College of Education

Overview of the College of Education
 
The University of St. Francis has had a commitment to preparing high quality educators since the inception of the Congregation of the Third Order of Saint Francis of Mary Immaculate in 1865. One of the sisters' main concerns was that of preparing teachers for parochial school work. In 1920 the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate received a charter to open "The New College" in order to provide women the opportunity to "pursue advanced study, permeated with Catholic principles, and shaped in accordance with Catholic ideals."
 

In the course of time, "The New College" became "Assisi Junior College," and with the inclusion of a senior college curriculum in the fall of 1930, the name of the institution was changed to the "College of St. Francis," described as a college of liberal arts and sciences. The college was formally organized in 1925; classes, including courses in education, started in the fall of 1925. In May of 1926 the State Board of Education granted approval to issue First Grade Certificates. Since its founding, the University has continued to operate as a recognizedinstitution with approval to entitle candidates for elementary, special, and secondary teacher education over the history of the program. More recently the University added educational leadership and reading specialist certifications to its record of approved programs.

The Education Department's record of successful preparation of educators, together with the institution's commitment to meeting the emerging educational needs of a rapidly growing student population in the communities it serves, led to the establishment of the College of Education at the University of St. Francis on June 1, 2000. With over 700 students, the college continues to focus on its commitment to prepare quality educators. Rooted in its Catholic, Franciscan mission, the College of Education affirms its ability to prepare educators to meet the demands of contemporary society, and its readiness to build on the institution's legacy of high quality education programs.
mother moes statue
 
The college strives to maintain high standards as it seeks to offer undergraduate and graduate candidates educational opportunities that are truly distinctive. The College of Education is dedicated to provide meaningful learning experiences for current and future educators, to maintain excellence, and to improve itself as it strives to meet the needs of candidates and the educational community.
 
College of Education Mission
 
The mission of the College of Education at the University of St. Francis is to prepare competent and caring educators who understand students, serve the community and develop professionally to become ethical decision-makers and leaders. A strong liberal arts core integrates sound foundational theory, research-based best practices, and authentic field experiences to meet the challenges of an increasingly diverse student population in a changing world. The professional preparation of educators emphasizes the Franciscan tradition of peace and tranquility, love for others, worth of the individual and dedication to service. These qualities are embodied in the guiding institutional values of respect, compassion, service and integrity.
 
Conceptual Framework
 
The College of Education’s conceptual framework is a set of guiding principles that guides our mission and is integrated into every aspect of our programs. The model for our conceptual framework is the Gothic window, a structure that emphasizes light and humanism. It is an arch whose presence and style uplifts the eyes, the mind, and the spirit. Just as the gothic window historically represents the architectural style of the cathedral, it also represents our college’s impact on the lives of our candidates. Educators’ knowledge and artistry help formulate the final structure, but each piece of glass, regardless of size or color, is an important contribution to the full picture. Each shape has individual character and gives meaning to the final form. Just as education enhances society through enlightenment, the window helped one understand new perspectives and knowledge through its symbolic stories. Any slight change in light gives us new perspective. The College of Education’s theme, "Understanding Students; Serving the Community; Finding our Professional Selves", further elaborates how our conceptual framework guides our mission.
 
Understanding Students
 
At the core of all learning experiences is the student, and all educational experiences must begin with the individual student in mind. Thus, the College of Education promotes a student-centered approach to teaching and learning that affirms and values the diversity and individual differences that each child brings to a learning experience. To that end, our programs seek to develop teachers and administrators who educate the whole child and design developmentally appropriate learning environments that allow all students to maximize their potential. Such educational aspirations are consistent with the Illinois Professional Teaching and Leadership Standards.
 
Serving the Community
 
Our patron saint, Francis, stressed the theme of love and brotherhood, and reached beyond his social status to help individuals in need. Just as St. Francis turned his back on wealth and luxury to embrace poverty and dedicated himself to helping the poor and the weak, the College of Education of the University of St. Francis embraces the community and its needs. Our programs extend to the community at large through collaborations with schools, social service agencies, businesses, and government. Candidates are expected to view their vocation as an educator as a calling in which the needs of students and the community take on primary importance. Service is not limited to schools but may extend to families, school communities, and professional cultures. The College of Education believes that service, especially to the traditionally underserved, should be of central concern for educators, and it values those practices that promote systemic change and social justice for the betterment of the community.
 
Finding Our Professional Selves
 
The College of Education expects its members and professional candidates to adhere to the highest professional standards. Educators have professional responsibilities to the community, to students, to colleagues, and to the profession. One manifestation of these responsibilities is expressed through professional dispositions. The principles outlined in the College of Education’s Code of Professional Conduct are intended to provide candidates with an explicit description of desirable professional dispositions, characteristics, and actions. The College of Education cultivates these professional attributes by immersing candidates in a professional culture that models collegiality, life-long learning, and reflective practice that leads to continual improvement.