June 2018
WASHINGTON – The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) recently announced that the Educator Preparation Unit (EPP) at the University of South Carolina is one of 46 providers from 22 states and Puerto Rico to receive accreditation for their educator preparation programs. 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.
Achieving CAEP Accreditation ensures that our educator preparation programs are producing excellent future educators and I commend the University of South Carolina on this noteworthy achievement.
Molly Spearman, South Carolina Superintendent of Education
“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,” says Christopher A. Koch, CAEP president. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”
“South Carolina educators must be prepared to meet the needs of every student through high quality, rigorous classroom instruction," says Molly Spearman, South Carolina Superintendent of Education. "Achieving CAEP Accreditation ensures that our educator preparation programs are producing excellent future educators and I commend the University of South Carolina on this noteworthy achievement. “
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.
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.
“Carolina is proud to lead the state as the first institution in South Carolina to achieve CAEP national accreditation,” says Regina E. Wragg, director of assessment and accreditation. “Our unit is serving our state by providing graduates who are ready to meet the needs of all students and impact learning after completing our programs-- programs with a high quality validated by CAEP Accreditation.”
“We are very proud of our initial level programs and those who continue to work to improve these programs," says Jon Pedersen, College of Education dean. "National accreditation has and will always be an important part of our college and participating in the on-going accreditation process helps us grow and improve ensuring we continue to offer the highest quality programs in our state and nation.”
Carolina 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.
The class of spring 2018 is listed below.
Aquinas College—Michigan
Arkansas State University
Ashland University—Ohio
Bluffton University--Ohio
Calvin College—Michigan
Central Baptist College--Arkansas
Concordia University Chicago
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Michigan University
Elizabeth City State University—North Carolina
Florida International University
Hiram College—Ohio
Heidelberg University—Ohio
Indiana University Purdue University-Columbus
Indiana University Purdue University—Indianapolis
Indiana Wesleyan University
Kean University—New Jersey
Langston University—Oklahoma
Lee University—Tennessee
Marietta College—Ohio
McNeese State University—Louisiana
Molloy College—New York
Morris College—South Carolina
Muskingum University—Ohio
New Jersey City University
New Mexico State University
Northern Illinois University
Pace University—New York
Pittsburg State University—Kansas
St. Louis University—Missouri
St. Mary’s College—Indiana
Seton Hall University—New Jersey
Shepherd University—West Virginia
The College of Wooster—Ohio
Universidad de Puerto Rico de Cayey
Universidad De Puerto Rico De Mayaguez
University of Akron—Ohio
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—Ohio
University of South Carolina
University of Southern Indiana
University of Tennessee at Martin
University of Texas at Arlington
Wichita State University
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The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (www.CAEPnet.org) advances excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.