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Danbury's WestConn Recognized Among ‘Best Teaching Colleges' In Connecticut

DANBURY, Conn. -- Western Connecticut State University's teaching program garnered high marks among teaching colleges in Connecticut.

Western Connecticut State University was recognized among "Best Teaching Colleges" in Connecticut.

Western Connecticut State University was recognized among "Best Teaching Colleges" in Connecticut.

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Western Connecticut State University has received recognition as one of the “Best Teaching Colleges in Connecticut” in the 2016 survey of bachelor’s and master’s education degree programs conducted by the teaching career advisory service ToBecomeATeacher.org.

WSCU's education program was ranked second overall among colleges in Connecticut.  

The review was based on educational expense, acceptance and graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratio, and return on investment, according to an announcement.

Western’s high ranking reflects commitment to “the pursuit of excellence in the field of education," said ”Tim Charlet, editor of ToBecomeATeacher.org

“Our review discovered that among the 12 schools we reviewed, Western Connecticut State University is among the best in the entire state,” Charlet said. 

He noted that WCSU offers bachelor’s and master’s programs that rank among the leading education departments statewide in requiring the least expense for attaining a degree and providing the highest return on investment. 

Educational expense criteria accounted for tuition and cost of living expenses as well as average student debt incurred during college studies, while valuation of the return on investment compared these expenses with expected average salary in teaching positions obtained after graduation.

Dr. Catherine O’Callaghan, chair of the WCSU Education and Educational Psychology Department, described the survey ranking as a recognition of the department’s efforts to strengthen its programs for teacher preparation.

“The WCSU Education Department has worked diligently for several years now to revise our curriculum and programs,” O’Callaghan said. 

“The result of this effort is our ranking in the top five teacher education programs in the state for bachelor’s and master’s programs. We are grateful to our partnering school districts, such as Danbury and Bethel, that have supported our efforts and provided valuable feedback.”

ToBecomeATeacher.org is a web-based service provided by educational and employment specialists. The team collaborates to provide online resources that inform and advise students interested in becoming teachers.

“We hope students and their families can utilize the data in this survey to make an informed decision as to which school is best suited for their individual needs and career aspirations,” Charlet said.

The top-ranked school in the survey was Central Connecticut State University. The University of Connecticut was third. 

Click here for the report of the 2016 ToBecomeATeacher.org survey of “Best Teaching Colleges in Connecticut.

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