Programs & Institutes

The program began in 1998 when the Minnesota State Licensure appropriated funds to assist in the preparation of under-represented populations, with a focus on Southeast Asians. The initiative was prompted by the scarcity of fully licensed Southeast Asian educators in Minnesota schools and the program has grown to prepare teachers to work in urban and urban-like settings, and has retained its initial name while welcoming individuals from a variety of backgrounds.

The SEAT Program provides academic and personal advising, tutoring, evening classes, technical assistance, books, and financial support for students whose faces reflect those of the diverse students in urban and urban-like schools. As a public-private partnership between the state and the university, SEAT provides an investment in each student’s future, expanding their potential, skills, talents and intellect while providing them with a circle of support from entrance to the program through their first years of teaching. All requirements of the university general education and education major must be met.

• Provide a culturally responsive education for students seeking to become classroom teachers. Concordia faculty will use curricular and delivery options that meet the needs of minority students, particularly those of Southeast Asian background.
• Provide up to half of students’ tuition and a voucher to purchase textbooks from the Concordia University, St. Paul Bookstore.
• Provide the academic and academic cultural support for students to be successful in the program.
• Assist students in preparing for required licensure tests.
• Provide mentoring for SEAT graduates who are first-year teachers through the Circle of Support Mentoring Program.
• Work with the school districts to recruit students and to assist in hiring and placement of SEAT graduates as classroom teachers.
• Provide opportunities for the university community to improve the multicultural environment and teaching through events focused at cross-cultural communication.
• Enable students to be involved in service learning and leadership roles in the Concordia community.

To be considered for SEAT, the applicant must:

1. Be admitted to Concordia University
2. Be a Minnesota resident
3. Complete the FAFSA and demonstrate financial need
4. Complete the SEAT application requirements

CSP Online Application

• Submit your online application

Your first step is to complete the admissions process and be accepted to Concordia University. Once you have been accepted, you will then apply for Financial Aid and to the SEAT program.

Qualifying programs:

• Traditional undergraduate education programs seeking licensure
• Online graduate students seeking the Master of Arts in Teaching program seeking K-6 licensure

Southeast Asian Teacher (SEAT) Licensure Program Application

Please complete the online form to be considered for the Southeast Asian Teacher Licensure program. Once received, the Program Director will be in touch with you on next steps.

• SEAT Program Application

Please contact the SEAT Program Director with any questions regarding the SEAT program and requirements.

• SEAT Program Director: Sally Baas, [email protected]

TC2 is a partnership of six private institutions of higher education in the Twin Cities metropolitan area: Augsburg College, Bethel University, Concordia University Saint Paul, Hamline University, St. Catherine University, and the University of St. Thomas. These institutions share a long and rich history and collectively prepare nearly 20% of all new teachers licensed in Minnesota.

TC2 teacher preparation initiatives include a strategic recruitment process, a continuum of mentoring and induction, a residency-like preparation model, and embedded assessments. Each area has a work team of P-12 teachers and representatives from each of the TC2 partner organizations.

The TC2 Urban Teacher Residency Program draws upon established best practices to recruit, prepare, place and support teachers in an innovative, integrated system augmented by shared services, resources and strong partnerships with key education stakeholders. Residents are recruited along multiple new pathways to participate in the comprehensive program where they engage in a full academic year of intensive classroom experience with P-12 learners alongside specially trained master teachers. The rigorous program curriculum embodies a set of standards-based learning experiences and assessment activities aligned with the Vision of Effective Teaching (VET) that link coursework (theory) and classroom apprenticeship (practice) to better prepare prospective teachers for success in the urban classroom.

The TC2 Residency program features experiential immersion and embedded coursework and includes:

• Co-teaching model in which residents learn and share planning, teaching, and assessment activities in classroom placement alongside mentor teachers who have been trained to work with pre-service teacher-candidates
• Coursework emphasizing cultural competence, constructivist teaching and learning, differentiating instruction for all learners, and the role of social interaction in the construction of knowledge
• Induction support for up to 3 years after the residency and support through professional learning communities which include residents, university faculty, supervisors, and P-12 personnel
• Assessment and evaluation to demonstrate effectiveness at each stage of the TC2 preparation continuum; assessment outcomes linked to continuous program improvement