University of Alaska Teacher Preparation Update
Paul Layer, Vice President for Academic, Students and Research Steve Atwater, Executive Dean, Alaska College of Education February 13, 2020
1 University of Alaska: Education Units o University of Alaska Anchorage School of Education – AAS Early Childhood Education, advanced and graduate programs and PACE (Professional and Continuing Education)
o University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Education – initial licensure, advanced and graduate programs
o University of Alaska Southeast Alaska College of Education – initial licensure, advanced and graduate programs
2 Accreditation History
3 Accreditation Status of UA Education Units
UA Initial Licensure Programs Advanced Programs Education Unit UAA Not offered by UAA Preparing self‐study for CAEP, will submit 1/2021 UAF Full CAEP accreditation until Preparing self‐study for June 2024 CAEP, will submit 1/2021 UAS CAEP Site‐visit 11/2019 CAEP Site‐visit 11/2019 Positive site visit report. CAEP Positive site visit report. Accreditation Council will CAEP Accreditation Council consider UAS EPP will consider UAS EPP accreditation in April. accreditation in April.
4 Timeline of UAA College of Education and Initial Licensure Accreditation Review • August 2017 Self‐study submitted to CAEP • April 2018 CAEP Site Visit • January 2019 CAEP notice of revocation of accreditation • January 2019 UAF and UAS receive UAA student transfers • January 2019 DEED waives regulation requiring CAEP accreditation for UAA completers in May and August 2019 • April 2019 Board of Regents votes to discontinue initial licensure programs • August 2019 UAS and UAF recruit students in Southcentral Alaska into teacher education programs. UAF begins to
5 offer face‐to‐face classes on UAA campus Accreditation Summary
• UAA’s loss of CAEP accreditation for its initial licensure teacher preparation programs was a major crisis that required University and Board action to meet student needs • The only certain path to licensure from an approved and accredited program was for UAF and UAS to step in to provide programs after August 2019 • The Board approved the discontinuation of UAA programs and accepted the modified UAF and UAS proposals to meet student needs. These decisions were implemented such that Southcentral students were offered several options beginning in Fall 2019 to pursue teaching degrees that would lead to state licensure
6 Enrollment, Staffing and Budget History
7 Spring Semester Enrollment Initial Licensure and Advanced programs Spring Spring Spring Spring 2017 2018 2019 2020
UAA 667 598 475 107
UAF 423 424 409 471
UAS 329 281 258 294
Total 1419 1303 1142 872
*Enrollment as of January 17, 2020. Based on UAA early semester operational reports. Not official “freeze” data. Numbers are updated daily.
8 Initial Licensure and Advanced Program Majors
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0 Spring 2017 Spring 2018 Spring 2019 Spring 2020
9 UAA UAF UAS Total Initial Licensure and Advanced
1600 Program Majors
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0 Spring 2017 Spring 2018 Spring 2019 Spring 2020
10 UAS UAF UAA UA Completions for all Programs
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019
UAA 185 198 141
UAF 133 123 120
UAS 165 184 166
Total 483 505 427
11 First‐Time Completers of UA Initial Licensure Programs
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 Expected UAA 88 100 61 0
UAF 55 56 59 73
UAS 78 83 66 85
Total 221 239 186 158*
*expected
Totals only count the first‐earned degree in an initial licensure program at UA for each student. If, for example, a student earned a Grad Cert and a Master’s degree in an initial licensure program, they are only counted once.
12 Current FTE Faculty and Staff by Program Program UAA UAF UAS Faculty Staff Faculty Staff Faculty Staff Early Childhood 2 0 0 0 0 Elementary (BA, Post 0 0 5.06 2.25 4 1.25 Bac) Secondary (BA, Post 0 0 4.53 1.5 1 0.25 Bac) Special Education (BA, Post Bac, MAT, 10 1 0.253 0.5 M.Ed.) Other Advanced 4 0 3.63 0.5 3.75 0.25 Programs Graduate Programs 1 0 3 0.25 4 (PACE) Other 0 .66 staff for 1 (AITC) 0 unit 8 FTE 4.66 FTE 18.22 FTE 4.75 FTE 11.75 FTE 4.75 FTE Total Faculty Staff Faculty Staff Faculty Staff
13 UAA School of Education Expenses and UGF Support
14 UAA and UAF Expenses and UGF Support
15 Tracking Our Students and Enrollment
16 % of UAA Education Program Majors Enrolled at UA the Following Year
Calculated using the number of program majors in UAA Initial Licensure Programs of the first reported fall and that same cohort of students enrolled at UA (in any program) the following year, excluding students who graduated with a Bachelor's degree or higher during that timeframe. Based on the fall open freeze.
17 UAA Initial Licensure Students Notice of Loss of CAEP Accreditation
Fall 2018 Spring 2019 Spring/Summer 2019 Fall 2019 Start of Term End of Term Graduation
Additional Enrolled Not Not Initial Licensure Enrolled Enrolled Not Enrolled
Changed Major
Enrolled Initial Licensure
Same Major Same Enrolled Major Enrolled
Graduated Graduated Associate’s Associate’s Graduated Graduated Other Changed Other Graduated Major Graduated Graduated Program 18 Program Program UAA Initial Licensure Students Notice of Loss of CAEP Accreditation
Fall 2018 Spring 2019 Spring/Summer 2019 Fall 2019 Start of Term End of Term Graduation 50 Additional Enrolled Not Not Initial Licensure Enrolled Enrolled Not 110 194 Enrolled 94 Changed Major 21 Enrolled Initial Licensure 474 451 Same Major Same Enrolled 313 Major Enrolled 323 391 235
Graduated Graduated 29 Associate’s 6 Associate’s 26 Graduated Graduated 23 Other Other Changed 1 Graduated Major 37 Graduated Graduated Program 19 44 Program 8 Program UAA Students in Initial Licensure Programs in Fall 2019 • 474 students were enrolled in UAA initial licensure programs in Fall 2018 and 23 graduated from UAA in December 2018 • 50 new students started at UAA in Spring 2019 for a total of 501 Of those: • 72 students graduated by Fall 2019, most with education degrees • 235 are still enrolled in UA programs • 194 students did not enroll at UA in Fall 2019 • Of the students not enrolled, 30 (15%) were found in National Student Clearinghouse data as enrolled at other universities. • The remaining 164 students are not enrolled in higher
20 education anywhere in the US Where are the 235 Students Still in UA Programs?
UAA Total 40% Education Program 9% Non‐Education Program 29% Non‐Degree Seeking 2% UAF Total 34% Education Program 29% Non‐Education Program 3% Non‐Degree Seeking 2% UAS Total 26% Education Program 24% Non‐Education Program 1% Non‐Degree Seeking 1%
21 Are the Students Who Transferred to UAF or UAS Still on Track?
UAA Transfers Completing at UAF and UAS Completing Scheduled to complete Fall 2019 Spring 2020 UAF 4 28
UAS 7 24
22 Former UAA Initial Licensure Students Who Transferred Out of UA Where are they now?
State College Headcount State College Headcount Grand Canyon University 3 Eastern Oregon University 1 OR AZ Northern Arizona University 1 Southern Oregon University 1 University Of Phoenix 2 SC Bob Jones University 1 CO Colorado Christian University 1 Temple College 1 GA Clayton State University 1 University Of Texas At El Paso 1 TX HI Leeward Community College 1 Wayland Baptist University‐ 1 External Campus IA Northwestern College 1 UT Western Governors University 4 MS William Carey University 1 VA Liberty University 2 MT University Of Montana ‐ Western 1 Central Washington University 1 North Carolina Central University 1 WA Northwest University 1 NC University Of North Carolina‐ 1 Wilmington Washington State University 1 NE Midland University 1 NH Southern New Hampshire 1 *The sum of students by major is greater than the count of distinct individuals due to some individuals switching majors/schools.
23 Former UAA Initial Licensure Students Who Transferred Out of UA What is their major now?
Discipline Major Headcount Education/Teaching 18 Education 4 Early Childhood 7 Elementary 7 Business/Accounting 4 Interdisciplinary or Undeclared 5 Other 4 Applied Learning and Development 1 Exercise Science 1 Psychology/Human Services 1 Political Science 1 Unknown Major 2 Distinct Individuals 30* *The sum of students by major is greater than the count of distinct individuals due to some individuals switching majors/schools. 24 Current Program Delivery
25 How do Program Delivery Options Vary?
Student Credit Hours in Education Courses 2018‐19 % of credit hours % of credit hours taken by distance taken face‐to‐face UAA 57% 43% UAF 57% 43% UAS 74% 26%
26 UAF Face‐to‐Face Courses in Anchorage
However these classes only tell a part of the story for students in Southcentral because they are looking for options in how they receive their instruction and F2F is one of 27 several UA pathways they can pursue Average Size of Face‐to‐Face Classes Taught in Anchorage for Elementary and Secondary Programs
Fall Spring
UAA 2018‐19 19.5 16
UAF 2019‐20 13.7 12
28 Variable educational pathways to meet student needs
As an example, here are 4 UAF students from Southcentral Alaska. What is a “typical” student in terms of location, preferred instruction method, etc.?
29 What Proportion of Our Programs Have Been Taught via Distance?
UAA Education Program Majors Enrolled in Distance Credits –Fall 2019
30 Majors in Ongoing Programs in the UAA School of Education
Admission Suspended
Spring 2015‐2019 based on official “close freeze” data. *Spring 2020 based on UAA early semester operational reports, as of January 21, 2020. Not official “freeze” data. Numbers are updated daily. †There is a significant discrepancy between the number of students enrolled in Early Childhood classes and the number of students admitted to the 31 program. At early semester, an additional 48 students were enrolled in Early Childhood courses who are not admitted to the program. ‡ Currently 8 in the Spring 2020 cohort, though Banner only reflects 2 admitted by the November deadline. First‐Time Completers of UA Initial Licensure Programs
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 Expected UAA 88 100 61 0
UAF 55 56 59 73
UAS 78 83 66 85
Total 221 239 186 158*
*expected
Totals only count the first‐earned degree in an initial licensure program at UA for each student. If, for example, a student earned a Grad Cert and a Master’s degree in an initial licensure program, they are only counted once.
32 Next Steps
33 Going Forward
• Short term – Coordinate websites, marketing, recruiting and advising to provide clear pathways for students across the state but especially in Southcentral to pursue paths to teaching licensure in Alaska. – Continue to ramp up UAF faculty in Anchorage and UAS offerings on‐line and in Anchorage‐based cohort programs to meet current and expected student demand. – Align curricula for initial licensure and advanced programs offered at multiple universities. • Mid term – Recruit students into the programs • UA graduates from other programs: tuition incentives to pursue MAT or M.Ed.? • Current UA students: provide clear pathways for moving into teacher programs perhaps through tuition incentives. • Preparing Indigenous Teachers & Administrators for Alaska Schools (PITAAS) • Future UA students: Educators Rising, Middle College. – Assess state needs to reestablish a BA in Early Childhood Education • Long Term – Address options for the structure and reporting for the AKCOE
34 Educators Rising Alaska
HISTORY FY16 move from Future Educators of Alaska to Educators Rising FY17 Educators Rising Curriculum created‐high school career pathway FY18 Initial adoption of Curriculum by districts FY19 ‐ 28 districts implemented ER curriculum FY20 ‐ 35 districts implementing ER curriculum New districts in 2020: Fairbanks, Galena, Juneau, Dillingham, Kodiak, Nenana, Hoonah Looking Forward Dual Enrollment course for Educators Rising in Fall 2020 Middle School Curriculum being developed for Fall 2020 Annual Conference growing more than 100 students attend 35 36 Amy Vinlove will discuss this goal‐driven model Final Thoughts
• UAA’s loss of CAEP accreditation for its initial licensure teacher preparation programs was a major crisis that required University and Board action to meet student needs • The only certain path to licensure from an approved and accredited program was for UAF and UAS to step in to provide programs after August 2019 • The Board approved the discontinuation of UAA programs and accepted the modified UAF and UAS proposals to meet student needs. These decisions were implemented such that Southcentral students were offered several options beginning in Fall 2019 to pursue teaching degrees that would lead to state licensure • It is imperative that there is a coordinated effort by all three Universities to recruit, advise and retain Education majors • There is a growing need to better address state needs for previously met by the UAA Early Childhood Education BA degree • The AKCOE structure should be reassessed in light of the current budget situation and NWCCU leadership changes
37 Appendix: Job Description: Executive Dean Alaska College of Education
• Work in concert with University leadership and faculty to articulate and advance a shared mission and vision for the Alaska College of Education • Provide innovative academic and administrative leadership for the Alaska College of Education based at UAS, and effective statewide coordination of undergraduate and graduate education programs across the UA system • Communicate effectively with university leaders about actions required to support the mission and success of the College and the statewide Council. • Work effectively in a shared governance environment to develop coordinated, aligned, and innovative Academic, research, professional development, and K‐12 outreach. • Provide leadership in support of professional accreditation of Alaska College of Education programs, including ongoing evaluation and assessment of all academic programs. • As a scholar‐leader, develop the College’s prominence nationally and internationally as a nexus for innovative research, scholarship, and professional practice • Be a visible and articulate university leader contributing to ongoing transformation of the P‐20 educational system‐‐advancing a culture of education in the state. • Provide a vision and strategic pathways for advancement, development, and fundraising for UA education programs, working in concert with UA leaders, 38 the University of Alaska Foundation, and external stakeholders.