Preparing Our Educators

NCATE Update from Dean Middleton

Dear Students,

Perhaps you read the article in the Post entitled The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education : Accreditation Loss Could Cost Students' Licenses and were concerned. Rest assured that the Ohio University College of Education has a proud 125 year history and has been accredited ever since NCATE, the accrediting body, was established. We are accredited now, and we will continue to be accredited after our site visit.

Let me also reassure you that, even in the highly unlikely event an institution would lose its accreditation and state approval for offering educator licensure programs, students in the pipeline would be protected. This protection is assured in state code.

The exact wording of the code 3301-24-03 (M) http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/3301-24-03 states: “(M) If an institution is denied approval to offer a teacher education program under paragraph (G) of this rule, any student enrolled in the program at the time of the denial may complete the program and be certified by the institution as a candidate for licensure. The institution shall not admit any new students until it is granted approval by the state board of education.”

I also want you to understand why everyone in The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education is convinced that we are in an excellent position to receive continuing accreditation. First, we had just one serious weakness cited after our last visit. That weakness related to one of the six NCATE standards. Since the time of the last visit, we have remedied the weakness and gone far beyond the minimum in doing so. In fact, during our NCATE pre-visit in June, we were commended for addressing the previously weak standard so well that we are now a model teacher education program for the nation.

Thank you for caring enough to ask and be concerned. Ohio University has and always will have strong academic programs, and our faculties continue to be second to none! There is absolutely no doubt that you WILL graduate (should you complete all appropriate requirements) with all appropriate licensures from Ohio University as every other education student has for the past 125 years. Take Care!

We will continue to go out and do great things---Let’s go Bobcats!

Dean's signature

Renée A. Middleton, Dean
The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education
Ohio University
133 McCracken Hall
www.coe.ohiou.edu