The accreditation board did not cite any areas of concern or areas for improvement.

The school met all six standards for both initial and advanced teacher preparation at undergraduate and graduate levels. Moreover, the team of reviewers indicated that Oswego excelled in and performed beyond expectations in all of the standards, including the self-identified area of excellence on field experience and clinical practice.

James G. Cibulka, president of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, which is succeeding NCATE, wrote college President Deborah F. Stanley to confirm the accreditation formally. "This accreditation decision indicates that the unit and its programs meet rigorous standards set forth by the professional education community," he wrote. "Special congratulations are in order because the commission cited no areas for improvement relative to any of the standards."

NCATE's performance-based accreditation system for teacher preparation ensures that teacher candidates are prepared to make a difference in primary and secondary student learning.

Stanley congratulated Pam Michel, interim dean, and the School of Education on this "incredible validation from NCATE."

She added, "It acknowledges the tremendous effort and success achieved not only by the faculty, staff and students within the school but by collaborators in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on campus and in schools in Oswego and Onondaga counties and beyond as well. Oswego's exceptional professional standing in teacher preparation honors our college's legacy in this field."

Before the NCATE review of the entire school, all of Oswego's subject area programs had been nationally recognized by their respective specialized professional associations, which evaluated the individual programs.

"Institutions aspire to have all their programs nationally recognized," explained Joggeshwar "Jogy" Das, associate dean for assessment and accreditation. "We achieved 100 percent success. Education preparation programs across the country know that it is not an easy accomplishment."

Michel said the NCATE board of examiners commended the school's outstanding faculty, staff and candidates, the thoroughness of the School Partnership Showcase and large participation, the beauty of the campus, the hospitality, and the involvement of the entire college family as well as the college's partners from surrounding elementary and secondary schools.

Among aspects of Oswego's teacher education program that came in for special praise were the school's commitment to diversity and social justice, exemplary opportunities for candidates to use reflection as a means for professional growth, the hiring of an associate dean for assessment and accreditation, the faculty's active engagement in inquiry and involving students in their research, the Campus Teacher Education Network, the effective use of assessment, the Teaching Resource Center in Penfield Library, and the $42 million in facilities renovations that will improve programs in each of the school's six departments.

The school's next accreditation is scheduled for 2021 and will be under the new Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation standards.

Formed in 2013, CAEP is the single specialized accreditor for educator preparation and administers legacy (NCATE) accreditation. More than 900 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP accreditation system.