Allison Oster
Public Relations Manager
(626) 815-4518
APU’s School of Education Receives Maximum Re-accreditation
November 20, 2007
AZUSA, Calif. –
Azusa Pacific University's School of Education recently received a seven year re-accreditation, the maximum number of years available from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the premiere accreditation organization for schools of education in the United States, and from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). The length of the accreditation received directly reflects the high quality of the university's programs, faculty, and graduates.
"We are honored by this most prestigious recognition," said Helen Easterling Williams, Ed.D., dean of the School of Education. "Students seeking quality graduate education programs look for NCATE/CCTC accreditation. Meeting this accreditation validates the claim that APU prepares teachers for rigorous state licensing, and sets the university's graduates apart from other teacher candidates in the state, the region, and in the United States of America."
The university will host a celebration in recognition of its academic achievement at the Glendora Country Club on Thurs., Dec. 6, from 6-8:30 p.m. More than 300 guests are expected to attend the event, which will honor past deans of APU's School of Education, emphasize the importance of NCATE/CCTC accreditation, and highlight the university's commitment to exceeding the rigorous standards set forth by the accrediting organizations.
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. The CCTC accredits every school of education in the state of California.
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 work of the School of Education is guided by a conceptual framework that places God at the center, serving to synchronize its efforts with the university's motto of God First. 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 50 areas of undergraduate study, 23 master's degrees, and 7 doctorates to a total student population of more than 8,100.
