9:05 a.m., Aug. 31, 2010----In July, The University of Delaware welcomed the formation of a new college. The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is now home to two academic units, the School of Education (SOE) and the Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS), as well as several research and service centers.

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"As the College of Education and Human Development builds its new identity, we see this change as a great opportunity," said Suzanne Austin, interim dean of CEHD. "Our smaller size becomes one of the college's many strengths, easing the flow of information and resources between units and the professions we serve outside the University."

Austin said the college is well positioned to address some of the most pressing social issues that exist in the world today. These issues include: improving the learning of children and youth in poorly performing schools; supporting the intellectual and social development of young children; providing support so that individuals with disabilities can be fully included within society; and enabling adults to be successful in a global society that demands high levels of capability in science and math.

"The issues are not uniquely American," said Nancy Brickhouse, deputy dean of CEHD. "There are also important and interesting variations across the globe and we are pleased that the recruitment of international students is a central activity of our college."

Within the college, many programs and services specialize in early childhood development, especially the prevention of disabilities and inclusion for students with disabilities. These programs and services also offer statewide and nationally prominent professional development work for teachers and school leaders, including providers of early childhood education.

CEHD research and service centers include:

• Center for Disabilities Studies
• Delaware Center for Teacher Education
• Delaware Education Research and Development Center
• Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood
• Early Learning Center
• English Language Institute
• Laboratory Preschool
• Mathematics and Science Education Resource Center
• Office of Educational Technology
• The College School

For more than a decade, the college has received funding from the National Science Foundation to study teacher education and build a strong knowledge base for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The college has also received considerable funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study early learning of numbers and language and to understand factors that affect risk and resilience in adolescence. Just this year, faculty within CEHD received two highly competitive awards from the Institute of Educational Sciences (IES) in special education.

Austin adds that cross-college collaboration will help strengthen the college's focus on national school improvement and reform. Delaware is a recipient of Race to the Top funds and because of that, UD is well positioned to lead the national research-based conversation on school reform.

"We are working hard to bring our college units together to create strong academic programs that will lead the way for transformation and success," said Austin.

In 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked the college's graduate program in education 28th in the nation, up from 35th the year before. In addition, the college continues to design new and innovative academic programs. The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program debuted in July as an accelerated graduate degree option, leading to teacher certification.

"It is clear that this college promotes a strong understanding of the relationship between leadership, research and teaching," said Austin. "This is a very exciting time to be part of the College of Education and Human Development."

Article by Cassandra Kramer