Department staff presented findings from recent site visits and recommended that the State Board approve educator‑preparation program (EPP) requests from Oakwood University and Miles College.

Why it matters: Approving EPPs affects the pool of potential teachers in Alabama and the state’s compliance with national accreditation standards for preparation programs.

Oakwood University: Oakwood representatives described an institution that identifies as an Adventist HBCU with five EPP programs including elementary education, secondary English and math, social studies and religious education. Derek Wood, representing Oakwood, said the institution serves students from about 37 countries and highlighted recruitment efforts and academy partnerships designed to grow the teacher pipeline. Courtney Golden, who introduced herself as service certification officer and field‑experience coordinator at Oakwood, told the board the university plans targeted outreach to increase enrollment and described an “Aspiring Teacher” pipeline starting in academies across the Southern Union.

Miles College: Department staff reported a positive visit to Miles College and noted curricular revisions tied to the Alabama Literacy and Numeracy acts. Dr. Pat Kirkland (presenting for Miles) described efforts to revise syllabi, restructure field experiences and provide targeted remediation for Praxis‑style content tests such as the foundations of reading and subject‑area exams. She said Miles has about 25 students currently in the certification program — a roughly 30% increase from the previous year — and graduated nine certified teachers this year, more than double the prior three‑year rate.

Accreditation and recommendation: Staff told the board that Oakwood and other in‑state EPPs are CAPE‑accredited and that the department’s review teams recommended approvals for the bachelor‑level (Class B) programs for seven years, consistent with the department’s review cycle. The transcript records staff recommendation language but does not include a board motion or roll‑call vote during the work session.

Actions noted in transcript: Department staff said they forwarded site‑visit reports and recommended approval; the board was advised of CAPE accreditation letters and the recommended seven‑year approvals. No final recorded vote appears in the work‑session transcript extract.

Ending: Board members praised the institutions’ recruitment and retention efforts, and staff said the department will bring formal approval items to the board following the usual review and agenda process.