Photo by Samantha Davis: Southwest Minnesota State University students participate in a rhythmic music lesson to showcase one of the areas of the new Center for Learning Innovation at its grand opening on Oct. 8. SMSU’s Educator Preparation Program has been awarded national accreditation by the AAQEP.

MARSHALL — Continuing to up its standards and provide quality training for its students, the Educator Preparation Program at Southwest Minnesota State University has been awarded full national accreditation by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) for seven years.

The national accreditation recognition confirms a program’s quality, and is awarded to an institution’s program in educator preparation that has passed a very thorough application process that proves accountability and continuous improvement opportunities for students pursuing educational careers.

“Seeking national accreditation through AAQEP has been a strategic priority for the SMSU School of Education in efforts to go beyond compliance, and focus on our growth in educator preparation,” SMSU Professor of Education and Department Chair Dr. Sonya Vierstraete said. “The national accreditation process is rigorous and involves a collaborative, team effort in demonstrating proficiency in meeting the accreditation standards and aspects with evidence of artifacts and supporting narrative.”

To receive accreditation, the AAQEP system holds four standards that a program must successfully perform in. The standards work to establish expectations and frame opportunities for improvement.

The first standard is “Completer Foundational Knowledge and Skills” that shows how students in an educator preparation program graduate with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to support student learning and development.

The second standard of the AAQEP is “Completer Professional Growth and Adaptability” that shows how students grow as professionals and adapt their practices, and the third standard is the “Quality of Program Practices” which proves an institution’s resources to prepare educator career-seeking students.

The final standard that must be passed is “Program Engagement in System Improvement” that asks program’s to engage with community partners to further strengthen opportunities and experiences for students and to strengthen the education system.

According to the SMSU, the AAQEP Commission made the decision to approve SMSU for the accreditation at its Jan. 23 meeting.

Also noted by SMSU, the AAQEP supported its decision with saying, “The Commission evaluated the program’s evidence for each AAQEP standard and determined that all four standards are met … Southwest Minnesota State University maintains program quality by analyzing evidence of its effectiveness and making revisions to benefit candidates. It engages with stakeholders and partners to strengthen the P-20 education system, particularly through their efforts to address workforce needs. The Commission also reviewed the provider’s plans for ongoing growth and improvement, based on the findings of the self-study, and affirms the intentions presented.”

The SMSU School of Education has been pursuing national accreditation for years past, with Vierstraete noting the teamwork and collaboration from department faculty that went into the work to achieve the status.

“It was more than a two-year process, and continues to be ongoing even with being awarded with the full seven years of accreditation as we advance in our accreditation process and cycle of assessment,” Vierstraete said. “The work is never done, and because we operate with a growth mindset, we do not want the work to be finished. We focus on the learning opportunities along the way, and how they impact our practice. Our program highlights the importance for candidates and educators to be reflective practitioners.”

The educator preparation program is also accredited by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), which is a state requirement that allows an institution to offer the licensure programs. SMSU’s School of Education is accredited by the PELSB through 2030.

SMSU’s education department offers a variety of preparatory classes such as elementary education, early childhood education, early childhood special education and more.

The department has seen exciting development recently, as it also launched a brand new Center for Innovation in October in the upper level of the Individualized Learning Building. The center holds a new learning innovation lab along with other classrooms filled with advanced technology, equipment and tools for the education preparation program to enhance training opportunities and hands-on experience for students.

The lab models early childhood to high school classrooms.

Vierstraete said the new space has been used well, and also has compelling plans on the horizon.

According to Vierstraete, the Center will be hosting the Literacy Fellowship Program this spring where SMSU has paired teacher candidates or literacy fellows with area kindergarten to third grade learners, to work through literacy practices.

“The JAB Foundation is supporting a few pilots with educator preparation programs throughout Minnesota, and our School of Education is one of them participating in the pilot this spring,” Vierstraete said. “Dr. Renee Ullom and I are spearheading this literacy learning opportunity, and are excited to see it come to fruition.”

Since the opening of the Innovation Center, SMSU’s School of Education has had opportunities to hold various classes in the space and has welcomed area schools to the lab as well.

“We are excited to continue to continue to grow and support our region, and beyond, with talented, well-prepared educators,” Vierstraete said.