Baltimore, Md., October 30, 2008 --- The Board of Trustees of College of Notre Dame of Maryland voted unanimously at its October meeting to establish a school of education at the start of the fall 2009 academic year.

The School of Education will offer programs at the baccalaureate, graduate and doctoral level. Pending approval by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the School will offer new master’s programs—Catholic Teacher Leader, with a concentration in religious studies, and Liberal Studies, with a concentration in education—starting in fall 2009. A new BA/MAT degree with four certifications will also begin in fall 2009. Five other Graduate Studies programs will be phased in through fall 2013.

The education department at College of Notre Dame has grown and expanded significantly over the past 10 years. In 2008, the College graduated its first Ph.D. students, awarding doctoral degrees in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations.

The establishment of the School of Education is the next logical step in working to meet a critical workforce shortage in Maryland. The June 2008 Maryland Teacher Workforce Shortage Task Force Report, presented to the Governor’s P-20 Leadership Council of Maryland, emphasized the need for more teacher preparation programs in the state.

College of Notre Dame is one of the largest independent providers of teacher education in Maryland. The College is also the first independent college or university in Maryland to be accredited fully by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). NCATE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the professional accrediting body for schools, departments and colleges of education in the United States.

“The formation of the School of Education affirms College of Notre Dame’s position as a statewide leader in preparing highly competent teachers who play one of the most significant roles in building a stronger and more effective society,” said Mary Pat Seurkamp, president of College of Notre Dame. “Just as the College has stepped forward to address critical workforce shortages in nursing and pharmacy, we are expanding our education programs to meet the need for educators throughout Maryland.”

The Catholic Teacher Leader master’s program will prepare leaders in a practitioner-based learning environment. Research-based courses will blend theory and practice and will emphasize the development of leadership behaviors. Currently, College of Notre Dame provides teacher certification programs for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and Archdiocese of Washington.

The Liberal Studies master’s program, with an interdisciplinary approach to graduate education, is designed for adult post-baccalaureate students wishing to explore new subjects, develop their intellectual resources and extend their range of knowledge. The program will provide courses in the humanities, social and natural sciences, philosophy, religion and fine arts. Students pursuing this degree will deepen their content knowledge in a particular discipline or may study a new area to receive an additional certification.

In the new BA/MAT five-year program, students will receive a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and a master’s in teaching. Students will take courses and participate in two internships (one abroad and one in the United States) to meet Maryland State Department of Education requirements for certification in elementary, early childhood, special education and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). This program will make College of Notre Dame the only institution in Maryland to provide education students with all four certifications.

In support of the new programs, 13 new positions will be added, eight faculty and five staff members.

The College projects that it will invest $3.8 million in the School of Education over the next five years. Tuition and fundraising revenue are expected to cover expenses by the second year of the program. Current space in Gibbons Hall will be used to house the School of Education.

“College of Notre Dame’s long tradition of preparing teachers and leaders for schools is affirmed by the creation of the School of Education,” said Sharon Slear, SSND, dean of education (above right). “The size, quality and diversity of our graduate and undergraduate education programs build on the traditions of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the founders of the College, celebrating their 175th anniversary this year. With our first Ph.D. graduates in 2008 and now with the establishment of the School of Education, we strengthen our 21st century mission to prepare education leaders for a global community.”

A task force of College of Notre Dame faculty met monthly starting in fall 2007 to study the formation of a school of education. The task force researched schools of education with programs similar to those at College of Notre Dame.

College of Notre Dame is the first Catholic college for women in the United States to award the four-year baccalaureate degree. In addition to the Women’s College for traditional-age students, College of Notre Dame offers a part-time Weekend College, Accelerated College and Graduate Studies. The College’s first doctoral program in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations was established in 2004. In fall 2009, the College will launch a School of Pharmacy, the first on the campus of a women’s college in the United States, in addition to the School of Education.