College of Education Reorganization

The College of Education will reorganize its governance structure to two separate departments: Leadership and Learning; and Special Education, Foundations and Technology. Leadership and Learning will include courses in K-12 instruction, educational administration, and counseling. Special Education, Foundations and Technology will provide courses in foundational knowledge and theory that are required across both departments.

Since 1964, the College of Education (at that time the Educational Studies Institute) has operated as a unit of the whole.  Its faculty, however, has grown from four to 48 tenure track faculty, 23 visiting/affiliate faculty, and 89 adjunct/clinical faculty. A departmental structure will allow for more focused collegial relationships and appropriate decision-making groups for COE policy, personnel and curriculum.

"Most colleges of our size have multiple departments," said Elaine Collins, dean of the College of Education. "We have always functioned as a unit of the whole with no department structure other than unofficial work groups for similar programs. Our new academic departments will serve us well both now and in the future, while maintaining the existing quality of our programs and degrees."

The college offers teacher certification for students from 28 majors and minors and conducts graduate programs in more than 15 specialty areas.