Annual Institutional Title II Report Card
Teacher Education Mission
The mission of Teacher Education at Bradley University is to prepare teachers who will be effective leaders, advocates, and life-long learners. We believe that teaching and learning are dynamic, interactive, life-long processes based on empowering interactions among learners.
Teacher Preparation Programs
Bradley University offers 16 baccalaureate programs leading to state teacher licensure and graduate-level licensure programs in Educational Administration and School Counseling.
Student Characteristics
Most undergraduates (89.2 percent) are of traditional college age; 88.0 percent attend full-time, and 86.8 percent are Illinois residents. Thirty-three percent of all students are minority students. The average ACT score for the fall 2015 freshmen was 25.2. Undergraduate enrollment is 4,439, graduate enrollment is 827 and doctorate enrollment is 72. Total enrollment is 5,338.
Admissions Requirements
Admission to Teacher Education Program
Candidates must have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.5 overall, 2.5 in education courses, and a 2.5 in their content major or concentration. Candidates must have earned grades of not less than a C in COM 103, ENG 101, and a mathematics course that meets university general education requirements. They must have completed a prescribed group of education courses for each major with the appropriate GPA and no required course grade lower than a C, passed the Illinois Licensure Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) – or successfully achieved the ACT/SAT minimum score required by the Illinois State Board of Education to qualify for a TAP waiver, demonstrated appropriate pre-professional behaviors and dispositions, been cleared on a check of criminal history, and received a satisfactory vote of the faculty at advancement to degree candidacy.
Admission to Student Teaching
Candidates must have maintained a minimum grade point average of 2.5 overall, 2.5 in education courses, and a 2.5 in their content major or concentration. They must have been advanced to candidacy, passed the Illinois Licensure Test in their content area, and been cleared on the State Police fingerprint check.
Accreditation
Bradley University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; the College of Education and Health Sciences is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); and all teacher preparation programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. Individual teacher preparation programs are accredited by one of the following: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).
Best Practices
- Practicum experiences in the schools begin the freshman year and continue each year of the program, increasing in responsibility.
- Each candidate will have clinical experiences in the full range of his or her licensure and in a diverse setting.
- The university has Professional Development School partners at each level from early childhood through high school.
Notable Features and Accomplishments
- The Teacher Education Department received approval from the Illinois State Board of Education for the Elementary Education Program with English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement and the Middle School (English-Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies) Program with English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement. The new programs received approval from the Bradley University senate with the first candidates currently enrolling this summer for the fall 2015 semester.
- Twila Lukowiak, Associate Professor of Special Education, was awarded the Charles M. Putnam Award for Excellence in Teaching.
- National Social Science Press announced the publication of the book The Art and Science of Elementary Social Studies Education, co-authored by Drs. Dean Cantu and Sherrie Pardieck.
- Jean Marie Grant was appointed a member of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) committee, Elementary Program Proposal Peer Review Team.
- OnOctober 8-10, 2015, the Department and Center for STEM Education hosted the annual North Central Association for Science Teacher Education regional conference.
- On October 29, 2015, the Teacher Education Department hosted annual Literacy Fiesta with students from St. Mark School’s kindergarten through fifth grade. The event combined learning activities, picture books, and stations created by preservice teachers in Dr. Helja Antola Crowe and Dr. Cecile Arquette’s English Language Learners classes, as well as Dr. Sherrie Pardieck’s Children’s Literature class.
- Members of Students Ready To Make Change, or STRETCH, performed their 200th anti-bullying presentation, since the creation of the student organization in 2014, in central Illinois schools. STRETCH was co-founded by Professors Twila Lukowiak and Celia Johnson to help put an end to bullying behaviors and provide safe ways to heal for individuals who have encountered bullying.
- Information Age Publishing announced, in 2015, publication of the following book, co-authored by Professor Kevin Finson: Pedersen, J.E. & Finson, K.D., eds. (2015). Going Back for Our Future II: Carrying Forward the Spirit of Pioneers in Science Education.
- Dean Cantu, Chair of Teacher Education, published a chapter, “Role of General Educators in a Multidisciplinary Team for Learners with Special Needs,” in the recently published book Interdisciplinary Connections to Special Education: Important Aspects to Consider, from Emerald Group Publishing.
- On April 1, 2016t, the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board (SEPLB) unanimously approved the Department of Teacher Education’s proposal for a redesigned Early Childhood Education degree program with ESL Endorsement, fully aligned with the revised Illinois Administrative Code (IAC). The board was extremely complimentary of the program's design, particularly its English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement component. Professors Cecile Arquette, Dean Cantù, and Jean Marie Grant played a critical role in developing the new Early Childhood Education degree program, which serves as the first in the state to require the ESL endorsement in the program of study.
- On April 16, 2016, Professor Juan Rios Vega served as keynote speaker at the17th Annual Scholarship Awards Spanish Nite Gala in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, sponsored by the Hispanic League, a nonprofit organization supporting higher education for Latino/a students. On April 28, 2016, Professor Rios received an award as a Notable Latino of the Triad in Greensboro, North Carolina.
- The International Association for Science Teacher Education recently awarded Professor Kevin Finson the 2016 Award for Outstanding Service to ASTE. In addition, Professor Finson received the 2015 Legacy Award from the North Central Region ASTE for contributions to the growth and strengthening of the region for 20 or more years.
- On April 13, 2016 the Spring Education Advisory Committee Meeting was hosted by the Department of Teacher Education and the Department of Leadership in Education, Human Services and Counseling. The meeting was held in Westlake Hall's Owens Professional Development Center. The program included a presentation by Dr. Twila Lukowiak and members of Students Ready To Make Change, or STRETCH, on the efforts of their anti-bullying student organization, which has conducted over 200 presentations in school across central Illinois.
Illinois Licensure Testing System Annual Institution Report
Program Year 2015-2016 - Bradley University
Number of Program Completers: 83
| Test Field/Category | Number Tested | Number Passed | Pass Rate | Statewide Pass Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Knowledge/Pedagogy | |||||
| 188 | APT: Birth To Grade 3 | 5 | -- | -- | 99% |
| Academic Content Areas | |||||
| 107 | Early Childhood Education | 11 | 11 | 100% | 99% |
| 110 | Elementary/Middle Grades | 46 | 46 | 100% | 100% |
| 111 | English Language Arts | 6 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 114 | Social Science: History | 7 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 115 | Mathematics | 2 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 116 | Science: Physics | 1 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 143 | Music | 3 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 145 | Visual Arts | 1 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 155 | Learning Behavior Specialist I | 22 | 22 | 100% | 100% |
| 163 | Special Ed. General Curriculum | 22 | 22 | 100% | 100% |
| Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) | |||||
| 001 | Elementary Literacy | 31 | 31 | 100% | 100% |
| 002 | Elementary Mathematics | 8 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 003 | Secondary English-Language Arts | 6 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 004 | Secondary History/Social Studies | 8 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 005 | Secondary Mathematics | 1 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 006 | Secondary Science | 1 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 012 | Special Education | 7 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 014 | Early Childhood | 10 | 10 | 100% | 99% |
| 015 | Visual Arts | 1 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 021 | K-12 Performing Arts | 3 | -- | -- | 100% |
| 117 | Family and Consumer Sciences | 1 | -- | -- | 94% |
This is the official catalog for the 2017-2018 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.