Northern Kentucky University (NKU) is part of the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Region, home to more than 2 million people.  The university is a comprehensive, public university, serving 15,000 students.  Both Kentucky and Ohio are committed to addressing education in the STEM disciplines, particularly mathematics education. 

The Preparing Regional Increases in Mathematics Educators grant is a collaborative effort that exists to increase the number and effectiveness of mathematics teachers in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region's urban core.  Through PRIME's network of NKU academic departments and affiliated centers, PRIME provides services that help recruit, support and retain highly qualified mathematics educators through training, professional development, ongoing support, resources, scholarships and other funded programs.

PRIME is a collaborative effort among the following entities:

·     NKU's Department of Mathematics and Statistics

·     NKU's Department of Teacher Education

·     NKU's Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics (CINSAM) established in 1999 to enhance the teaching, learning and application of science and mathematics at NKU and in  P-12 schools.  CINSAM's successful community outreach programs make it a perfect fit for the PRIME program.

·     NKU's Center for Educator Excellence the CEE is a broad based partnership whose mission is to collaborate with school districts in the region to recruit, support and retain highly qualified educators who will meet or exceed national standards as they prepare all children to be productive participants in the global, knowledge-based economy.

·     The state's Kentucky Center for Mathematics, based at NKU.  The mission of the KCM is to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics for p-19 and adult students.  The center is located on the campus of NKU as a result of a statewide competitive process and will be of significant value to the project because of its experience providing professional development, ongoing support, and resources for in-service mathematics teachers throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.