INDIANAPOLIS — The Klipsch Educators College at Marian University will receive $900,000 from the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation over the next three years. The funds will offset operating costs of Klipsch College’s New Teacher Preparation Program. Installments of $400,000, $300,000 and $200,000 will be paid, respectively, through 2021. The Klipsch College has now received grants totaling $2,650,000 from the Fairbanks Foundation, dating back to 2016.

Klipsch Educators College’s New Teacher Preparation Program is an innovative approach to preparing future educators for the classroom. Based on international best practices, the program: 1) recruits only talented, particularly minority, students; 2) practices teaching early and throughout the program; 3) provides deeper content knowledge for elementary and secondary education students; and 4) establishes a yearlong paid teaching residency. During the year of residency (fifth year), the teacher resident will be compensated with a competitive stipend, receive a full scholarship for their master’s degree, and have access to a master teacher for a total value of more than $30,000. In just five years, Klipsch College graduates earn both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education.

“Schools of education at universities across America have remained, for the most part, unchanged for more than four decades,” Dr. Kenith Britt, dean of Klipsch Educators College, said. “And, despite increased school funding, student achievement has not improved. It’s time that our nation’s universities adopt new models for preparing K-12 teachers, and Klipsch College is doing just that. I cannot thank the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation enough for recognizing our innovative model, and investing in Klipsch College and the students we are educating.”

“Marian University has taken bold steps to transform how it selects and prepares teachers with the ultimate goal of better serving students in our community,” Claire Fiddian-Green, President and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, said. “We share Marian University’s dedication to elevating the teaching profession and are proud to support the Klipsch Educators College’s work to develop a pipeline of high-quality teachers and school leaders who will serve in Indianapolis schools.” 

Marian University announced in November 2016 the creation of its Educators College. It has since been compared by Education Week to similar programs at Harvard University and New York University, in that it features a bachelor’s/master’s degree program, substantial financial aid opportunities, an enhanced curriculum, study abroad opportunities, and a pioneering, one-year clinical residency program within K-12 Catholic, charter, and public schools across the region.

In November 2017, the college was renamed the Fred S. Klipsch Educators College after local entrepreneurs and philanthropists Fred and Judy Klipsch donated $12 million to help fund scholarships for deserving students. Klipsch College has committed to fund full-tuition scholarships for recipients of the State’s Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship (NGHES). High School students who receive the NGHES and participate in the State’s 21st Century Scholars Program receive both free tuition and free room and board from Marian University.

About Marian University Indianapolis

Founded in 1937, Marian University is the only Catholic university in Indianapolis and central Indiana. In 2019, Marian is serving more than 2,400 undergraduate and 1,160 graduate students earning degrees in the arts, business, education, engineering, math, medicine, nursing, ministry, and the natural and physical sciences. The university’s high-impact, experiential curriculum is designed to provide hands-on, collaborative learning opportunities for students from 45 states and 23 nations. Marian climbed in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Midwestern rankings to be named #10 Most Innovative Regional University, #24 Best Value University, and #38 Best Regional University. Marian University opened its College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013, making it the first new school of medicine in the state of Indiana in 110 years. Marian’s national champion varsity athletic programs include the 2012 and 2015 NAIA Football National Championship, the 2016 and 2017 NAIA Women’s Basketball Championship, and more than 40 USA Cycling national championships.

About The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation