Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program
The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship program was created to address the shortage of qualified early childhood educators by encouraging the advancement of early childhood education degrees to work toward a well-prepared workforce. Recipients of this scholarship may have their total cost of attendance covered including tuition and fees, room and board, books, and supplies. after financial aid is received. Learn More.

Dr. Diane Jenkins Endowed Scholarship
Established in 1997 through a Vision Campaign gift from Dr. Diane and Mr. Robert Jenkins, the award is given to an education major who has graduated from a high school in Winnebago, Boone or Ogle counties, and who has the required academic credentials. It may be renewed if the recipient maintains a 3.00 GPA and is active in the 4 T’s (Tomorrow’s Teachers Together Today).

Carol E. McDonald Education Scholarship
Mark McDonald established the scholarship in 2002 in honor and memory of his wife Carol Egdahl McDonald. Carol received her bachelor of science in education from Rockford University in 1970 and her MAT in 1981. The recipient will be chosen on the basis of merit by the Education Department and be a senior the following fall.

For more information on scholarships, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Rockford University Mission and Vision embodied in the Conceptual Framework: As its mission, Rockford University seeks to educate men and women to lead responsible and productive lives by means of a curriculum grounded in liberal arts, complemented and extended by professional and practical experiences. The total academic and co-curricular experience provides Rockford University students with the foundation for fulfilling lives and effective participation in their professions and the civic life of their communities.

As its vision, Rockford University prepares its graduates to contribute to the world as knowledgeable, ethical, and productive citizens with the necessary resources to be active, effective, and reflective, possessing knowledge for understanding the world, values for envisioning the world, and skills for shaping the world.

Rockford University Mission and Vision aligned with the Conceptual Framework & Education Programs: Interwoven directly with the University mission and vision and the central theme of the unit’s conceptual framework, the Education Program mission and vision are to prepare teachers to empower their students’ minds to enhance present and future quality of life; to use and apply knowledge in real-life situations, and to successfully maneuver the path to self-actualization. Students in Education Programs are expected to be committed, responsible, scholarly, professional, respectful, collaborative, ethical, reflective, and fair educators who have full command of appropriate knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to empower students to learn in today’s diverse educational institutions.

Rockford University Student Learning Expectations embodied in the conceptual framework: Rockford University graduates will demonstrate knowledge for understanding the world, values for envisioning the world, and skills for shaping the world.

Knowledge for Understanding the World

A candidate with knowledge for understanding the world presents standards-based subject matter in meaningful ways and demonstrates a clear understanding of the physical, sociological, cognitive, and psychological development of each learner. Further, a successful candidate improves teaching behaviors through continuous systematic reflection targeting areas for improvement and growth. In addition, the effective candidate comprehends, interprets, analyzes, and synthesizes current research to determine a personal philosophy of education, an opinion about education as a social institution, and to make research-based decisions in the areas of pedagogy, assessment, and curriculum, to name a few.

A candidate with knowledge for understanding the world is committed, responsible, and scholarly.

Values for Envisioning the World

A candidate with values for envisioning the world plans for and interacts with each student in an equitable, effective, and caring manner while respecting diversity in relation to race, gender, culture, multiple ways of learning, linguistic differences, and exceptionalities. The successful candidate creates a positive learning environment by effectively managing and monitoring the classroom while implementing best practices of classroom management and effective teaching that successfully meet the diverse needs of each learner.

A candidate with values for envisioning the world is professional, respectful, and collaborative.

Skills for Shaping the World

A candidate with skills for shaping the world designs instructional strategies that reflect content knowledge standards and the needs of the learning community.

Capitalizing upon a variety of instructional design strategies, the successful candidate facilitates each student’s higher-level thinking and performance skills, adapting the classroom environment and lessons to meet the diverse needs of each student. In addition, the candidate designs, constructs, and evaluates varied assessment measures that incorporate local, state, and national standards.

A candidate with skills for shaping the world is ethical, reflective, and fair.

The Rockford University Education Department offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education. The Education Department also offers a minor in Secondary Education for majors in Biology, Chemistry, English, French, German, Spanish, History, Mathematics, Physical Education, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts. The Rockford University Teacher Education Program (TEP) is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Majors and Tracks/Concentrations:

• Early Childhood Education
• Elementary Education
• Middle Grades Education
• Secondary and PK-12 Education
• Special Education
• Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement

Illinois State Board of Education
Professional Preparation and Recruitment
100 North First St., E-310
Springfield, IL 62777-0001
Phone: 217-782-4330
www.isbe.net

Admission to the Rockford University Teacher Education Program requires candidates to complete 45 hours of college level work with a cumulative 2.5 GPA in either Rockford University general education requirements or through the Rock Valley College Compact, including grades of C (2.0) or above in RHET 101 and 102 (or equivalent), and grades of C (2.0) or above in MATH 116 & 117 (or equivalent). In addition, candidates must pass the Illinois Test of Basic Skills; successfully complete EDUC 200 or 202 or 204 or SPED 200 or 202, where applicable; pass a criminal background check; and, meet with the Education Department Chair to sign an official Declaration of Major/Minor form. Official admission occurs after all the above requirements have been met and upon formal approval by the TEP Admissions Committee.

The programs culminate in the student teaching semester; acceptance is not automatic. Admission to student teaching requires senior status, completion of prerequisite course work, a cumulative 2.5 GPA, with a 3.0 major GPA. Candidates must complete EDUC 401 or 402 with a grade of C (2.0) or above; successfully complete EDUC 201 or 203 or 205 or SPED 201 or 203, where applicable (or equivalent); and pass the Illinois Content Area Test. LBS1 candidates must pass the LBS1 Test and the General Curricular Special Education Test. In addition, candidates must successfully complete the Student Teaching Application, have three positive recommendations from professional sources on file, receive a favorable Education Department Dispositions review, and be officially approved by the Student Teaching Admissions Committee.

Course Requirements
Rockford University’s Education Department offers students the opportunity to either major in early childhood education, elementary education or minor in secondary education. Degree requirements for these programs can be found in the Academic Catalog.

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