Hollins University is among 55 institutions from 28 states and the United Arab Emirates to receive educator preparation program accreditation in Fall 2022 for a period of seven years from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, CAEP has developed rigorous, nationally recognized standards to ensure excellence in preparing the teachers of tomorrow. It advances educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen PK-12 learning.
“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 Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”
Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. CAEP is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation. Educator preparation providers seeking accreditation must pass peer review of the CAEP standards, which are based on two principles:
- The institution’s graduates are competent and caring educators.
- The institution’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.
At Hollins, undergraduates can earn a bachelor’s degree in a chosen discipline and a teaching license in four years. Then, they have the option of staying an extra year and earning a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree along with their teaching license. Students who hold bachelor’s degrees from any accredited institution can complete teaching licensure and their M.A.T. degree at Hollins at the same time or enroll in a licensure-only program. The university also offers a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning degree, a flexible, online graduate program for licensed PK-12 teachers who want to enhance their skills.
“Our students and instructors should be very proud of their hard work and its validation through CAEP Accreditation,” said Assistant Professor and Chair of Education at Hollins Teri Wagner. “Our students and their families are investing in an education program that is designated as nationally accredited for teacher preparation.”
