Alumni Recognition & CAEP Performance Data

Bluefield University School of Education and Social Sciences graduates currently hold positions as teachers, building administrators, and central office personnel throughout Virginia, the surrounding states, and as far away as China.

Bluefield University teacher education graduates have been recognized as outstanding teachers of the year and have received various awards, including Teacher of the Year Awards, Ashland Oil Teaching Awards, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, and Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Grant Awards. Bluefield University graduates have served in leadership positions, including Executive Secretary of the National Education Association, member of the Virginia State Board of Education, and as superintendents of school districts. Bluefield University School of Education and Social Sciences graduates also serve on the University’s Board of Trustees.

Graduate Schools Attended

Many graduates from the Bluefield University School of Education and Social Sciences are enrolled in or have successfully completed master’s degrees from various institutions, including Bluefield University, Virginia Tech, Radford University, University of Virginia, East Tennessee State University, Averett University, James Madison University, University of Alabama, and Concord University. Beyond that level, other students have achieved a doctoral degree from Virginia Tech and Liberty University. These students received master’s degrees in the areas of reading, guidance counseling, library science, educational psychology, curriculum and instruction, and leadership, as well as content areas.

Education performance data can include a variety of different sources.  These are just some of the ways that we evaluate the success of our alumni.

Accreditation

Bluefield University’s Teacher Education Program, which is designed to prepare competent, caring, and qualified teachers who are reflective practitioners, is awarded TEAC accreditation by the Inquiry Brief Commission of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for a period of seven years, from 10/24/2016-12/31/2023.  The accreditation does not include individual education courses that the EPP offers to P-12 educators for professional development, re-licensure, or other purposes.  This accreditation certifies that Bluefield University’s Teacher Education Program has provided evidence that its program adheres to TEAC’s quality principles. All of Bluefield University’s initial-level licensure programs, at the undergraduate and graduate levels, were included as part of the last accreditation review.  Those programs are:

CAEP Performance Data

Education performance data can include a variety of different sources.  These are just some of the ways that we evaluate the success of our alumni.

Impact in Contributing to P-12 Student-Learning Growth

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, there are no clear mechanisms for collecting and sharing data across the state education agency, EPPs, and P-12 school divisions. EPPs in Virginia, as in many other states, face difficulty capturing meaningful large-scale data for the accreditation requirements of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and program improvement.

The School of Education and Social Sciences is in the process of collecting qualitative data about its program completers’ impact on P-12 learning and development through multiple measures.  These measures include observations, interviews, and artifacts collected on program completers in their first, second, and third years of teaching.  This data will be incorporated into a case study to address Bluefield University’s program completers’ impact on P-12 learning and development.  The School of Education and Social Sciences hopes to have the case study analysis available to the public in July of 2022.

Effectiveness in Applying Professional Knowledge, Skills, & Dispositions

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, there are no clear mechanisms for collecting and sharing data across the state education agency, EPPs, and P-12 school divisions. EPPs in Virginia, as in many other states, face difficulty capturing meaningful large-scale data for the accreditation requirements of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and program improvement.

The School of Education and Social Sciences is in the process of collecting qualitative data about its program completers’ teaching effectiveness through multiple measures.  These measures include observations, interviews, and artifacts collected on program completers in their first, second, and third years of teaching.  This data will be incorporated into a case study to address Bluefield University’s program completers’ teaching effectiveness.  The School of Education and Social Sciences hopes to have the case study analysis available to the public in July of 2022.

Satisfaction of Employers

Initial-Licensure Programs

The Employer Survey is distributed annually to principals in all schools in which graduates from the previous three years are currently teaching. The survey measures employers’ satisfaction with the preparation of School of Education and Social Sciences graduates for their assigned responsibilities in working with P-12 students. Bluefield University participates in the Virginia Education Assessment Collaborative Employer Survey for Initial Licensure programs. The Virginia Education Assessment Collaborative utilizes a common, standardized survey of program completers and their employers using the language and concepts of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Uniform Performance Standards. There are 36 Educator Preparation Programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia surveying program completers and their employers each year seeking to improve their programs and meet the requirements of the Virginia Department of Education and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. By standardizing survey recruitment, timelines, and process, VEAC hopes to reduce the complexity of surveys that principals and administrators complete each year to support EPPs. By benchmarking with the other VEAC participants, EPPs can better understand their strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, VEAC provides a common language and prompts discussion for program improvement.

In the past, The School of Education and Social Sciences asked principals, who employed our graduates, to complete an evaluation of the graduate upon completion of their first year in the classroom.  This evaluation consisted of rating the graduates on a scale from 1- (Unsatisfactory) to 5- (Excellent).*

Advanced-Level Programs

Collecting employer satisfaction of advanced licensure graduates presents challenges since completers may still be in initial licensure positions and therefore difficult for the employer to assess the skills earned in their advanced license programs.

Administration and Supervision

Currently, in the design process, the Employer Survey will be distributed annually to superintendents in all school divisions in which graduates from the previous three years are currently working. The survey will measure employers’ satisfaction with the preparation of School of Education and Social Sciences graduates for their assigned responsibilities in working with P-12 students and teachers. Bluefield University’s first graduates in Administration and Supervision completed the program in spring 2020. Currently, three of the four ADministration and SUpervision graduates are still employed in their initial licensure positions.

School Counselor

As part of CACREP accreditation, an employer satisfaction survey will be created and distributed annually to employers of graduates from the previous three years.  Bluefield University’s first graduates in School Counseling are expected in the spring of 2022.

Competency at Completion

Ability of Completers to Meet Licensing (Certification) Requirements for the State of Virginia

Licensure Exam Results

Program completers at the School of Education and Social Sciences must take the professional teacher assessments required by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Per the Regulations Governing the Review and Approval of Education Programs in Virginia, VDOE defines program completers as individuals who have successfully completed all coursework, required assessments, including those prescribed by the Board of Education, and supervised student teaching or a required internship.

100% of program completers (2018 – 2021) passed the Board of Education’s required licensure exams.

Recommended for Licensure

The Bluefield University School of Education and Social Sciences recommends program completers for licensure if they have met VDOE requirements, including coursework, professional assessments, and other requirements. 100% of program completers (2018 – 2021) were recommended for licensure upon completion of the program.

BU School of Education Completers of Initial & Advanced Preparation Programs

BU School of Education Pass Rates – Title II Summary Reports – Initial Preparation Programs

*Title II Summary Reports are not available for years with fewer than 10 program completers.

Ability of Completers to Be Hired in Education Positions For Which They Have Prepared

BU School of Education Job Placement Rates

Most graduates who have not yet accepted a teaching position are currently enrolled in graduate programs, working as substitutes, or currently employed as coaches. Three of the four graduates in Administration and Supervision are still serving in initial-level positions.