NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester University is doing its part to tackle the teacher shortage in Indiana by offering a fully online transition to teaching program that is designed for adults looking for a career change.

The transition to teaching program is intended for people who already have a college degree and may have been in the industry for quite a while, but now they feel called to the classroom, according to a news release from Manchester University.

"They want to share their joy, their knowledge, their passion for their content area, such as math or English or chemistry," said Heather Schilling, director of teacher education at MU's Henney Department of Education.

The transition to teaching licensure program is fully online. All courses are taught by faculty or adjuncts who hold advanced degrees in education.

"We have quite a shortage of teachers, and we have seen this influx of people who are interested in giving back to the community. Teaching is an amazing way to do that," Schilling said. "Manchester has always had a transition to teaching program, but it's been a face-to-face program. We're really excited about launching this online platform."

The 18-credit-hour program offers two enrollment options for added flexibility: an 18-month traditional program and a six-month accelerated option. All teaching is asynchronous, so the students don't need to fit a rigid class schedule into already busy lives.

"They don't have to come on campus. They can complete the assignments at 3 in the morning if they want, or at noon over the lunch hour," Schilling said.

Teaching areas offered include licensure approved in Indiana for secondary education in areas such as English, history and chemistry, and all-grade education, such as music and physical education.

Each student in the program will have an adviser.

"I think what sets our program apart from other programs would be our focus on the whole person, and how do you take your content knowledge and engage others in that learning process," Schilling said.

Request information or apply at https://www.manchester.edu/T2T