The UNC School of Education is having its share of problems attracting new students that want a career in teaching, and for predictable reasons: lack of incentives, and statewide cuts to teaching programs.

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“I would think that we are very much in the same situation as other schools of education across the state,” said Anne Bryan, assistant dean for Student Affairs at the UNC School of Education.

Recent news reports about declining enrollments for school of education programs are sobering. Speaking recently with WCHL, Bryan confirmed that the UNC School of Education is feeling the pain, too.

She supplied some raw numbers that show an especially startling drop in undergraduate admissions for the 2014-15 school year.

Only 81 undergrads enrolled this time around, compared to 113 the year before.

Graduate admissions are a little better – up to 171 from 151 last year. Two years ago, the number was around 230.

Bryan said there’s a noticeable trend of students turning away from education as a major, and she lays some of the blame on the state’s elimination of the Teaching Fellows program; and the recent elimination of master’s pay for teachers that earn advanced degrees.

“Across the state, we have been put in a little bit of a defensive position to defend education a little bit,” said Bryan, “and why it’s a good choice, in light of some decisions made at the state level – particularly around pay.”

Bryan said that she’s not entirely dejected by declining numbers. She said the School of Education has an ear to the ground for students who may not even want to get into teaching, but into education policy instead.

“I think that our relatively new education minor is bursting with students,” she said.

It’s not that the department is giving up on drawing aspiring teachers, either. Bryan said the School of Education is stepping up recruitment efforts with more college fairs, open houses, information sessions and working with undergraduate admissions to get the word out.

“North Carolina has high-needs areas, still, where teachers in math, science and special education can pretty much get a job anywhere in the state they want.”

An open house for graduate students is scheduled for Saturday October 11.

If you’re interested in attending, you can RSVP on the School of Education website.

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