Accreditation and Dana Thames' department

Date: Mar 28, 2004

Accreditation and Dana Thames' department

Date: Mar 28, 2004

NCATE did a review last year - they gave USM one year to clean up their act. Nothing in CISE was up to muster. If they don't pull it together by Fall 2004, they are in trouble.

Date: Mar 29, 2004

Yes, there is a huge problem. Problems areas center to a great extent on faculty--there just aren't enough qualified professors. Willlie Pierce was named interim dean last year over other professors within CISE who have indepth knowledge of the process of NCATE accreditation. Then, Perrin Lowery was hired to guide the process--there is no NCATE in the public schools. I know the process. It is complicated, and I just don't think the department will be ready.

Date: Mar 29, 2004

One person still on campus who is NCATE savvy is Dr. Susan Malone in the English Dept., but I hear that she's leaving USM to go to Mercer in the Fall. She is an NCATE expert who led the way in the preliminary visit in making sure that the secondary English program was intact and played a criticial role in saving USM from losing accreditation a few years back. Another outstanding expert in this is Eric Luce on the Coast campus - I don't know the extent of his involvement in the next visit. Someone else who had extensive NCATE background in the Special Ed area is Jim Siders who I hear is leaving at the end of this semester. Lowery has no NCATE experience. It's scary. We almost lost this program back in 1998 - 1999 but it seems the key people in rebuilding the program have gone or are leaving.

Date: Mar 29, 2004

Educator's observations are right on target. NCATE accreditation is absolutely essential if the education program is to survive. The individuals mentioned are knowledgeable and competent, but pretty sure to be gone. It is interesting that Dr. Siders was NOT chosen as interim dean, although he is by far more qualified to lead the program through the accred. process.

Date: Mar 29, 2004

I hear Siders is going to Central Florida. True?

Date: Mar 29, 2004

Siders is moving on to greener pastures. Yes, it's true. More power to him. I always thought he was a great professor.

Date: Mar 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: educator
"Siders is moving on to greener pastures. Yes, it's true. More power to him. I always thought he was a great professor."

And I assume his wife, Jane, is going, too? She used to be head of IDS (and possibly still is?). She pulled in a lot of grant money...sad to see her go.

Date: Mar 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: educator
"One person still on campus who is NCATE savvy is Dr. Susan Malone in the English Dept., but I hear that she's leaving USM to go to Mercer in the Fall. "

Susan Malone is the other "big money" grant person in the English Dept (she had the PT3 grant from Dept. of Ed. a few years back). So, now Shelby has either fired or run off 2 of the $$ people in English. I hope he's proud of himself.

And what a joke if Dana Thames causes USM (with its origins as a TEACHERS college) to lose its NCATE accreditation....I can hear the spin now:

Shelby: "Well, what do we need to educate TEACHERS for? They'll never become millionaires! Put that money into Casino and Hotel Management! That's where the bucks are!"

Angie D: "Whatever you say, Shelby"

Date: Mar 29, 2004

What used to be a proud and competent program has, thanks to DT, turned into a sham of what it could have been. Dana, thanks a lot for driving this dept. into academic ruin. No one from this place emerges unscathed from the scandal that you started.

Date: Mar 29, 2004

So how long does it actually take to lose NCATE accreditation? I need to know if it will affect me. I graduate in Dec. I think a lot of students in the education field need to know this info. Maybe more will help in the ouster of Thames.

Date: Mar 29, 2004

All it takes is a bad review by NCATE in the fall. The univ. is already treading on thin ice -- I don't believe they'll survive the collapse -- what's worse is that the students will be in far worse shape.

Date: Mar 30, 2004

If USM loses NCATE in the fall, graduates meeting the requirements will still get their STATE certificates to teach because USM passed the state process review this year. Further graduates, however, might find themselves finishing a program that will leave them without certification.

Date: Mar 30, 2004

Can anyone access the NCATE folio? I want to know if some of the people Dana Dear ran off, like Dr. Sulentic (the best professor I ever had) and Dr. Whiting and the Drs. Martin (who quickly left and went to Kentrucky) etc. have their material inclu

ded? Anyone know how to see what is being submitted?

Date: Mar 30, 2004

Hey! This IS Dr. Sulentic and that last question was a great one! I just want my third year portfolio back, I RESIGNED, and they woin't return it to me......................

Date: Mar 30, 2004

Dr. Sulentic,

WHY won't they give it back to you?? It's yours, isn't it?? Have you tried going to the Dome and demanding it. Once again, they operate out of another section of their bodies.