MSUM School Psychology Program Receives $750,000 in Workforce Pipeline Grant

MSUM School Psychology Program Receives $750,000 in Workforce Pipeline Grant

Providing students scholarships, travel stipends, emergency funds and more

Minnesota State University Moorhead received $750,000 for its school psychology graduate program and was one of 10 programs at seven Minnesota universities awarded grants totaling $4 million statewide. More than 30 MSUM school psychology students have already benefited from the Student Support Personnel Workforce Pipeline Grant.

The Student Support Personnel Workforce Pipeline Program grants support students pursuing licensure as student support personnel to create a pipeline to expand the workforce in Minnesota, including these programs:

• School psychology specialist certificates or doctoral degrees approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) or accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA)
• Undergraduate or graduate programs in school social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Graduate-level school counselor programs accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Services (CACREP)
• Undergraduate nursing programs from a regionally accredited college or university

"These grants are a significant investment in the future of Minnesota's education workforce," said Dr. Mary Dosch, MDE project director and MSUM psychology professor. "By helping students become licensed school psychologists, we are addressing the critical need for student support personnel and creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce."

Sadie Staloch is a first-year school psychology student from Waseca, Minn. "Receiving the grant was one of the biggest reasons I chose to attend the MSUM graduate program," she said. "The financial support has removed the stress associated with tuition, allowing me to lessen my workload associated with income so I can engage more deeply with my coursework."

The Pipeline grant will focus on areas to help students succeed, notably improved financial support, including scholarships for first-year students, summer residency stipends, and support for diverse students to pay for professional memberships to access affinity groups.

Dosch says the faculty ensured students would benefit immediately.

"We awarded summer scholarships to 12 first-year school psychology students and five second-year students, totaling $103,150," Dosch says. "Additionally, we supported travel costs for 10 students to attend our June on-campus residency."

"Without the travel support provided by the grant, attending the on-campus residency would have been a significant challenge.," Staloch said. "Attending was crucial because it allowed me to build connections with faculty and my cohort."

The grant also allows for emergency funds to alleviate unexpected financial burdens students may experience. "The hope is to help avoid extra stress from needing to work extra hours or face additional hardship from accruing late fees/interest," Dosch said.

The grant also supported four Pipeline BIPOC students and a BIPOC mentor to attend a School Psychology BIPOC collaborative with the University of Minnesota to support professional identity and resilience in our diverse graduate students.

MSUM's school psychology graduate program recently expanded its program to address the nationwide shortage of school psychologists by creating an in-person and "grow your own" online program.

Cheryl Poitra is an experienced teacher, educational coach, and principal from the Turtle Mountain Reservation. "For the past 11 years, I've watched our students struggle academically. However, the most challenging part has been recognizing the mental health needs that often prevent them from fully engaging in their learning," she said.

She is now working part-time in a Grand Forks, N.D., school district and pursuing a graduate degree in school psychology. She says a degree would have been out of reach without the scholarship support.

"I'm incredibly grateful for this program and everything I'm learning through it," Poitra said. "It's bridging gaps in my knowledge, enriching both my academic and psychological understanding, and strengthening my ability to support students."

The Student Support Personnel Workforce Pipeline Program grants are part of the Minnesota Department of Education Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center's Minnesota Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems Framework, which seeks to prepare schools to provide a full array of supports and services that promote positive school climate, social and emotional learning, mental health and well-being, while reducing the prevalence and severity of mental illness and centering equity in mental health.

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