College of Education Receives NCATE Accreditation

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Shawn Nakamoto, 956-9095
University & Community Relations
Kristen Cabral, 956-5039
University & Community Relations
Posted: Nov 5, 2001

The University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa‘s College of Education has received notification from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) that it has been accredited for a period of five years after having met all of the 20 standards.

"The significance of national accreditation for the College and for UH cannot be overstated. This accomplishment reflects the dedication of our faculty who work with pre-service and in-service educators," said UH Manoa Interim Chancellor Deane Neubauer. "It also speaks to the high quality of the College‘s programs and research. My congratulations to the faculty and staff of the College of Education on their achievement."

NCATE standards are performance based and represent consensus in the field of education about what constitutes quality professional education. The standards address four major areas — curriculum (including relationships with K-12 schools, use of technology, and clinical experiences), quality of candidates, quality of instructors, and governance and resources. The accreditation process involves a self-study by the College, a lengthy written report, a site visit by six experts from across the country and a final review of all reports by an accreditation board consisting of professional educators nationwide.

NCATE consists of 33 constituent member organizations that represent the teaching professions. These organizations include those representing teachers, teacher educators, administrators, school boards, chief state school officers and subject matter specialists.

"By attaining national accreditation, we demonstrate our commitment to meeting the highest standards of the profession," said College of Education Dean Randy Hitz. "National accreditation holds us accountable to the profession, to our students, and to the general public."
The College of Education is the only teacher education program in Hawaiʻi to be nationally accredited. Achieving NCATE accreditation means that the College meets the highest standards of the profession and it communicates to students and the community at large that it is providing high quality programs. Graduating from an NCATE-accredited college adds value to students‘ diplomas and enhances their employment opportunities in the State and throughout the nation.