Accreditations

The College of Education at Tennessee Tech University is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 2010 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20036, phone: (202) 466-7496. This accreditation includes undergraduate and graduate levels of professional education programs offered at Tennessee Tech. Accreditation is the process by which the profession of teaching declares its expectations for teacher education and applies these expectations to institutions that prepare members of the profession. NCATE establishes standards and procedures to carry out the accreditation process and provides training for those who conduct on-site review of higher education institutions.

The essential function of external, national accreditation is to provide professional judgment of the quality of a teacher education program and to encourage continuous improvement in the program. Institutions that are accredited nationally are required to provide quality professional education programs that foster competent practice by graduates of their programs. As a part of the accrediting process, the College of Education must meet rigorous standards of excellence developed by professional educators. The College must demonstrate that its programs reflect established knowledge and sound professional practice, must establish and uphold national standards of excellence, and must strengthen the quality and integrity of professional education. Through the accreditation process, NCATE provides assurance to the public that professionally accredited units have met national professional standards.

In a number of states, graduates of NCATE-accredited professional education programs are eligible for interstate reciprocity when applying for a license. To determine if they qualify for such reciprocity, graduates of Tennessee Tech should contact the Certification Analyst for the College of Education or the State Director of Teacher Education and Certification or Licensure in the state in which they are interested in practicing.

Continuing Professional Accreditation

Studies show that teacher quality is the most important factor in P-12 student achievement. But how do we know that our children's teachers enter the classroom ready to help them learn? Professional accreditation is one way to ensure the public that colleges of education are graduating well-qualified teachers ready for today's classrooms. Tennessee Technological University's College of Education has proven its commitment to producing quality teachers for our nation's children by achieving continuing accreditation for its undergraduate and graduate programs this month under the performance-oriented standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the organization responsible for professional accreditation of teacher education.

All visits since fall 2001 have been conducted using the NCATE Unit Standards ratified in May 2000. To assist the unit in addressing Standards 1 and 2, NCATE has developed a transition plan that details the required submissions through 2005; NCATE expects the unit to meet Standards 3-6 without the benefit of a transition period. Under NCATE's performance-based accreditation system, the unit must meet each of the six standards in order to be accredited. Units that do not meet all standards are granted accreditation with conditions or probation (see Accreditation Decisions).

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NASAD

National Association of Schools of Art and Design

NASAD, founded in 1944, is an organization of schools, colleges, and universities. It has approximately 248 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials.

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NASM

National Association of Schools of Music

NASM, founded in 1924, is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges and universities. It has approximately 610 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials.

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