Accreditation

Accreditation is a process of external peer review in which institutions of higher learning are evaluated based on a comprehensive set of established standards and criteria. Accreditation is maintained through various state and national professional accrediting bodies. The process of program accreditation provides a means of continuous quality assurance and represents the ongoing dedication of the Orlean Beeson School of Education to provide effective, high-quality professional programs that meet the needs our communities.

The accreditation of Educator Preparation Providers (EPPs) is granted by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Through its accreditation process, CAEP assures the quality of educator preparation and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning. The Orlean Beeson School of Education has long maintained its national accreditation through NCATE.

NCATE was subsumed by CAEP in 2013, such that CAEP is now the current accrediting body for EPPs. Following our most recent accreditation review and site visit in fall 2012, the Unit Accreditation Board determined that Orlean Beeson School of Education successfully met all NCATE standards at the initial teacher preparation and advanced preparation levels. This accreditation decision indicates that our institution and its programs meet the rigorous standards set forth by the professional education community and has maintained continued accreditation status. Our current accreditation extends through June 2020.

The human development and family science undergraduate degree program at Samford University has been reviewed by the National Council on Family Relations. It has been recognized as an NCFR CFLE–approved program offering coursework covering the content required for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation. Graduates of NCFR CFLE–approved programs qualify to apply for the CFLE designation via an abbreviated application process. Learn more about our Human Development and Family Life Education department.

Nationally Recognized Programs

Many of the educator preparation programs within the Orlean Beeson School of Education engage in an extensive peer review process conducted by Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs). SPAs review programs and award national recognition status to programs that meet national standards and benchmarks. Samford Orlean Beeson School of Education has more nationally recognized programs that any university in the state of Alabama.

Department of Teacher Education

B.S.E. in ESEC* (Early Childhood, Special Education, Elementary, Elementary Collaborative)
B.S.E. in Secondary Education (English)
B.S.E. in Secondary Education (History/Social Studies)

* Our ESEC program which certifies multiple content areas, was nationally recognized by three separate SPAS.

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

M.S.E. in Gifted Education
M.S.E. in Secondary English Education (Fifth-Year Alternative Route)
M.S.E. in Secondary Social Studies Education (Fifth-Year Alternative Route)
M.S.E. in Secondary Physical Education (Fifth-Year Alternative Route)
M.S.E. in Elementary/Early Childhood Education* (Fifth-Year Alternative Route)

* Our Fifth-Year Elem/Early Childhood program which certifies two content areas, was nationally recognized by two separate SPAs.

Department of Educational Leadership

M.S.E. in Instructional Leadership
Ed.S. in Instructional Leadership

Programs that receive national recognition status are considered models for others to emulate across the country. We are thrilled that we have eleven academic programs — and counting — that have received this status.Karen Bost, Data Manager

Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs)

ACEI (Elementary)
NAEYC (Early Childhood)
CEC (Special Education)
NCTE (English)
NCSS (Social Studies)
ELCC (Educational Leadership)
NASPE (Physical Education)
NAGC-CEC (Gifted Education)

CAEP Annual Reporting Measures

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) has eight annual reporting measures which are used to provide information to the public on both program outcome and program impact. The following is the list of the CAEP measures.

Measures of program impact:

Measure 1: Pre-service candidate impact on P-12 student learning

Student Learning — assessment on pre- and post-instruction on P-12 student learning.

Measure 2: Indicators of teaching effectiveness

Clinical Internship Evaluations — supervisor evaluation of candidates during clinical internship.

Measure 3: Results of employer surveys, and including retention and employment milestones

Principal survey (Initial/ Advanced) — a survey of principals' perception of graduates' preparation by the university 12-18 months after completion of program.

Measure 4: Results of completer surveys

Graduate survey (Initial/Advanced) — a survey of pre-service teachers as they exit the preparation program.

Measures of program outcome and consumer information:

Measure 5: Graduation rates from preparation programs

Completer graduation rates

Measure 6: Ability of completers to meet licensing (certification) and any additional state requirements

State licensure exam results— includes passage rates on Praxis II examinations of Samford candidates by year and program area.

Measure 7: Ability of completers to be hired in education positions for which they are prepared

Employment follow-up — employment rates of completers of initial and advanced programs 12 months after program completion. Most employment occurs 2-3 months after completion but is documented at 12 months.

Measure 8: Student loan default rates and other consumer information

Samford University student loan default rates based on data provided by Director of Student Financial Services:
- (2014 - 2.1%)
- (2013 - 2.0%)
- (2012 - 0.7%)
Tuition costs for 2017/2018