12-16-05

DMACC, Iowa State and Simpson College share George Washington Carver Teacher Education Program national award

AMES, Iowa -- A teacher education program sponsored by Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Ankeny; Iowa State University, Ames; and Simpson College, Indianola, has earned a national award as the 2005 distinguished college credit program focused on working adults.

The George Washington Carver Teacher Education program -- based in the Des Moines Higher Education Collaborative -- was recognized with the Distinguished Credit Program Award by the Association for Continuing Higher Education Inc., Charleston, S.C. The award was presented last month at the association's annual meeting in Madison, Wis.

The George Washington Carver Teacher Education Program is a collaborative effort to provide an affordable teacher education degree to working adults who want to pursue a teaching degree but can't quit their jobs to earn it. The program has a special focus on recruiting and educating teachers of color.

Graduates of the initiative complete all the requirements for teacher certification in Iowa. They also obtain an associate of arts degree from DMACC and a joint bachelor's degree from Iowa State and Simpson College.

The purpose of the program is to increase central Iowa's pool of qualified, effective teachers from underrepresented groups. Students first enrolled in the program in 2003.

To qualify for the national award, the George Washington Carver program had to target a new or underserved audience, employ an innovative teaching curriculum, use creative marketing and promotion programs, demonstrate use of new or unique resources or facilities, and cooperate with other education institutions.

The Association for Continuing Higher Education was founded in 1939 and serves continuing education programs across the country. It provides professional development and networking programs for administrators and faculty members.

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