Mission Summary: Institution & Education Program

The professional education programs of Xavier University have as their foundation the University's mission. The mission is a major component for teacher and professional education preparation programs. The mission establishes significant values, dispositions and a philosophy of Xavier's Programs. Excerpts of the mission statement follow:

"Xavier's mission is to educate...(It is) characterized by critical thinking and articulate expression with special attention given to ethical issues and values...(It) is an educational community dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, to the orderly discussion of issues confronting society,...is committed unreservedly to open and free inquiry.... Faculty members, ..., are strongly encouraged to engage in research......

With attention to the student as an individual, (Xavier) seeks to develop intellectual skills for both a full life in the human community and service in the Kingdom of God..., a world view that is oriented to responsible action and recognizes the intrinsic value of the natural and human values, ......commitment to a creative and intelligent engagement with questions for peace and justice.

Xavier believes that these goals can be achieved only through academic programs of high quality that are served by a faculty devoted primarily to excellence in teaching, are nurtured by scholarship and research..."

(Xavier University Catalog, 1998-2000)

Xavier's professional education framework can only be defined/described in its mission statement context. However, it is further described in terms of the professional educational programs' structure which include also the twin supports of professional and State of Ohio licensure standards.

The professional standards are those of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and its various associated learned societies, and the standards of other professional learned societies not necessarily affiliated with NCATE. The State of Ohio's Teacher Education and Licensure standards including its Performance-Based standards and its K-12 curriculum models are the other. Hence, a knowledge base of contemporary research, the wisdom of practice and emerging policies and practices are found in the design and delivery of its programs.

The University's programs represent a professional, knowledge-based and societal commitment. This commitment carries over to the curricular framework of its licensure programs.

The initial licensure programs have five components:

1. general education
2. content
3. professional and pedagogical education
4. field/clinical experiences
5. assessment and evaluation

The programs have been designed for the professional growth and development, the knowledge, and the competencies of its candidates.