Shepherd University School of Education & Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
Shepherd University’s EPP is currently scheduled for a Virtual Site Review to renew its accreditation on September 30 – October 2, 2024.
Accreditation from CAEP
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) advances excellent educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning. West Virginia has a partnership agreement with CAEP that describes the goals of the partnership and the key responsibilities of signatory parties and educator preparation providers (EPPs) within the state. As of 2022, the CAEP 2022 Revised Standards Workbook will be used to delineate the CAEP standards and required evidence files for accreditation.
Shepherd University’s School of Education underwent an accreditation review by CAEP on November 5-7, 2017. On April 30, 2018, the CAEP Actions Council made its final decision noting that Shepherd’s EPP met all accreditation standards with a stipulation to address through the annual reporting process on Standard 2.2. A virtual stipulation visit was conducted by CAEP in the fall semester of 2019 to assess the progress of Shepherd University in addressing the stipulation. On May 5, 2020, the University received notification from CAEP that the EPP had successfully addressed the stipulation and that Shepherd’s EPP was fully accredited without stipulation.
Initial Programs for which CAEP approval was sought during the 2017-2018 accreditation endeavor within the School of Education included the following:
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree programs in Art Education (PK–Adult), Biology Education (9-Adult), Chemistry Education (9-Adult), Early Education (PK-K), Elementary Education (K–6), English Education (5–Adult), Family and Consumer Sciences [FACS] Education (5-Adult), Mathematics Education (5-Adult), Music Education (PK–Adult), Physical Education (PK-Adult), General Science Education (5–Adult), Social Studies Education (5–Adult), and Spanish Education* (5–Adult).
- NOTE: Since the previous CAEP accreditation, the BA in FACS Education and BA in Early Education (Pre-K–K) and programs have been discontinued [as of S23].
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree programs in Art Education (5-Adult), Biology Education (9-Adult), Chemistry Education (9-Adult), Elementary Education (K-6), English Education (5-Adult), FACS Education (5-Adult), General Science Education (5-Adult), Mathematics Education (5-Adult), Physical Education (PK-Adult), Social Studies Education (5-Adult), and Spanish Education (5-Adult).
- NOTE: An additional MAT program for initial licensure in Music Education (PK-Adult) was added to the EPP in 2020. Additionally in 2020, the program previously identified as Spanish Education (5-Adult) was expanded to include German, French, and Japanese, and is now identified as World Languages Education (5-Adult) for both BA and MAT programs.*
Advanced Programs Shepherd University currently does not have any advanced programs per CAEP guidelines.
About Accreditation, CAEP, and Why It Matters
Simply put, accreditation is quality assurance through external peer review. When an institution or specialized program is accredited, it has demonstrated that meets standards set by organizations representing the academic community, professionals, and other stakeholders. To maintain accreditation the institution or program must undergo a similar review on a regular basis. Typically reviews are conducted every 7 to 10 years.
There are two types of accreditation: institutional and professional (sometimes called programmatic).
Professional accreditors review departments, schools, and colleges usually within a higher education institution. An institution, especially a larger university, might simultaneously maintain accreditation from a regional accreditor as well as from several professional accreditors.
CAEP is a professional accreditor because it reviews departments, schools, and colleges which prepare teachers and other educators. After completing a program, teachers seek licensure or certification from the state in which they wish to teach. (Excerpted from the CAEP website.)
To become more familiar with the “language” of CAEP, please review the CAEP glossary as needed.
For more information about the School of Education at Shepherd University, visit: https://www.shepherd.edu/education
Updated 7/2024 (TDK)