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ASU Teacher Ed Accreditation

May 09, 2013

Angelo State University has earned an A+ for both its initial and advanced teacher preparation programs from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Not only did the NCATE Unit Accreditation Board continue the 2011 accreditation of ASU’s professional education offerings through the College of Education and other academic departments, it also identified no areas needing improvement.

“One of Angelo State University’s greatest contributions to West Texas is the number of education graduates who leave here and teach K-12 in area schools,” said ASU President Brian J. May. “The NCATE accreditation report reaffirms our belief that we are administrating a quality program and that school districts in West Texas and beyond are receiving quality teachers when they hire our alumni.”

Of the state’s more than 70 institutions offering teacher education programs, Angelo State is one of just 14 Texas universities accredited by NCATE for meeting rigorous national standards established by the professional education community. Currently, 304 undergraduate and 305 graduate students are enrolled in Angelo State’s teacher preparation programs.

In addition to NCATE, ASU’s education programs are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and by the State Board for Educator Certification/Texas Education Agency.

Dr. John J. Miazga, dean of ASU’s College of Education, said the NCATE Unit Accreditation Board is made up of education representatives from across the nation.

“The reason we seek national accreditation is to make sure we have the best programs for our students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels,” Miazga said. “These standards are designed to achieve excellence in teacher preparation across disciplines so that the institution will be accredited, not just the college or department.”

Candidates for NCATE accreditation are assessed on six educational standards and multiple sub-standards.  Those standards are: 1) candidate knowledge, skills and professional dispositions; 2) assessment system and unit evaluation; 3) field experiences and clinical practice; 4) diversity; 5) faculty qualifications, performance and development; and 6) unit governance and resources.

The accreditation process included opportunities for public comment and participation from area public school educators and administrators. The data compiled for the accreditation process can be found online at www.angelo.edu/dept/ceducation/.

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).

ASU’s next accreditation visit is scheduled for the spring of 2017.