The Professional

NEWS B R I E F S Programs receive TEAC accreditation CMU has received accreditation from the Teacher Education Accreditation Council for its undergraduate educational leadership program and graduate education program for five years. TEAC is a nonprofit organization that works toward improving academic degree programs for professional educators. This accreditation will allow faculty to have more involvement in the education program's curriculum. With the TEAC accreditation professors can give their input on what works, what doesn't and what makes a strong program. College of Education and Human Services former interim associate dean Ray Francis says the change is good news for students, both current and prospective. "The thing that TEAC gives us the opportunity to do is describe who and what we are as a program," Francis says. It allows us to define ourselves. It means that students are guaranteed a high-quality program." Art Walk displays works in Beckwith Gallery The Mary Ann Beckwith Gallery, located inside CMU's Education and Human Services Building, recently was a venue site for Art Walk Central. Art Reach of Mount Pleasant launched Art Walk Central, which was modeled after the successful ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids, according to Kathy Hill, executive director at Art Reach. Nearly 200 pieces of artwork were displayed throughout businesses and other venues in the community for Art Walk Central. Other campus venues displaying artwork included the University Art Gallery and the Extended Hours Study Room of Park Library. Camp advances middle school students' ski l ls University recognizes EHS faculty Professors from CMU's College of Education and Human Services have been recognized with teaching awards for their dedication and service to the classroom and the university. Jeffrey Angera of the Family Studies Program and Eric Buschlen of the Leadership Studies Program received their awards at a recent ceremony on CMU's campus. Angera received the Excellence in Teaching Award, and Buschlen received the Lorrie Ryan Memorial Scholarship Award. In addition to his exceptional teaching, Angera devotes significant time and effort advising his students and immersing them in service-learning experiences including an annual trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, where he leads a team of students who work with orphaned children. Buschlen helped develop the Leadership Studies Program into one of the largest academic minors at CMU. Since 2007, leadership students have logged more than 70,000 documented hours of service to local, national and international agencies. Hard facts, creative ideas and a few giggles poured out of a classroom in the Education and Human Services Building for four days this summer while learning skills and techniques involving informational writing and technology. Summer Writing Camp students visited the on-campus greenhouse, Student Activity Center and Park Library to create and write their own stories. Each group of students used digital cameras, iPads and computers to complete their assignments. "It's important for students to understand digital literacy," says Jeremy Hyler, Summer Writing Camp facilitator. "We're not using paper and pencil anymore. We're using technology." Eleven-year-old Chris Kennerd says he's glad he went to the summer writing camp. "You have to get good grades to play sports in high school and college," he says. "This camp will help me keep good grades so I can be a hockey player when I get older." the professional • November 2012 11

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