College of Education receives accreditation for 53rd consecutive year
By Ben Boskovich
Rocket Rocket Reporter
Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: News
For the 53rd consecutive year, SRU's College of Education received accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
As of 2007, NCATE has accredited 638 institutions, with 78 other candidates still in the accreditation process.
To receive a NCATE accreditation, institutions must provide evidence of competent teacher-candidate performance, and accreditation is a mark of distinction.
Dr. Jay Hertzog, Dean of the College of Education, explained the process and significance of being accredited.
"[The accreditation] means that the programs we offer have met the most stringent national standards, and that our graduates can pride themselves on having graduated from one of the finest teacher preparation programs in the country," Hertzog said.
According to the Title II Higher Education Act and NCATE Web sites, NCATE accredited schools produce over two-thirds of the nation's new teacher graduates, and approximately 70 percent of the 189 doctoral granting institutions are NCATE accredited or, at least, candidates.
With their recent re-accreditation, the College of Education remained one of 20, out of 95, teacher preparation institutions in Pennsylvania that have received the honor.
Prior to being eligible for national recognition by NCATE, every program within the College of Education received recognition from their respective professional societies.
The College was then asked to address six national standards that NCATE develops along with the Federal Department of Education.
Some of the standards the College is required to address include field experience, clinical knowledge, and diversity and faculty qualifications.
Finally, the College must include their Conceptual Framework, which is the direction or course the teaching program will go, which Hertzog said is the backbone of all of the College's programs.
"The faculty in the [College of Education] did an outstanding job in preparing for and carrying out this mission," Hertzog said.
As of 2007, NCATE has accredited 638 institutions, with 78 other candidates still in the accreditation process.
To receive a NCATE accreditation, institutions must provide evidence of competent teacher-candidate performance, and accreditation is a mark of distinction.
Dr. Jay Hertzog, Dean of the College of Education, explained the process and significance of being accredited.
"[The accreditation] means that the programs we offer have met the most stringent national standards, and that our graduates can pride themselves on having graduated from one of the finest teacher preparation programs in the country," Hertzog said.
According to the Title II Higher Education Act and NCATE Web sites, NCATE accredited schools produce over two-thirds of the nation's new teacher graduates, and approximately 70 percent of the 189 doctoral granting institutions are NCATE accredited or, at least, candidates.
With their recent re-accreditation, the College of Education remained one of 20, out of 95, teacher preparation institutions in Pennsylvania that have received the honor.
Prior to being eligible for national recognition by NCATE, every program within the College of Education received recognition from their respective professional societies.
The College was then asked to address six national standards that NCATE develops along with the Federal Department of Education.
Some of the standards the College is required to address include field experience, clinical knowledge, and diversity and faculty qualifications.
Finally, the College must include their Conceptual Framework, which is the direction or course the teaching program will go, which Hertzog said is the backbone of all of the College's programs.
"The faculty in the [College of Education] did an outstanding job in preparing for and carrying out this mission," Hertzog said.
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