Utica University Educator Preparation Program Receives National Accreditation

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Utica University Educator Preparation Program Receives National Accreditation

A teacher points to the board at the front of a classroom as students at desks listen.

“We are delighted to become part of the AAQEP network of accredited educator preparation programs that seeks to support efforts to constantly advance and improve teacher quality at all levels—in classrooms, in school districts, and in colleges and universities across the country.”

The Utica University Educator Preparation Program has recently earned national accreditation from The Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) for all undergraduate and graduate programs.

At the end of June, the AAQEP Accreditation Commission awarded the Utica Educator Preparation Program with a full seven-year accreditation. This honor comes following extensive self-study and peer review by the AAQEP Commission. Not only has the Utica University Educator Preparation Program earned accreditation, it was determined all four standards were met, resulting in a full seven-year accreditation.

“Congratulations to Utica University and to all of the faculty, staff, and stakeholders who have achieved their goal of national accreditation by AAQEP,” said AAQEP President and CEO Mark LaCelle-Peterson. “Utica’s program serves a diverse set of communities and provides
candidates with a wide range of experiences to ensure their ability to address learner needs in all types of school settings.”

According to the Commission, Utica University’s Educator Preparation Program effectively prepares candidates to work as professional educators. It was also determined that Utica University maintains program quality by analyzing effectiveness, implementing necessary program revisions to benefit students, and successfully engages with stakeholders and partners to provide a diversity of clinical experience to strengthen the P-20 education system in the region.

“The AAQEP review process involved dozens of stakeholders and months of hard work and was meticulous and demanding. The entire experience was both affirmative and uplifting,” Professor Zoeckler said.

The Utica University Educator Preparation Program offers several pathways in education that can lead to certification in different teaching areas. In addition to accreditation, the Educator Preparation Program has recently launched a new set of 120-credit undergraduate majors. This will vastly cut down the credit hours for students to become certified in the education field.