The College of Education was awarded $2,773,213 in grant money for 2008-2009, representing approximately one-third of UCA’s total grant awards for 2008-09.  These external monies largely represent state support for the new Arkansas Research Center whose mission is to foster effective educational data use and to serve as a clearing house for state agency educational data.  Associate Professor Lisa Daniels serves as the Principal Investigator for this state grant/contract.

Additionally, the College’s Mashburn Center for Learning, headed by Professor Mark Cooper, brought in over $325,000 in awards to support professional development for teachers to increase learning outcomes for low-achieving student populations.  The Mashburn Center is recognized by the Arkansas Department of Education as one of three model intervention programs for schools seeking to improve student learning. 

I am pleased to be associated with Arkansas’ premier College of Education.  I find the faculty dynamic, cooperative, student-centered, and sincerely committed to high quality educator preparation.  At present, our highest priorities in the College include:

• Preparing educators to effectively teach and enhance learning conditions and outcomes for diverse learners.
• Promoting a commitment to understanding and working effectively with children and adults in geographically and culturally diverse settings. 
• Providing programs of study at both the undergraduate and graduate levels based on empirically-supported pedagogical and clinical practices.

I would also like to report that the College is going through some reorganization and program revitalization.  Changes include:

• The on-line Library Media masters degree program and the on-line Instructional Technology masters degree program are moving to the Department of Leadership Studies, which also houses the School Leadership masters program, the Educational Leadership Specialist’s degree program, the School Counseling masters degree program, and the Counseling and Student Personnel masters degree program. Leadership Studies faculty are also making changes in curriculum and delivery of the Educational Leadership Specialist program to better serve those aspiring to district-level leadership, with changes to be finalized within the next year. UCA’s Leadership Studies Ph.D. program is scheduled to be implemented in Fall 2011. 
• The highly popular Masters of Arts in Teaching program is moving to the Department of Teaching and Learning (formerly Teaching, Learning & Technology), which also houses the Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning (ASTL) masters degree program, the Middle Level Education bachelors degree program, and the Secondary Education licensure program.  Faculty are making plans for curricular changes in the ASTL program to more tightly align the program’s core requirements with National Board Certification guidelines and to allow new specialty track options that may benefit teacher leaders at all grade levels. 
• The Department of Early Childhood and Special Education is launching its new on-line Special Education masters degree program to more effectively address the state-wide special education teacher shortage.  The Department has also gained approval to offer an Instructional Facilitator (Teacher Leadership) endorsement program, which could be a specialty track option in the ASTL masters degree program.  The ECSE Department continues to house the Reading masters degree program and the Early Childhood Education (P-4) bachelors degree.

For more college, department, and program information, go to UCA’s College of Education website:  www.uca.edu/education