College of Education

Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

CAEP accreditation includes undergraduate and graduate levels of professional education programs offered at Tennessee Tech.  Accreditation is the process by which the profession of teaching declares its expectations for teacher education and applies these expectations to institutions that prepare members of the profession.

CAEP establishes standards and procedures to carry out the accreditation process and provides training for those who conduct on-site review of higher education institutions. The essential function of external, national accreditation is to provide professional judgment of the quality of a teacher education program and to encourage continuous improvement in the program.

Institutions that are accredited nationally are required to provide quality professional education programs that foster competent practice by graduates of their programs. As a part of the accrediting process, the College of Education must meet rigorous standards of excellence developed by professional educators.

The College must demonstrate that its programs reflect established knowledge and sound professional practice, must establish and uphold national standards of excellence, and must strengthen the quality and integrity of professional education.

Through the accreditation process, CAEP provides assurance to the public that professionally accredited units have met national professional standards.