SUNY Potsdam’s School of Education and Professional Studies Receives National Accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Paige Pinkerton '25, an early childhood/ childhood education major, works with children in the Literacy Center as part of SUNY Potsdam's B.E.A.R.S. Mentoring Program.
SUNY Potsdam has received accreditation for its longstanding teacher education programs from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
CAEP is a nationally recognized accrediting body for educator preparation and accredits providers at the initial and advanced levels. SUNY Potsdam’s School of Education and Professional Studies was one of 38 institutions from 17 states, the District of Columbia, Bahrain and Oman that earned accreditation this spring, under the council’s rigorous, nationally recognized standards.
“Our recent accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Programs (CAEP) signifies that SUNY Potsdam's teacher education programs meet high standards of quality, rigor and effectiveness. This accreditation ensures that students and graduates receive an education grounded in thorough data collection and analysis. Furthermore, our CAEP journey has led to increased collaboration with local, statewide, national and international partners, who have been integral to SUNY Potsdam's mission of becoming a global provider of outstanding classroom teachers,” said School of Education and Professional Studies Dean Dr. Allen Grant.
SUNY Potsdam offers highly regarded programs at the undergraduate and graduate level in all facets of education, from baccalaureate programs to new flexible online graduate programs and advanced certificates leading to initial or professional certification.
Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. CAEP was created by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. It is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation.
“These providers meet high standards so that their students receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate,” said CAEP President Dr. Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”
Educator preparation providers seeking accreditation must pass peer review on the CAEP Standards, which are based on two principles:
- Solid evidence that the provider’s graduates are competent and caring educators, and
- Solid evidence that the provider’s educator staff have the capacity to create a culture of evidence and use it to maintain and enhance the quality of the professional programs they offer.
With the addition of the 38 new educator provider programs receiving CAEP accreditation for the first time, there are now a total of 559 CAEP-accredited institutions spanning 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation advances excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen Pre-K-12 student learning. To learn more, visit www.caepnet.org.
The School of Education and Professional Studies at SUNY Potsdam has been preparing educators for more than 200 years. Today, that legacy of educational excellence also stretches to undergraduate and graduate programs in business administration, public health and human performance, to help students prepare for professions in the global economy. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/SOEPS.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.