Standard 6: Unit Governance and Resources

The unit has the leadership, authority, budget, personnel, facilities, and resources, including information technology resources, for the preparation of candidates to meet professional, state, and institutional standards.

Introduction
The School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) is one of the five professional
schools at the University of San Diego. The Dean’s Office in SOLES is well equipped to provide resources for candidates in the Professional Education Unit (PEU). The personnel in the Dean’s Office provide a solid infrastructure to ensure candidate success. The Dean is responsible for all academic and administrative operations. These duties include management of all fiscal, curricular, administrative, operational, personnel, research, grants, and student issues for the school. The Dean shares many of the administrative and
operational matters with the Associate and Assistant Deans, who coordinates student services and financial aid, and the Budget and Operations Manager, who is responsible for the development, administration, and maintenance of SOLES’ operating budget and fiscal reporting.  Along with these key players in candidate support, the Director of Assessment Support works with all program faculty members to ensure that candidate learning outcome assessment leads to continuous improvement of the programs. A full time
Credential Analyst maintains candidate credential records and ensures that all candidates complete all credential requirements; she recommends candidates to the state for the appropriate credential. There are also four executive assistants and a half time graduate assistant who support the Dean’s office.

The Department of Learning and Teaching has expanded the support of its credential
programs since our initial NCATE accreditation.  In Fall of 2008, the Director of Professional Services was hired to coordinate field experiences for teacher candidates. She also assumed coordination of the Performance Assessment for California Teachers (PACT).  Her position was expanded in 2009 to include oversight of the elementary and secondary teacher credential programs. The director is assisted by one full-time program specialist and two part-time pathway managers, who are the teacher credential programs’ liaisons with regional schools.

The school counseling credential program and the administrator preparation program
share a full time Director of Field Experiences, who builds relationships with regional school and arranges practicum and internship placements for candidates. The director works closely with program faculty and on-site supervisors and coordinates on-site assessment of the candidates.

All of SOLES’ credential programs meet California State Standards and are reviewed by
the Council for Teacher Credentialing biannually.

Initial Programs

  • Elementary School Teacher (Multiple Subject Credential)
  • Secondary School Teacher (Single Subject Credential)
  • Special Education Teacher (Education Specialist Credential)

Advanced Programs

  • School Counselor (Pupil Personnel Services in School Counseling Credential)
  • School Administrator (Administrative Services Credential)

SOLES collaborates within the university with the College of Arts and Sciences for the preparation of candidates in the initial teacher credential programs.  Many of our elementary teacher candidates obtain a baccalaureate in Liberal Studies, which is a course of study designed to prepare elementary school teachers in the content areas.  They begin their teacher credential coursework as undergraduates and finish student teaching after completing the degree program. Our secondary teacher candidates and M.A. Teaching candidates complete their required content area coursework in CAS programs. Secondary
teacher candidates prepare in these subject areas: Art, Music, English/Language Arts, French, Spanish, Mathematics, Health Science, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Social Sciences, Business, and Physical Education.

In addition to reviews by the state and NCATE, programs in SOLES are reviewed by
field specific and regional accreditors. In January of 2009, the M.A. in Counseling, School Counseling specialization was accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The University of San Diego is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Exhibits