Marshall University’s Professional Education Unit has received continuing accreditation for both the initial teacher preparation and advanced preparation levels by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
“This is truly something to celebrate,” said Dr. Teresa Eagle, dean of the Graduate School of Education and Professional Development. “This accreditation decision means that we are achieving the goals we have set for ourselves. I thank Dr. Ron Childress, who chaired the accreditation team and the rest of the professional education faculty and staff for their untiring efforts on behalf of students and teachers.”
Dr. Robert Bookwalter, dean of the College of Education, echoed Eagle’s comments.
“We are proud to have earned continuing accreditation from NCATE for our teacher preparation programs,” he said. “Meeting the new, more rigorous standards confirms that Marshall University is preparing great teachers for the public schools and is committed to excellence and continuous improvement in our degree programs. I am grateful for the contributions of our faculty and staff, as well as our partner schools and local school districts, to our successful accreditation report.”
The Professional Education Unit at Marshall includes the College of Education, based primarily on the Huntington campus, and the Graduate School of Education and Professional Development, which is headquartered on the South Charleston campus. Together, the faculty of the two units graduate approximately 300 preservice and inservice educators per year.
“This was truly a team effort and a significant achievement for Marshall’s Professional Education Unit,” Childress said. Childress is a professor of elementary/secondary education and leadership studies in the Graduate School of Education and Professional Development. “Clearly, this would not have happened without the commitment and contributions from faculty, staff, students and all of our external stakeholders. We should be well positioned as we look forward to our next accreditation visit in 2018.”
Founded in 1954, NCATE is recognized by the U. S. Department of Education as a specialized accrediting body for schools, colleges and departments of education. NCATE and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) have consolidated and are now transitioning into the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
More information about Marshall’s education programs may be found online at www.marshall.edu/coe and www.marshall.edu/gsepd.
