News Release
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Nicole S. Rowe
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nicole.s.rowe@wilmu.edu
Education Division at Wilmington University Receives NCATE Accreditation
Wilmington University's Education Division has proven its commitment to excellence in teaching by achieving accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the organization responsible for professional accreditation of teacher education. NCATE approved accreditation for the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral education programs.
NCATE currently accredits 623 institutions which produce two-thirds of the nation's new teacher graduates each year. The accredited schools must meet rigorous standards and teachers graduating from these accredited schools will enter the classroom with an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter that they plan to teach, as well as the skills necessary to convey that knowledge. The accredited schools must have partnerships with P-12 schools enabling their students to participate in student teaching
"This is a first for us. We have never been NCATE certified before." Said Dr. Richard Gochnauer, Dean of the Education Division at Wilmington University. "The accreditation process was long and thorough, and it is an honor to know that our education division has met the high standards put forth by NCATE."
"Wilmington University was the first school in Delaware to undergo NCATE's new, revised standards of accreditation," Added Dr. Joseph Deardorff, Dean of Doctoral Studies at Wilmington University. NCATE revises its standards every five years to ensure that the standards reflect a consensus about what is important in teacher and administrator preparation today. The new system of accreditation expects teacher preparation institutions to provide compelling evidence of candidate knowledge and skill in the classroom. Performance assessments as well as internship work are required prior to completion of the program.
Meeting NCATE accreditation standards will help Wilmington University prepare future teachers and school administrators for new, more rigorous licensing standards in many states.
The U.S Department of Education recognizes NCATE as a specialized accrediting body for schools, colleges and departments of education. NCATE is composed of more than 30 professional and policymaker organizations representing millions of Americans committed to quality teaching.
For more information on Wilmington University's Education Division, visit the website at www.wilmu.edu/education. For more information about NCATE visit www.ncate.org.