FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bonnie Konopak, Dean
College of Education
(805) 756-2126
Cal Poly University Center for Teacher Education Is Now College
of Education
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly’s University Center for Teacher
Education is
now the College of Education. The name change became official in early
July, after approval by university President Warren J. Baker.
The University Center for Teacher Education was created some 15 years
ago to house Cal Poly’s teacher credentialing programs. It now has
some
650 students seeking multiple or single-subject California teaching
credentials or graduate degrees in education. In 2003, Cal Poly received
approval to partner with UC Santa Barbara to offer a joint doctorate in
education – the first at Cal Poly.
"Cal Poly is committed to helping California sustain high-quality
K-12
schools, which are critical to the quality of students entering higher
education and to sustaining California's workforce,” Baker said.
“We
intend to expand our efforts in support of K-12 schools, and the new
College of Education reflects our commitment. A special emerging
priority and emphasis of the College of Education is development of
science and mathematics teachers who can inspire students to seek
careers in engineering, science and technology."
College of Education Dean Bonnie Konopak added that the name change
represents the evolution and growth that has taken place in Cal Poly’s
newest college in recent years. “Neither our previous name nor our
structure fully represented this growth,” Konopak explained.
The College of Education has been reorganized into two units: the
Division of Teacher Education, offering the college’s multiple and
single-subject credential programs; and the Department of Graduate
Studies in Education, offering advanced credentials, master’s and
doctoral programs.
Interim Provost Robert Detweiler noted that the changes are the latest
illustration of the university’s commitment to the state’s
K-12
education system. Earlier this year, Cal Poly also established the
University Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education.
The College of Education and the College of Science and Mathematics will
work together in developing the center and its programs and funding. “We
intend to increase the numbers of elementary and secondary teachers we
graduate and to ensure that they are especially strong in science and
math teaching skills.”
Other changes under way at the new College of Education include:
Expansion of the teaching credential programs in math, biology, chemistry and physics· A new master’s degree specialization in math and science education in conjunction with Cal Poly’s College of Science and Mathematics
· The recent addition of the Cotchett Endowed Professorship, just filled by the hiring of Shirley Magnussen, associate professor in science education.
· The recent addition of Cotchett Scholarships
· The current construction of the Cotchett Math and Science Education teaching lab
· The further development of the University Center for Excellence in
Science and Mathematics Education.
The Cotchett professorship, scholarships and teaching lab were made
possible by a recent gift from Joseph Cotchett, a Cal Poly alumnus and
top trial attorney, and his wife, Victoria Cotchett, of Palo Alto. The
couple have pledged $7 million to the new College of Education to
support the training of quality math and science teachers in California.
The College of Education becomes the university’s seventh college,
along
with the College of Agriculture, College of Architecture and
Environmental Design, Orfalea College of Business, College of
Engineering, College of Liberal Arts, and College of Science and
Mathematics.
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