Marietta among 46 Teacher Prep Programs recognized for National Excellence in Educator Prep

College now 1 of 147 providers in U.S. meeting new, rigorous CAEP national accreditation standards

by Tom Perry

Marietta, Ohio (06/15/2018) — The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced today that Marietta College is one of 46 providers from 22 states and Puerto Rico to receive accreditation for their educator preparation programs.

Dr. Dottie Erb, who was Chair of Marietta College's Education Department from 2000-18, said the College received a full seven-year accreditation decision with no stipulations or areas for improvement.

"This is evidence that the offsite and onsite review teams and the CAEP accreditation council found the Education Department's programs to be fully in compliance with all CAEP standards and expectations," Erb said. "National accreditation helps to ensure that our teacher education program meets the standards for excellence that serve as a foundation for preparing teachers who are ready for the challenges and opportunities presented by 21st-century classrooms."

Marietta College was first nationally accredited by NCATE, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, in 2004. Ohio has recently instituted a requirement that all institutions achieve national accreditation in order to be approved to offer educational license programs.

"Marietta is among an initial group of Ohio colleges and universities to go through accreditation under a new set of standards developed by CAEP, the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation," Erb said. "CAEP has presented a much more rigorous process for institutions to meet all standards."

The spring 2018 review by the CAEP Accreditation Council increased to 147 the total number of providers approved under the CAEP teacher preparation standards - rigorous, nationally recognized standards that were developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs.

"These institutions meet high standards so that their students receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate," said CAEP President Dr. Christopher A. Koch. "Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider."

CAEP is the sole nationally recognized accrediting body for educator preparation. Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. CAEP was created by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. It is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation. Currently, more than 800 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP Accreditation system, including many previously accredited through former standards.

"We are very pleased and not at all surprised by the results of our latest accreditation review with CAEP," said Dr. Janet Bland, Provost and Dean of the Faculty. "But, of course, no program gets such a positive review without years of preparation on the part of the Chair, Dr. Dottie Erb, and the work of all of our outstanding Education Department faculty. Our teacher preparation sets an example at both the state and national level. That level of achievement really comes down to having a strong faculty deeply dedicated to their work. Hats off to Dottie and her team!"

Educator preparation providers seeking accreditation must pass peer review on five standards, which are based on two principles:

Solid evidence that the provider's graduates are competent and caring educators, and

Solid evidence that the provider's educator staff have the capacity to create a culture of evidence and use it to maintain and enhance the quality of the professional programs they offer.

If a program fails to meet one of the five standards or required components under the standards, it is placed on probation for two years. Probation may be lifted in two years if a program provides evidence that it meets the standard.

"Education faculty will be able to use assessment and data analysis tools developed as part of the CAEP accreditation process to look at teacher candidate and graduate performance and make impactful decisions for program improvement," Erb said. "Moving forward, the positive accreditation decision will allow the education program to focus on continuing to find innovative ways to prepare teacher candidates who are able to demonstrate excellence in the field."

Marietta College joins 45 other providers to receive CAEP Accreditation in Spring 2018. They join the 101 providers previously accredited. Overall, 147 preparation providers from 36 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have received CAEP Accreditation.

Also, in spring 2018 three providers had their accreditation revoked.

Others to receive accreditation this spring are Aquinas College, Arkansas State University, Ashland University, Bluffton University, Calvin College, Central Baptist College, Concordia University Chicago, Eastern Kentucky University, Eastern Michigan University, Elizabeth City State University, Florida International University, Hiram College, Heidelberg University, Indiana University Purdue University-Columbus, Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, Indiana Wesleyan University, Kean University, Langston University, Lee University, McNeese State University, Molloy College, Morris College, Muskingum University, New Jersey City University, New Mexico State University, Northern Illinois University, Pace University, Pittsburg State University, St. Louis University, St. Mary's College, Seton Hall University, Shepherd University, The College of Wooster, Universidad de Puerto Rico de Cayey, Universidad De Puerto Rico De Mayaguez, University of Akron, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Indianapolis, University of Louisiana at Monroe, University of Maine at Farmington, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Rio Grande, University of South Carolina, University of Southern Indiana, University of Tennessee at Martin, University of Texas at Arlington and Wichita State University.

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy back in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers 45 majors and is consistently ranked as one of the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, as well as one of the nation's best by Forbes.com. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major.

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