Arkansas Tech University School of Education –
Conceptual Framework
"Professionals for the Future”
Our Vision:
Students will become “Professionals for the Future” who will internalize, initiate, and sustain a professional commitment to impact learners in diverse learning communities.
Our Mission:
The mission of the School of Education at Arkansas Tech University is to positively impact student learning by educating, sustaining, and nurturing professionals who interact within dynamic educational systems through research-, performance-, and standards-based preservice and graduate education programs.
We will do this by modeling best practices, by being committed to continuous learning and purposeful reflection, and by working collaboratively with internal and external constituencies.
This mission statement is directly aligned with the mission of Arkansas Tech University. Excerpts from the mission statement of Arkansas Tech University are included below (The full statement may be viewed at http://www.atu.edu/univinfo/misson.htm):
Mission Statement- - Arkansas Tech University, founded in 1909, is a multi-purpose, state-supported institution of higher education dedicated to providing an opportunity for higher education to the people of Arkansas and to serving the intellectual and cultural needs of the region in which it is located. The University offers a variety of programs committed to excellence in undergraduate and graduate studies. These programs are designed to prepare students to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive and intellectually challenging future by providing opportunities for intellectual growth, skill development, and career preparation. The institution monitors student mastery of general education and specialized studies, retention and graduation rates and qualityof teaching and academic programs to verify and facilitate demonstrable improvements in student knowledge and skills between entrance and graduation.
The basis for the student's intellectual growth and scholarly skill development is the general education program, which provides the context for more advancedand specialized studies and the foundation for life-long learning. The general education curriculum is designed to provide university-level experiences that engender capabilities in communication, abstract inquiry, critical thinking, analysis of data, and logical reasoning; an understanding of scientific inquiry, global issues, historical perspectives, literary and philosophical ideas, and social and governmental processes; the development of ethical perspectives; and an appreciation for fine and performing arts.
… The primary function of the University is teaching.
The mission of the unit is founded upon a set of core values, which, in turn drive the conceptual framework, which guides the development of programs and the delivery of courses within each program. The core values are born of our consideration for our goal of excellence in teaching, which is also the “primary” function of Arkansas Tech University; the examination of established national, state, and unit standards for teaching and learning; and the review of curriculum experiences and expectations in all programs with a vision of “impacting learners in diverse learning communities.”
Our Philosophy, Purposes, and Goals:
The School of Education at Arkansas Tech University provides several undergraduate and graduate professional education programs designed to positively impact student learning through the preparation of Professionals for the Future. Due to the variety of programs offered to accomplish this mission, the School of Education has actively, consistently, and collaboratively worked with a variety of stakeholders in the learning community to determine what our core values should be to anchor the unit, the programs within it, and the assessment throughout. We believe these core values to be central in our vision of “impacting learners in diverse learning communities” and in preparing Professionals for the Future to do just that. These core values are lasting beliefs that when adopted by our students as their own will assist our graduates in becoming “professionals who interact effectively within dynamic educational systems to impact learners in those diverse learning communities.”
The core values are the context for how professional, state, and institutional standards are addressed within the programs as we prepare Professionals for the Future. The core values direct the development and refinement of programs, courses, design of instruction, research, service, and assessment. Our assessment of student learning (both of our students and the students they work with) then drives the process in the other direction to assist us in improving each of the aforementioned factors and in revisiting and/or the reconsideration of the outworking of these core values within our students. The core values include the following statements of belief:
1. All human beings grow, develop, and learn.
2. Educational processes have key components.
3. Educational practices are systemically coherent and developmentally appropriate.
4. Educators are moral and ethical professionals.
5. Educators focus on maximizing growth, development, and learning opportunities for all students.
Founded upon these core values our mission, vision, and conceptual framework – Professionals for the Future, have been developed. The framework emphasizes the Professional for the Future as a continuously learning individual with a strong and developing knowledge of the school culture; with an increasing level of professional and pedagogical knowledge, skills, and dispositions; with a strong and growing liberal arts background; and with growing expertise concerning systemic and developmentally appropriate practices. As candidates progress through their undergraduate preparation and as they then pursue their graduate preparation, these areas of expertise are expected to grow. Ultimately, this preparation is centered-upon the improvement of student learning.
This framework agrees with the expressed mission of Arkansas Tech University. By considering our students as life-long learners (continuous learning professionals), and by assessing our students’ knowledge and skills carefully and consistently, the mission of Arkansas Tech University and the mission and vision of the Arkansas Tech University School of Education are aligned. Further, the fulfillment of our mission by modeling best practices, by being committed to continuous learning and purposeful reflection, and by working collaboratively with internal and external constituencies not only serves in the preparation of our candidates as Professionals for the Future but improves our teaching as well, which is the primary function of Arkansas Tech University.
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