The Rejuvenation of the College of Education at Fort Valley State University

In 2005 the Georgia Professional Standards Commission placed the education department at Fort Valley State University on probation for not meeting minimum state requirements for training teachers for the state’s public school system.

The historically black educational institution quickly acted to right the ship. Judy L. Carter of Benedict College was hired as the new dean. She painstakingly worked to get one program at a time back in compliance with state standards.

There are now five education programs that have been reinstated. There are more than 200 students enrolled in the College of Education and Dean Carter says the number could double over the next several years. New master’s degree programs in early childhood education and special education, as well as a master’s of arts in teaching, are awaiting approval.

Copyright © 2009. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.