AICUP Message to Friends of Independent Higher Education
February 6, 2012

 

 

Chestnut Hill College President Sister Carol Jean Vale and Gwynedd Mercy College President Kathleen Owens last week led a delegation of AICUP member presidents in presenting their concerns regarding federal teacher education proposals to members and staff of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation. Some of these proposals could ultimately be included when the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is re-authorized either this year or next. Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz and Congressman Jim Gerlach sponsored the event. Congressman Charlie Dent also attended in addition to staff from the offices of Congressmen Critz, Kelly, Holden, Fattah, Barletta, Gerlach, Schwartz, and Dent. 

 

The private college presidents noted that over the last few years the state Department of Education had implemented new teacher education preparation guidelines on the colleges that strictly prescribed courses, hours, and other criteria—removing individual program flexibility for meeting outcomes and competencies. These unwanted restrictions forced upon the private colleges made new federal proposals to fund completely new state-sanctioned but unaccredited, flexible, regulations-free teacher preparation programs completely unfair.   The presidents also presented the following concerns:

 

·         Lack of understanding in how teacher preparation programs were continually seeking to improve their performance and the performance of their students.

·         The need for a consistent evaluation system.

·         Simplistic one-size-fits-all policy solutions eliminate experimentation, improvement and diversity.

·         Quality of students seeking teaching as a career.

·         The need to make sure that data requirements meet cost-benefit analysis.

 

The presidents recommended federal policymakers consider the following:

 

·         Scholarships aiding students of color and encouraging teaching as a discipline.

·         Encouraging strong relationships with school districts.

·         Clear, consistent policies at the state and federal level.

·         Communication of those policies and expectations in objective, measurable terms.

·         Defining accountability and providing examples of best practices.

 

 

Did you know? AICUP members who attended the NAICU annual conference heard House Republican Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers criticize the President’s plan to use campus aid to reward colleges that control tuition. Chairman Rogers received enthusiastic applause when he stated that “What you charge for tuition is your business.”   Presidents also heard senior White House education advisor Zakiya Smith assure attendees that state student aid would be considered in any new maintenance of effort requirements imposed on the states for additional federal higher education funding. Previous federal stimulus funding required maintenance of effort only for the public universities.

 

 

AICUP Message to Friends of Independent Higher Education
February 6, 2012

 

 

Chestnut Hill College President Sister Carol Jean Vale and Gwynedd Mercy College President Kathleen Owens last week led a delegation of AICUP member presidents in presenting their concerns regarding federal teacher education proposals to members and staff of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation. Some of these proposals could ultimately be included when the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is re-authorized either this year or next. Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz and Congressman Jim Gerlach sponsored the event. Congressman Charlie Dent also attended in addition to staff from the offices of Congressmen Critz, Kelly, Holden, Fattah, Barletta, Gerlach, Schwartz, and Dent. 

 

The private college presidents noted that over the last few years the state Department of Education had implemented new teacher education preparation guidelines on the colleges that strictly prescribed courses, hours, and other criteria—removing individual program flexibility for meeting outcomes and competencies. These unwanted restrictions forced upon the private colleges made new federal proposals to fund completely new state-sanctioned but unaccredited, flexible, regulations-free teacher preparation programs completely unfair.   The presidents also presented the following concerns:

 

·         Lack of understanding in how teacher preparation programs were continually seeking to improve their performance and the performance of their students.

·         The need for a consistent evaluation system.

·         Simplistic one-size-fits-all policy solutions eliminate experimentation, improvement and diversity.

·         Quality of students seeking teaching as a career.

·         The need to make sure that data requirements meet cost-benefit analysis.

 

The presidents recommended federal policymakers consider the following:

 

·         Scholarships aiding students of color and encouraging teaching as a discipline.

·         Encouraging strong relationships with school districts.

·         Clear, consistent policies at the state and federal level.

·         Communication of those policies and expectations in objective, measurable terms.

·         Defining accountability and providing examples of best practices.

 

 

Did you know? AICUP members who attended the NAICU annual conference heard House Republican Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers criticize the President’s plan to use campus aid to reward colleges that control tuition. Chairman Rogers received enthusiastic applause when he stated that “What you charge for tuition is your business.”   Presidents also heard senior White House education advisor Zakiya Smith assure attendees that state student aid would be considered in any new maintenance of effort requirements imposed on the states for additional federal higher education funding. Previous federal stimulus funding required maintenance of effort only for the public universities.