Texas A&M University-Commerce

Texas A&M University Commerce

CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION

Institutional Mission

Texas A&M University-Commerce nurtures and educates for success through access to academic, research and service programs of high quality.

http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/home/

Educator Preparation Mission

The mission is to foster learning and to facilitate the development of exemplary and dedicated professionals. The vision is to focus resources to create a student-centered culture that promotes ethical behavior, competence in practice and leadership in a diverse community.

http://www7.tamu-commerce.edu/coe/

Preparation Programs

Texas A&M University-Commerce offers initial teacher preparation for early childhood, elementary, and secondary teachers. Virtually all specializations and teaching fields available in Texas are offered. Teacher education programs are designed to provide each pre-service or in-service teacher with expert knowledge of their area of specialization, understanding of public school culture, how students learn and the skills needed to be an effective professional educator.

Elementary and Secondary Field-Based Teacher Education Programs: Field-based Teacher Education Program applicants meet specific admission criteria and interview with partnership public school mentor teachers and university faculty before being placed in the most appropriate classroom environment. The primary guiding force in the field-based training is the Instructional Leadership Team. This team is made up of master (public school) mentor teachers and a university liaison, with input coming from the pre-service teacher and campus principal; the team provides teacher training through seminars, modeling, and clinical supervision of teaching performance in the public school. Through focused, practical instruction from experienced educators, and hands-on training from master (public school) mentor teachers, pre-service teachers gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence that ensures success and an extended career in education. http://www7.tamu-commerce.edu/eled/ and
http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/coe/shed/
Educational Aide/Paraprofessional Teacher Certification Program Texas A&M University-Commerce accommodates the needs of educational aides in ways that allow them to pursue a degree and certification while continuing employment as an aide.

Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program (Emergency Teaching Permit): Texas A&M University-Commerce’s Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program is uniquely designed to prepare students with an undergraduate degree to become a certified teacher. Aspiring teachers engage in focused, practical training through graduate-level coursework leading to certification.

https://www.tamu-commerce.edu/teacher/

Admission Requirements

As a regional university, our purpose is to serve the needs of our area student population and school districts. In collaboration with our local schools districts, we have set criteria for admission and retention in the teacher education program that results in our students performing successfully in their internships, on their certification exam(s) and ultimately as highly effective teachers.
Texas A&M University-Commerce actively recruits students into teacher education through a variety of activities. We collaborate with high school organization such as Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) where our faculty serve as speakers for local meetings and attend state TAFE conferences. We have a teacher leadership summer camp on campus in association with TAFE where high school students get an overview of our teacher education program and the teaching profession. We provide multiple scholarship opportunities for prospective teachers, especially for those going into high need schools or teaching fields. We have a full time employee housed at a local Community College to recruit teacher candidates and facilitate their smooth transfer to the main campus for the last two years of teacher education.

Student Characteristics

Texas A&M University-Commerce experienced an overall growth of 6.9 percent in enrollment from fall 2001 to fall 2002. In fall 2002, the total enrollment was 8,483, identified as 57% undergraduate and 43% graduate students. Fall 2002 total enrollment shows students enrolled in classes at the main Commerce campus, the Metroplex campus, the Universities Center of Dallas, the Navarro program in Corsicana, and other off-campus and distance education sites. Of the graduate students, 1,801 are master’s (49%), 274 (7%) are doctoral, and 1,595 are post-baccalaureate teacher preparation (43%) students. Most students are identified as female (62%) and white/non-Hispanic (69%). Ethnic minorities are identified as: black/non-Hispanic (18%), Hispanic (5%), Asian/Pacific (1%), Native American (1%), and international (5%).

Program Highlights/Additional Information

Texas A&M University-Commerce is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and The Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has approved all educator preparation degree programs. Awards include: The Kenan Foundation selected Texas A&M University-Commerce College of Education and the Mesquite Independent School District as one of three model school-university partnership programs, 1998; The Association of Teacher Educators (ATE), Finalist, Distinguished Program in Teacher Education, 2002, 1995, 1985; The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), Christa McAuliffe Showcase for Excellence Award, finalist in 2002 and recipient in 1994; and The Southeastern Regional Association of Teacher Educators (SRATE), Innovation in Teacher Education Award, 1988.