The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) recently announced that Talladega College has received accreditation for its educator preparation program. This is the first time the College has received national accreditation for the educator preparation program, although it has always been accredited by the State of Alabama.
CAEP accredited institutions meet seven rigorous, nationally recognized standards. CAEP is the only national accreditation for educator preparation that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Currently 559 institutions hold the accreditation.
“The CAEP accreditation is important in that it is a peer review process that assures quality and promotes continuous improvement of our program. It signals that our program adequately prepares students for a career in the teaching profession given the current environment in the field of education,” said Dr. Alicia Curry, Vice Provost and Dean of the Eunice Walker Johnson School of Social Sciences and Education.
Curry also acknowledged the team effort that is necessary for the accreditation process. “I would like to thank the President, Provost, and Talladega College Board of Trustees as well as our School of Education faculty and staff, our Teacher Education Advisory Council, P-12 partners, teacher education candidates, the Alabama Department of Education, and the CAEP support team,” she said.
Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Pernella R. Deams believes that holding a national accreditation reinforces the College’s long history of producing exemplary teachers and administrators. “I am excited about continuing the HBCU legacy of producing stellar educators to serve all communities while being recognized for that effort,” she said.
To maintain accreditation, colleges and universities must submit annual reports that reflect adherence to standards which value a culture of continuous improvement.
Talladega College President Dr. Gregory J. Vincent believes national accreditation is extremely important as the College remains true to its mission and competitive in the national higher education marketplace.
“We believe national accreditation is key to continue strengthening our educator preparation program and an indication of our commitment to excellence at Talladega College,” said Vincent. “Furthermore, given the competition among institutions of higher education, national accreditation is a strong indicator of that commitment and our willingness to remain relevant in the field.”
