The College’s bachelor’s and graduate-level programs were
accredited without areas for improvement or stipulations.
Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) College of Education (COE) was recently notified it has been fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Accreditation is granted when the accreditation council determines an educator preparation provider (EPP) meets all CAEP standards, even if areas for improvement are identified in the final decision.
Per CAEP’s Accreditation Action Report, COE met all five standards for the initial licensure and advanced levels. The report did not identify or recommend any areas for improvement or any stipulations.
“This is a significant accomplishment for FAMU and the College of Education,” said President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “The dedication of the college’s faculty and staff to meeting or exceeding all accreditation standards further illustrates our University’s commitment to excellence and the preparation of educators who will unleash our greatest assets, the talent and skill of students in classrooms throughout Florida and the nation.”
While this is not the first national accreditation for COE, it is the first time the college has received full accreditation from CAEP. Allyson Watson, Ph.D., dean for COE, said she is proud of this accomplishment.
“With a dynamic team of leaders, faculty and university administrators involved in the process, we were able to illustrate what students learn in the classroom at COE will translate to their careers and have national significance,” said Watson.
The accreditation council bases its decision on submitted evidence, findings from the site team, and sufficiency of evidence for each standard. It also considers and acts upon recommendations from the initial and joint panel reviews, with pronounced attention given to consistency.
Watson said the accreditation is significant since some of CAEP’s review standards are reviewed more rigorously than other agencies and provide a more detailed account of COE’s advanced programs.
“CAEP critically reviews every program,” she said. “The process is conducted off-site for several months and then the reviewers reconvene for a three-day extensive on-site visit; followed by meetings with stakeholders from each unit.
Maurice Edington, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, said COE’s successful accreditation review is verification of the superior direction within each department in the college.
“I am extremely proud of Dean Watson and her team,” he said. “Their relentless efforts to continuously improve and upgrade our education programs and provide exceptional educational experiences for our students is a testament to the talent and leadership within the college.
CAEP, formed in 2010 by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC), advances equity and excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation assuring quality and continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.
