UNA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ACCREDITATION REAFFIRMED BY NCATE
November 13, 2008
FLORENCE, Ala. — The University of North Alabama College of Education recently received official notification of continued accreditation status from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the organization responsible for professional accreditation of teacher education.
“Our continued accreditation status signifies our commitment to the preparation of well-qualified school leaders,” said Dr. Donna Jacobs, dean of the UNA College of Education. “UNA has a great tradition of excellence that is evidenced by the outstanding graduates from our programs and supported by the quality faculty at UNA and in our partnering schools.”
When NCATE was founded in 1954, UNA – then known as Florence State Teachers College – was among the original institutions accredited by the organization. NCATE currently accredits 623 institutions, which produce two thirds of the nation’s new teacher graduates each year. Ninety-nine institutions are candidates or pre-candidates for accreditation.
“UNA has a solid teacher training program with highly qualified, experienced faculty, and the success of our alumni reflects the quality NCATE has recently reaffirmed,” said Dr. William G. Cale Jr., UNA president.
NCATE’s rigorous standards “help ensure the College of Education’s ongoing quality, making it a place where schools and school systems can find excellent teachers,” according to Dr. Garry Warren, UNA vice president for academic affairs and provost.
NCATE-accredited schools must meet rigorous standards set by the profession and members of the public. Teacher candidates must have in-depth knowledge of the subject matter that they plan to teach as well as the skills necessary to convey that knowledge. The college or university must carefully assess this knowledge and skill to determine that candidates may graduate. The institution must also have partnerships with P-12 schools that enable candidates to develop the skills necessary to help students learn. Candidates must be prepared to understand and work with diverse student populations, and college and university faculty must model effective teaching practices. The college of education must also have the resources, including information technology resources, necessary to prepare candidates to meet new standards.
The U.S. Department of Education recognizes NCATE as a specialized accrediting body for schools, colleges and departments of education. NCATE is composed of more than 30 professional and policymaker organizations representing millions of Americans committed to quality teaching.
UNA offers teacher education programs for grades K-6, P-12 and 6-12 at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as graduate programs in school counseling and educational administration. For more information, visit the UNA College of Education Web site at www.una.edu/education. More information about NCATE is available at www.ncate.org.
