On Jan. 6, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) granted approval to Metro's teacher preparation programs and reauthorized them for five years. In addition, the commission gave the African-American Studies and Chicano/a Studies programs their first teacher licensure approval.

Beginning last April, a team of representatives from the CCHE and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) undertook a comprehensive review and evaluation of Metro's teacher preparation programs. The review was part of the CCHE's statutory responsibility to determine which programs in Colorado should be approved and reauthorized for preparing students to enter the teaching profession.

The approval and reauthorization issued last week recognize the quality of Metro's programs and the excellent preparation of students to enter the teaching profession. In a report to the CCHE, Chief Academic Officer Matt Gianneschi wrote: "Graduates from the Metro State teacher education program are highly sought after for their ability to work in diverse environments, their knowledge of state standards and the quality of their preparation."

Calling the approval and reauthorization major accomplishments, Interim President Ray Kieft acknowledged the commitment of time and energy by numerous faculty in the School of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the School of Professional Studies and in the Department of Economics. "The leadership shown by Dean Sandra Haynes, Dean Ken Keller, Chair Kathleen Milligan, and Vice President Joan Foster throughout the process was also a major factor in achieving this result," he said.

African-American Studies and Chicano/a Studies programs receive first approvals

In addition to the reauthorizations, two programs at Metro received their first approval for licensure from the commission on Jan. 6. The Chicano/a Studies program received approval for elementary education licensure and the African-American Studies program received approval for social studies licensure.

"As the culmination of efforts spanning several years, numerous faculty and staff deserve recognition and thanks for their efforts and commitment to not giving up," Kieft said.