OVERVIEW

A. Institution

A.1. What is the institution's historical context?
A partnership was initiated in 1983 between West Georgia College (now the University of West Georgia) and Dalton Junior College (now Dalton State College) to offer a teacher education program in Early Childhood Education designated as the Dalton External Degree Program.  In September 1998, Dalton State Junior College was authorized to begin developing its first bachelor’s degrees, and in November the institution’s name was changed to Dalton State College. 

The conceptual framework model that was adopted and implemented in fall 1998 for both the University of West Georgia in Carrollton and the Dalton program was reviewed by the Education faculty. In order to adjust to the difference in governance, the Education faculty refined the conceptual framework.  In 2006, recognizing that the framework guides the assessment system, the faculty reviewed assessments to ensure alignment with the framework and agreed to modification and refinement in the design of the assessment system.  The faculty continually evaluates and assesses the conceptual framework and the assessment system.

Dalton State College received developmental approval from the Georgia Professional Standard Commission for the Early Childhood Program and ESOL Endorsement in March 2007, and at that time a decision was made by the faculty to change the conceptual framework.  The unit and representatives from Dalton State College’s Schools of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Mathematics met in spring 2007 to develop the mission, beliefs, and unit goals as part of the conceptual framework.  A “summary conceptual framework” was written by the unit to submit with the new secondary mathematics and biology programs to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission in fall 2007. In fall 2008 the Conceptual Framework was expanded to include input from public school partnerships.

A.2. What is the institution's mission?
The mission of Dalton State College consists of the following core commitments:

1. selection, support, and development of a talented, caring faculty and staff dedicated to scholarship and creating an open, cooperative, technologically enhanced learning environment;
2. 2. excellence in a learning environment dedicated to serving a diverse student body, promoting high levels of student achievement, and providing a range of educational and student life opportunities and appropriate academic support services;
3. public service through continuing education, economic development, and cultural activities that address the needs and improve the quality of life of the region;
4. continuous improvement in all aspects of its operations through the use of inclusive, participatory planning and meaningful assessment.

In fulfilling its mission, Dalton State College (DSC) seeks to prepare and inspire its students to be active members within their professions and communities.  As Dalton State College looks to the future and its place in a competitive, global society, it seeks to build upon its strengths as one of the most academically respected, student-oriented, and community-centered institutions of its kind.
(From Dalton State College 2008-2009 Undergraduate Catalog, p. 9)

A.3. What are the institution's characteristics [e.g., control (e.g., public or private) and type of institution such as private, land grant, or HBI; location (e.g., urban, rural, or suburban area)]?
Dalton State College is a public college that is designated as an open enrollment college by the Georgia Board of Regents. DSC is located in rural northwest Georgia.

B. The Unit

B.1. What is the professional education unit at your institution and what is its relationship to other units at the institution that are involved in the preparation of professional educators?
Currently, the unit is defined as the School of Education (SOE) faculty, site-supervising teachers and clinical faculty. With the addition of the five secondary teaching certificates, SOE is forging its professional relationships with the Schools of Sciences and Mathematics and Liberal Arts. In Fall 2010, the unit will expand to include representatives from the secondary teaching preparation programs: one English, one history, one biology/chemistry, and one math.

B.2. How many professional education faculty members support the professional education unit? Please complete Table 1 or upload your own table at Prompt B.7 below.

Table 1
Professional Education Faculty

B.3. What programs are offered at your institution to prepare candidates for their first license to teach? Please complete Table 2 or upload your own table at Prompt B.7 below.

Table 2
Initial Teacher Preparation Programs and Their Review Status

B.4. What programs are offered at your institution to prepare advanced teacher candidates and other school professionals? Please complete Table 3 or upload your own table at Prompt B.7 below.
Not applicable for Dalton State College

B.5. Which of the above initial teacher preparation and advanced preparation programs are offered off-campus or via distance learning technologies? What alternate route programs are offered? [In addition to this response, please review the "Institutional Information" in AIMS and, if updating is needed, contact NCATE with details about these programs.]
Not applicable for Dalton State College