Professional Education Unit (PEU)
Description of the Professional Education Unit
The primary responsibility for the preparation of professional educators at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) is vested in the Professional Education Unit (PEU). The PEU has as its mission the preparation of school personnel who demonstrate the content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to help all students learn. The Professional Education Unit dedicates itself to providing programs of the highest quality in its mission of preparing qualified school personnel dedicated to maximizing the learning of all students.
The Professional Education Unit (PEU) is the principal unifying structure for collaboration across all education faculty; and includes representatives from all university programs involved in the preparation of those seeking to work within the P-12 school setting. Within the PEU, deans, department chairs, program coordinators, program advisory committees, and the Professional Education Council (PEC) have specific but distinct responsibilities for curriculum and policy-making. These include faculty and administrators representing programs in five colleges (College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Fine Arts and Communication, College of Health and Behavioral Sciences) as well as professional education candidates, public school P-12 representatives, and members of the community. The dean of the College of Education (COE) leads the PEU and provides university-wide coordination for all education programs.
The Professional Education Unit Mission Statement
The education programs at the University of Central Arkansas establish and maintain rigorous standards for candidates’ knowledge and performance to ensure that all students learn. UCA’s Professional Education Unit dedicates itself to preparing educators eager to fulfill their roles as professionals who contribute to the education and welfare of those they serve, and to society at large.
The Professional Education Unit Vision Statement
The vision of the professional education unit at the University of Central Arkansas is based upon the belief that teachers, administrators, counselors, school library media specialists, and other professional educators are decision-makers who must make a great number of individual and collaborative decisions. This vision is to enhance educators’ efficacy through reflective decision-making. Inherent in the PEU’s vision are eight essential attributes that describe effective educators: content knowledge, problem solving, student achievement, assessment, diversity, technology, professionalism, and collaboration. The Unit is committed to giving professional education candidates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to meet future challenges and to remain lifelong learners.
The Professional Education Unit Programs
Undergraduate Programs:
Childhood Education P-4
Middle-Level Education 4-8: Language Arts/Social Studies& Mathematics/Science
Secondary Education 7-12: English; Family & Consumer Sciences; Mathematics; Science (Life/Earth & Physical/Earth); and Social Studies
P-8 & 7-12 Programs: Art; Foreign Languages (French & Spanish); Music (Instrumental & Vocal); and Health/Physical Education
Graduate Programs:
Master’s Degrees:
Advanced Studies in Teacher Leadership
Library Media & Information Technologies
Master of Arts in Teaching
Reading
School Counseling
School Leadership, Management, & Administration: Building Administration (program of study or master’s degree) and Curriculum/Program Administration
School Psychology
Special Education Instructional Specialist: Birth–8 (additional licensure program or master’s degree) and Grades 4-12 (additional licensure program or master’s degree)
Educational Specialist Degree: Educational Leadership
Doctoral Degree: School Psychology
Professional Education Council (PEC)
The Professional Education Council (PEC), comprised of members of the PEU, provides leadership for all professional education programs. It initiates, receives, and develops recommendations on all policies, proceedings, and standards affecting professional education. The PEC ensures that all professional education programs are organized, unified, and coordinated to allow fulfillment of the mission of the professional education unit; and that the professional education curricula are built upon knowledge bases essential for effective practice and upon the findings of research.
Professional Education Council Membership
The PEC consists of fourteen voting members serving three-year staggered terms (except student and school-based educator representatives who serve two year terms) and a chair. Appointments must be completed by Faculty Senate by August 1st. In addition, deans and chairs representing each Professional Education Unit (PEU) program are ex-officio non-voting members of the PEC as well as one public school superintendent, who also serves as an ex-officio non-voting member.
The *College of Education Administrative Council (CAC) makes appointments to fill a vacancy among any of the College of Education positions, student appointments, or school-based educators. To fill a vacancy of any of the positions outside of the College of Education, the Faculty Senate will select one faculty member from a list of two nominees named by the dean of the appropriate college.
The Dean of the College of Education or his/her designee will serve as chair of the PEC, and will vote in two circumstances: 1) to break a tie vote, or 2) when required to establish a quorum of voting members. PEC meetings are held once a month during fall and spring semesters and may be called in the summer, if business requires. A majority of voting members constitutes a quorum. The PEC will conduct business if voting members send an email vote to the chairperson.
*The College of Education’s CAC operates in harmony with the PEC and PEU as the administrative unit that oversees budget, curriculum, recruitment, enrollment, etc. (see COE organizational chart)