Clarion University to relaunch separate school of education

Education programs will reemerge as a stand-alone school at Clarion University, a nod to improving demand for classroom workers in certain fields and to supporters who argued the campus erred in de-emphasizing the academic area in 2013.

Clarion will relaunch its school of education as a freestanding entity, effective July 1, president Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson announced Tuesday. Gwyneth Price, who has led the school as director for two years, has been named dean.

The school had been rolled into what became known as the College of Arts, Education and Sciences.

“We are proud of our tradition in providing cutting-edge programs to educate future teachers, such as following best practices and going beyond state mandates for certifying special education teachers,” Ms. Pehrsson said in making the announcement.

In 2013, then-president Karen Whitney announced a campus reorganization to stem budgetary and enrollment troubles that were beginning to cut deeply into the finances of Clarion and other State System of Higher Education campuses. Among the moves was a decision to place the school of education under other areas of campus.

At the time, the university said slumping job demand had fed a

decline in enrollment in education across the State System.

Alumni and others expressed displeasure at the decision at a state-owned university that once was a teacher college.

And on Tuesday, Clarion cited state statistics indicating there now is a teacher shortage.

According to the Department of Education, the number of teaching certificates issued in 2015-16 was onethird of the certificates issued in 2010-11. But then there was a rise in emergency permits for special education, vocational education, fine and performing arts, science, and foreign languages, among others, according to university officials.

Special education, it said, is the leading shortage both in Pennsylvania and nationally.

Clarion’s enrollment in education is up 6 percent from a year ago, officials said.

Amid efforts by the State System and its 14 member campuses to respond to changes in the job market and population loss, campuses including Clarion and California in 2017 announced plans to stress science, technology and professional programs, among other offerings.

The relaunched school will develop a strategic plan specific to education training, the university said in announcing the move.

“This is necessary to be able to address the existing teacher shortage in special education, math and sciences, and the looming teacher shortage in all areas,” provost Pam Gent said. “It is also necessary as we begin to pilot new and innovative ways to educate future teachers. Gwen is a strong and talented leader who understands this and is willing to lead our teacher education programs to meet the challenges of the next generation of learners.”

The university did not specify whether the move will lead to additional hiring.

Ms. Pehrsson became president in July. The decision to relaunch the school of education is part of what the university has dubbed its “True North Initiative” prioritizing campus programs.

Clarion University is one of 17 universities in Pennsylvania with national accreditation, housing 15 nationally recognized programs, and has one of six special education reading programs in the state with international dyslexia accreditation, according to the university.