The River City Partnership
The River City Partnership is a collaborative partnership between the UofM College of Education, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), local charter schools and other community partners collectively working to prepare culturally competent teachers who know what to teach and how to reach the students they serve in Memphis-area schools. Entering freshman, as well as current UofM students are eligible to apply. The goal of RCP is to recruit, train, prepare and inspire equity-minded, culturally competent teachers who know what to teach and how to reach the students they serve in urban schools.
With only fifteen (15) spots available each cohort, RCP is one of our exclusive opportunities to make an impact in the City of Memphis. RCP stands apart because it focuses on Memphis! No city in the world is quite like Memphis, and no teaching program is quite like RCP.
RCP Scholar Benefits
Becoming a River City Scholar at the University of Memphis College of Education opens
doors to a transformative educational experience unlike any other in Memphis. With
its exclusive cohort model, RCP ensures personalized attention and a supportive community
throughout your academic journey. As an RCP scholar, you'll receive:
- 4-year River City Scholarship ($4,500 per year), covering partial tuition
- Summer Bridge program that prepares you to start as an RCP scholar
- Cohort class model that builds community between RCP scholars
- Urban Education seminar
- Academic mentoring sessions
- Tutoring and test prep workshops
The River City Difference
Unique to RCP is its local recruitment focus, emphasizing underrepresented groups
in Memphis. The program features culturally relevant preparation co-developed with
school districts, and includes deliberate placements in high-need schools, collaborative
induction support, and ongoing professional development tailored to district needs.
Our strategy for the RCP is to:
- Select and prepare local, future teachers who demonstrate cultural competence.
- Deepen future teachers' understanding of the Memphis context.
- Engage future teachers with the communities in which they will teach.
- Prepare future teachers who have strong content knowledge - both subject matter knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge - in support of effective standards-based instruction
