Hampton University Recognized for National Excellence in Educator Prep

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 5, 2018) – The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) has just announced that the Hampton University Department of Education has received accreditation for its education preparation programs. The fall 2018 review by the CAEP Accreditation Council resulted in 52 newly-accredited programs from 27 states and Puerto Rico, bringing the total to 196 providers approved under the CAEP Teacher Preparation Standards – rigorous, nationally recognized standards that were developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs.

“We are so proud of our students and faculty in the Department of Education for the hard work they do every day. This accreditation shows that our students and faculty are continuing to uphold THE Standard of Excellence that Hampton University is known for,” said Hampton University President, Dr. William R. Harvey.

CAEP is the sole nationally recognized accrediting body for educator preparation. Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. CAEP was created by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. It is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation. Currently, more than 800 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP Accreditation system, including many previously accredited through former standards.

“These institutions meet high standards so that their students receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate,” said CAEP President Dr. Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”

The Hampton University Department of Education’s goal is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that will prepare them to become effective educators. Future educators are reflective collaborative teachers and leaders who are dedicated to impacting PK-12 education in an increasingly diverse, technological, and global society and who promote lifelong commitment to learning. The Department accomplishes this goal by offering high-quality programs that provide experiences designed to respect the diversity of children, their families, and communities. 

“We’ve set a very high bar for our teacher prep program and CAEP Accreditation validates the hard work our students and faculty are doing,” said Dr. Martha Jallim-Hall, chair of the Hampton University Department of Education. “Our students and their families are investing in an education program that is designated as nationally accredited for teacher preparation.”

Educator preparation providers seeking accreditation must pass peer review on five standards, which are based on two principles: 

1. Solid evidence that the provider’s graduates are competent and caring educators, and
2. Solid evidence that the provider’s educator staff have the capacity to create a culture of evidence and use it to maintain and enhance the quality of the professional programs they offer.

Hampton University joins 51 other providers to receive accreditation this fall, bringing the total number to 196 CAEP-accredited providers from 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.