University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

NEWS RELEASE

CSUN Associate Dean Appointed to State Committee on Accreditation

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., May 29, 2007) — Arlinda Eaton, associate dean of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education at California State University, Northridge, has been appointed to the state’s Committee on Accreditation (COA).

The COA is a statutory committee appointed by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and charged with deciding the initial and continuing accreditation of educator preparation programs.

"I am hopeful that my first-hand experiences having served on and chaired both state- and national-level accreditation teams will allow me to make meaningful contributions to the COA," Eaton said. "Through membership on this committee, I will have the opportunity to advise the commission about policy changes that may be needed in the state’s Accreditation Framework."

The Accreditation Framework addresses the processes and procedures followed by colleges and universities that prepare teachers and other educators for professional state certification in California.

Accreditation is the approval process that all educator preparation programs undergo to license educators in California. The revised data-based educator preparation accreditation system focuses on demonstrated competence of California’s educators. The system features ongoing data collection and a seven-year cycle of activities, including at least one site visit. The commission’s Committee on Accreditation can determine at any point if program intervention or assistance is needed. The accreditation system’s success is measured by the continuing viability of programs that produce effective educators for California’s students.

Eaton has worked in higher education for nearly 30 years, with a special focus on reading and language arts. She has led Northridge through state and national accreditations. Prior to coming to CSUN, she was an instructor at the University of Texas at Austin. Eaton has served as a consultant with a variety of educational entities, including DreamWorks, which sought her advice on educational CDs. Her contributions to the field include work in reading and literacy, and collaborating on an independent doctoral program in educational leadership at Northridge.

CSUN’s nationally acclaimed Michael D. Eisner College of Education promotes reflection, critical thinking and excellence in teaching through interdisciplinary studies in an inclusive learning community. Its graduates are well-educated persons who view themselves as lifelong learners and are prepared to practice in an ever-changing, multicultural world.