NCATE Takes Lesson from APU

AZUSA, CA (06/25/2008)(readMedia)-- On Tues., July 15, Azusa Pacific University will host more than 50 academicians from across the nation representing the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Board of Examiners. APU was selected by NCATE for this rare opportunity to serve as a model for the accreditation process as a result of its reputation for excellence.

Last year, APU's School of Education was recognized with 100 percent approval by NCATE, gaining a seven-year re-accreditation, the maximum number of years available. Vice president of NCATE's unit accreditation, Antoinette Mitchell, said she heard "excellent reports" about the quality of APU's assessment system, and called APU's institutional report "outstanding." NCATE is the premiere accreditation organization for schools of education in the United States.

During their visit, as part of a week-long training session to become Board of Examiners members, the guests will learn about the accreditation process by observing a recreation of APU's re-accreditation presentation. This simulated team visit includes conducting interviews with School of Education faculty and reviewing exhibits.

"Azusa Pacific is uniquely positioned to influence the dialog and reform on education," said Helen Easterling Williams, Ed.D., dean of the School of Education. "Already California is considered the ‘hot spot' for this conversation. By having NCATE on campus, we have the ability to influence those who will impact education for decades to come. This is an awesome opportunity and awesome responsibility."

Re-accreditation is a three to four year process during which the school engages in an intense self-study reviewing and updating curriculum, assessing faculty scholarship, and highlighting internal and external partnerships. In addition, site teams from the accreditation agencies visit the school to verify that the programs' standards reflect the level of proficiency claimed, examining everything from the strength of the curriculum to the quality of the faculty.

Founded in 1954, NCATE currently accredits 632 colleges of education, with nearly 100 more seeking NCATE accreditation. For more information, visit www.ncate.org.

APU's School of Education is comprised of 6 departments and 27 master's and doctoral programs within the departments. During the 2006-07 academic year, the school recommended 1,640 teacher credentials and graduated 275 teachers. The School of Education's curriculum strives to fit with the mission of the university by teaching cultural competence and supporting diverse students.

Featured in TIME magazine and ranked as one of the nation's best by U.S.News & World Report and The Princeton Review, Azusa Pacific is a comprehensive, Christian, evangelical university, committed to God First and known for excellence in higher education. Azusa Pacific's main campus lies just 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley, while its seven Southern California regional centers bring convenience and extend quality programming. The university offers more than 60 areas of undergraduate study, 26 master's degree programs, and 7 doctorates to a total student population of more than 8,100. For more information, call (800) 825-5278 or visit www.apu.edu.

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