, including the flyers and application links. The next round of scholarship recipients will begin classes in Fall 2025. Questions or interest in our scholarships? Contact us at united@uni.edu.

About

Project UNITED is committed to equipping educators with the tools and knowledge necessary to support emergent bilingual learners in Iowa, while also addressing the growing shortage of qualified ESL educators. To achieve this, we offer undergraduate and graduate scholarships designed to assist both aspiring and current teachers in obtaining the ESL endorsement required to teach in Iowa.

Fall 2025 Scholarships

Submit your application now for the upcoming round of scholarships available for Fall 2025, deadline April 15.

Undergraduate Scholarship Application
- Apply Now!
- See eligibility requirements and learn more
- Learn more about the TESOL Teaching Minor

Graduate Scholarship Application (for current teachers)
- Apply Now!
- See eligibility requirements and learn more
- The ESL endorsement can be pursued independently or alongside the online MA in TESOL program, offering flexible options to meet your professional goals.

Previous Scholarship Recipients

In Fall 2024, we are grateful for the support of the grant that enabled us to award 10 undergraduate and 10 graduate scholarships to both pre-service and in-service teachers pursuing their ESL endorsements. With over $170,000 in scholarship funds distributed, this generous grant has empowered educators to advance their careers while helping to prepare teachers to support emergent bilingual learners in Iowa and address the shortage of qualified ESL educators.

Our Initiatives

Establishing ourselves as leaders in language education.

We showcase our TESOL programs and highlight additional language-based offerings across the university through our dedicated webpage, uni.edu/tesol. By streamlining access to program information, we’ve expanded our online presence and strengthened our reputation as leaders in language education. This clear and memorable platform serves as a gateway to our comprehensive suite of language education programs.

Enhancing TESOL awareness for undergraduate students.

To increase awareness of the TESOL discipline and our related programs, we developed content for each undergraduate course taught by TESOL faculty that directs students to relevant information about these options. This initiative ensures that all students—whether pursuing a TESOL degree, exploring related fields, or undecided about their academic path—are well-informed about the opportunities available to them.

Promoting ESL endorsement awareness.

One of our key initiatives is focused on equipping education majors with essential information about their endorsement opportunities, particularly concerning the ESL endorsement we offer. Recognizing that many education majors may be unaware of certification requirements or may delay seeking this information, we proactively addressed this gap. To enhance awareness, we developed a comprehensive flyer outlining the ESL endorsement process and its requirements. This flyer serves as a valuable resource to guide education majors through the necessary steps for certification.

Hosting Iowa Symposium of English Language Teaching.

In 2024, we proudly launched the inaugural Iowa Symposium of English Language Teaching, marking the beginning of what will be an annual event. This symposium exemplifies our commitment to offering a cost-effective avenue for TESOL professional development, setting itself apart from other regional and national events. Additionally, it significantly benefits our current students and alumni of our TESOL programs by fostering retention and reengagement within our university community. To learn more about the event, visit uni.edu/ISELT.

Iowa Symposium on English Language Teaching Flyer

Educational Materials and Swag

We launched a mini-series of educational materials (swag) in microcontent form, promoting flexible and time-saving microlearning. These materials serve a dual purpose: they provide valuable insights into linguistics, reinforcing our commitment to knowledge dissemination, while strategically directing recipients to explore our programs. This approach enhances visibility and engagement with our offerings.

Expanding TESOL's social media presence

We have expanded our outreach by establishing prominent social media profiles on Facebook (TESOL at UNI) and LinkedIn (TESOL at UNI). These platforms serve as dynamic channels to enhance the visibility of our programs and engage with a wider audience. These channels enable us to spotlight our esteemed TESOL faculty members, highlighting their expertise and dedication. Through these profiles, we aim to strengthen our institution's reputation in the field of TESOL and linguistics.