WGU Scheduled for Educator Preparation Accreditation Renewal Evaluation April 22; Public Comment Period Open Until March 11

SALT LAKE CITY — Western Governors University (WGU) is scheduled for an educator preparation accreditation site visit by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) on April 22, 2018. The public is invited to comment.

The Council provides an opportunity for third-party comment concerning the institution’s qualifications for accreditation. This notice is an invitation for public comments, which should be sent directly to the CAEP no later than March 11, 2018. Please note that comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the party's relationship to the provider (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates). Comments should be mailed to:

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
Or by email to: callforcomments@caepnet.org

Such comments must be within the specified period and based on the core tenets of CAEP accreditation standards of excellence, which recognize that:

• In CAEP's performance-based system, accreditation is based on evidence that demonstrates that teacher candidates know the subject matter and can teach it effectively so that students learn. In the CAEP system, EPPs must prove that candidates can connect theory to practice and be effective in an actual P-12 classroom.
• A professional education provider that is accredited by CAEP is expected to be involved in ongoing planning and evaluation; engaged in continuous assessment and development; ensure that faculty and programs reflect new knowledge, practice, and technologies; and be involved in continuous development in response to the evolving world of education and educational reform.
• Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the respondent's relationship, if any, to the institution (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates). Copies of all correspondence received will be sent to the university for comment prior to the review. No anonymous testimony will be considered.

In 2006, WGU was the first online university to be accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). This accreditation was continued in 2012. In 2013, NCATE merged with the Teacher Education Accreditation Council, and now those two organizations make up CAEP, the sole accrediting body for educator preparation. The site evaluation and public comment period are part of the standard accreditation process which provide public assurance of educational quality and institutional integrity.