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COE Home / Students / Why EMU?: Background Why EMU?: Background Size. Eastern Michigan University is the nation's largest producer of educational personnel and one of the largest producers of teachers. For example, we are the largest producer in the country of special education personnel, of teachers of mathematics, and of teachers of science. We are also among the largest producers of educational administrators in the country. Our size and scope provide many advantages for students. At small institutions, a few faculty members must teach everything in professional education. It is not possible for them to specialize by grade level or subject field. However, at EMU, a student has the opportunity, for example, to study how to teach mathematics at the secondary level with multiple outstanding faculty members who specialize by grade level. The fact that many other students are in the same field of study adds to the learning experience. In a number of cases, we have special classrooms, laboratories, and equipment to support specific subject fields and grade levels. History. Founded in 1849, EMU was the first teacher-training institution west of the Alleghenies and among the first in the country. The list of "firsts" for EMU is long and includes many items related to special education, physical education, and community education. In these, as well as in many other areas, the professional education programs provide students with the experience of many decades of outstanding programming and relationships with schools and related agencies. Accreditations. EMU is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the Michigan Department of Education for the preparation of educational personnel. In addition, EMU professional education programs have been reviewed and approved by the following organizations:
Recognitions. Professional education programs at EMU have received nine national awards from five major professional organizations since 1985. These include:
Student accomplishments. Every year, Eastern Michigan student teachers are at or near the top in state wide competitions. The University's teacher education students also place high in state wide scholarship competition each year. On the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification, EMU students have consistently scored at high levels and at or above state averages in most teaching fields. EMU students do exceptionally well on the state tests in teaching fields such as early childhood education, health education, speech and language impaired, hearing impaired, French, and learning disabled. EMU students score well on external examinations in therapeutic recreation and athletic training. Alumni. The College of Education has hundreds of distinguished alumni. By 2001, 22 had won the $25,000 Milken Family Foundation National Educator award for outstanding teaching. One-fourth of all Michigan teachers who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Certification are EMU alums. An graduate was recently named as one of the top 23 teachers in the country by USA Today. The 1998 and 1999 Michigan "first-year teacher of the year" awardees are Eastern graduates. The 1992 National Teacher of the Year, Thomas Fleming, is an alum. Several alums are or have been executive directors or presidents of major national organizations. These include Don Cameron with the National Education Association and Timothy Dyer with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Other professional education program alums have gone on to serve in the U.S. Congress, to be president of a major university, and even to win the Pulitzer Prize! Many graduates are recipients of major state awards. For example, in 1996, the state Teacher of the Year, the Elementary Principal of the Year, the Secondary Principal of the Year, and the Superintendent of the Year were all EMU alums! Although the college is perhaps best known for programming in professional education, as EMU emerged as a comprehensive university, strong programs in education-related areas developed in the College of Education. See Teacher Education Programs for information on these areas of programming.
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