Gala event highlights college’s local and national influence

Wayne State University’s College of Education (COE) is celebrating its 125th anniversary on Friday, May 4, at WSU’s Welcome Center, located on the corner of Woodward and Warren on the main Detroit campus. The gala event includes a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by a dinner and program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person and $225 per couple.

A major step leading to Detroit’s establishment of a system of higher education occurred on July 28, 1881 when the college was formally established as the Detroit Normal School. In 1921 its name was changed to Detroit Teachers College, and in 1933 it became known as the Wayne State University College of Education.

As one of Michigan’s largest teacher certification programs, the College of Education has maintained a rich history of serving the needs of one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. Annually, approximately 3,800 students are enrolled in various programs within the college; one-third are undergraduate students and two-thirds are in graduate programs.

Paula Wood, COE dean since 1991, says the college has always been a major player in the field of education and teacher preparation throughout its distinguished history, and continues to serve as a model nationally for research in the field of education and teacher preparation. “During the past decade, the College has been awarded an average of nearly $5 million annually for competitive, research-related grants. These awards include professional preparation grants from federal, state, and private foundations. Many of our programs in the College have received national recognition for their innovative, field-based practices,” Wood says.

The college offers bachelors, masters, education specialist and doctoral degree programs in 37 different program areas including Administrative and Organizational Studies, Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies, Teacher Education, and Theoretical and Behavioral Foundations.

Approximately 40 doctoral degrees (Ed.D. and Ph.D.) are awarded by the college each year. Surveys indicate that the teacher certification graduates, averaging over 600 per year, are hired soon after graduation and typically remain in the metropolitan Detroit area.

“We are proud of the education our students receive with its emphasis on diversity, innovation, technology and state-of-the-art research based practices,” Wood adds. “Our professors are internationally recognized scholars and leaders in their fields who pride themselves in providing their students with programs based on high-quality standards.”

Wood points out that the College of Education alumni, currently numbering 56,655, represent the ‘best of the best’ in the profession. “Our alumni are involved in virtually all areas of the profession at the national, state, regional and municipal levels. They are teachers of pre-k through college, researchers, administrators at various levels, instructional designers, counselors, psychologists and working in other positions related both directly to the profession.”

For further information about the 125th Anniversary Gala event on May 4, contact Julie Flax at (313) 577-1623, or via e-mail at julieflax@wayne.edu. Additional information is available at www.coe.wayne.edu. Tickets may be purchased via check or credit card. Sponsorship opportunities for the event are also available.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to nearly 33,000 students.