SALISBURY — National accreditation for Catawba College’s teacher education program has been continued under standards from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

The decision was made by the Selected Improvement Commission of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the 2016 spring meeting. The decision indicates all standards were met with no areas cited for improvement.

Dr. Jim Stringfield, dean of the Goodman School of Education and professor of teacher education, noted, “Continuing accreditation by NCATE reaffirms the high quality of teacher education at Catawba College. When viewed in light of our full accreditation from the North Carolina State Board of Education, as well as a strong record of success on the IHE performance reports, Educator Preparation Report Card and Title 2 reports, our students, alumni, friends and other stakeholders can be justifiably proud of what they have helped us accomplish.”

He noted that Catawba’s program will be up again for reaccreditation in the fall of 2022, at which time the program will be evaluated by a new set of CAEP standards.

Dr. Rhonda Truitt, chair of the department of teacher education, stated, “Our teacher education program is very strong. We work diligently to prepare our students to be highly effective educators, and we continually receive feedback from school administrators that supports the quality of education and preparation that our students receive. The continuing accreditation by NCATE reaffirms the work of the Department and our strong record of success.”

Since 1991, Catawba has been accredited by NCATE to offer bachelor’s and master’s levels of professional education programs. The college, through its department of teacher education, offers a major in elementary education, middle school and special education. The department also offers a minor in secondary education with licensure in English, mathematics, science (biology, chemistry and comprehensive science) and comprehensive social studies, and a minor in special subject areas with licensure in music, health/physical education and theater education. A program leading to licensure in the special field of reading is available. The School of Evening and Graduate Studies administers a birth-kindergarten education program in cooperation with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Central Piedmont Community College.

The department of teacher education is the only department at Catawba to offer graduate degree programs. There are four master of education degrees with a STEM emphasis in middle school mathematics, middle school science, secondary mathematics or secondary science. There is also a master’s in elementary education.

Members of Catawba’s department of teacher education in addition to Drs. Stringfield and Truitt, include Dr. Kim Creamer; Dr. Donna James, Dr. Karen Lucas, assistant professors and Amanda Bosch, curriculum materials center director. Other Catawba College faculty involved with teacher education are Dr. Steve Etters, Dr. Bradley Stephenson and Dr. Tanjian Liang.

Catawba College has offered teacher education programs in Salisbury since 1925. For more information about Catawba College’s teacher education program, visit the website at www.catawba.edu. More information about NCATE is available at www.ncate.org.