Alfred University elementary education program recognized for driving greater teacher diversity

ALFRED, NY – The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has released new data examining standards for admission into teacher preparation programs, and programs’ contributions to racial diversity in the teaching profession. The NCTQ listed Alfred University’s undergraduate elementary teacher prep program as among the top 59 programs in the nation that maintained selective admissions requirements while driving greater teacher diversity.

The new data, released as part of the NCTQ’s ongoing Teacher Prep Review, examined two critical issues often portrayed as being mutually exclusive: the academic standards for admission into teacher preparation programs, and the achievement of racial diversity within the programs.

The study examined a field of 1,256 elementary teacher prep programs and found that 420 make positive contributions to racial diversity in enrollments. Less than half of those (198) do so while maintaining adequate admissions standards. Alfred University received grades of “A” from the NCTQ in the areas of program diversity and admission and is listed among the top 59 teacher preparation programs in the country cited for excelling in both areas.

“It is an honor for Alfred University to be spotlighted in the NCTQ report on teacher education quality. I believe it is a recognition of the hard work of our faculty and the high quality of our candidates in our teacher education program, both on the main campus and at our Corning extension program,” commented Tim Nichols, associate professor and chair of Alfred University’s Education Division. “Alfred University had its start in 1836 as a preparation program for young teachers and 185 years later our graduates are still going out and making schools, and the world, a better place.  

The results of the study dispelled the myth that teacher preparation programs sacrifice standards of admission in order to achieve higher levels of diversity within the program, according to an NCTQ press release announcing the study’s findings. Alfred University’s inclusion in the NCTQ report reflects an effort to promote diversity within the Education Division.

“We work closely with the members of our Higher Education Opportunity Program office to identify or refer minority students who are considering a career in teaching,” Nichols said. “Once we have gained diverse candidates to our Educator Preparation Program, we work to provide them the various supports they need to succeed both at Alfred and in the teaching major and profession.”