FHSU teacher ed programs make the grade
By DAWNE LEIKER
An on-site review by a joint accreditation team indicated Fort Hays State University's teacher education programs have passed all six standards, based on preliminary reports.
The preliminary findings now will be put into a formal Board of Examiners' report, which should be received by FHSU within 30 days. The university then has 30 days to make edits or corrections before the report is submitted to the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Kansas Department of Education. Those are the bodies that conducted the on-site visit from March 7 to 10. Final evaluation and grant of accreditation will be issued this fall.
Following the on-site visit, which included interviews with a variety of individuals both on and off campus, FHSU President Edward H. Hammond delivered the preliminary report to department of teacher education faculty and staff last week.
"The comments were all positive and just overflowing with compliments for your enthusiasm and commitment, which doesn't surprise me," Hammond said. "I know most of you well enough to know you wouldn't be doing this job if you weren't a little bit crazy.
"The fact that we can turn a little of the craziness to our advantage is a tremendous benefit."
The six standards reviewed included candidate knowledge, skills and professional disposition, assessment system and unit evaluation, field experiences and clinical practice, diversity, faculty qualifications, performance and development, and unit governance and resources.
Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education and Technology, was pleased FHSU earned five "target" ratings -- the highest of the three ratings -- on three separate standards, including one that earned target for all three of its subcategories, called elements.
"I have never heard of this at another institution," she said, expressing gratitude to all those working on the accreditation process at FHSU. "To the people who served on committees, taught our candidates, wrote grants, edited reports, cleaned our facilities, engaged in service-learning, contributed time and expertise from across the university -- you have my deepest appreciation for truly impacting education in the state of Kansas,"
One target area in the review process focused on faculty qualifications.
"They were very impressed with the quality of the faculty, but more impressed with the engagement, which has to do with the passion you have about doing your job," Hammond said.
Regarding distance education delivery systems, he said, "They thought we had set a top standard ... and found that our students in the virtual world and the on-campus environment had the same responses."
Provost Larry Gould said he echoed the sentiments of Hammond and added, "Those organizations that are great keep moving forward, and that's what's great about FHSU. We keep innovating. We're adaptable and agile, and the department of teacher education and technology is particularly good at that."
The accreditation period, which will begin in the fall when NCATE and the Department of Education issue their final evaluation, covers seven years.