As Academic Adviser and Professional Educator Licensure Officer, Heather Nielsen, plays a key role in the Council of Professional Education (COPE) and has provided us with some practical information on this organization.
What is COPE? COPE is the acronym for the Council of Professional Education. COPE is an educational forum in which new educational laws and rules are announced and discussed. Departments who are considering implementing new lessons or classes may use COPE as a sounding board to discuss their ideas.
Who is involved with COPE? The Dean of the College of Education and Human Services (CEHS) and the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) are the leaders of COPE, while department heads for Teacher Education, Human Development Counseling, and Education Leadership present at meetings as well. The Assessment and Accreditation Officer and Professional Educator Licensure Officer also give out information at COPE meetings. Other people in attendance include K-12 public school workers (teachers, principals, superintendents, ect.) and student representatives.
What happens in a meeting? COPE meets twice a year, once in the Fall Semester and once in the Spring Semester. The Dean of CEHS will start by addressing the council and giving any updates on the college. Next, the three department chairs (TEP, EDL, and HDC) give updates on their departments and are free for questions and discussions on their information. Then the Assessment and Accreditation Officer gives a presentation and is open for questions or discussion. Some of the information given is factual, dealing with laws and rules, while other items are up for input.
Why COPE matters to YOU. COPE gives notification and reminders of the newest laws and rules in the field of education. COPE provides a great sounding board for your ideas on educational methods and tools, giving insightful feedback for your use. By interacting with COPE, teachers become informed, up to date, and better-rounded educators.
If you still have questions about COPE or Educational Licensure, you can contact Heather Nielsen at hmccullo@uis.edu .
For information on endorsements we offer from the Illinois State Board of Education, click here.