by Amby Sarabia
Assistant Editor
With a dramatic increase in the number of students at the University of La Verne’s school of education, the the school has had to grow to serve all of its students.
Last year a total of 300 teachers were credentialed here.
With the budget problems at the University of California and California State University systems, many prospective education students have been denied enrollment into the programs they need.
That is one reason many new students have been enrolling at private colleges and universities, said Peggy Redman, director of teacher education.
“While the Cal States have capped enrollments until Fall of 2004, private colleges allow students to enter,” Redman said.
With such a large number of students in the program, the School of Education has started to open up more classes rather than the alternative of packing existing classes with a larger number of students.
“It has been a real struggle to include everyone,” Redman said. “But we’ve made an effort to include them.”
Once the new students are admitted into the University, they undergo an interview to ensure that they are qualified for the credential program.
“We probably have 110-plus new students,” Redman said.
Many of these students had never thought of attending a small private college due to tuition costs.
But once here, most elect to stay.
Redman believes it is the quality of the offerings that keeps them at ULV.
“Our hands-on program is by far one of the best in the state,” Redman said.
“Our quality programs attract the students.”
The University leverages the teachers it has working out in the field.
As graduates, they recommend the La Verne program to other prospective educators.
