Accreditation

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

(1140 19th St NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036, (202) 223-0077)
Monitors how the Education Preparation Provider (EPP) publicly reports candidate performance data and other consumer information on its website. (Policy 6.01; p. 26, CAEP Accreditation Policy)

Call for 3rd Party Comments

Alma College is hosting an accreditation visit by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) on August 26, 2026. Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the evaluation team. Please note that comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the party’s relationship to the provider (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates).

We invite you to submit written testimony to:

CAEP
1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
Or by email to: callforcomments@caepnet.org

Such comments must be within the specified period and based on the core tenets of CAEP accreditation standards of excellence, which recognize that:

In CAEP’s performance-based system, accreditation is based on evidence that demonstrates that teacher candidates know the subject matter and can teach it effectively so that students learn. In the CAEP system, EPPs must prove that candidates can connect theory to practice and be effective in an actual P-12 classroom
A professional education provider that is accredited by CAEP is expected to be involved in ongoing planning and evaluation; engaged in continuous assessment and development; ensure that faculty and programs reflect new knowledge, practice, and technologies; and be involved in continuous development in response to the evolving world of education and educational reform.
Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the respondent’s relationship, if any, to the institution (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates). Copies of all correspondence received will be sent to the university for comment prior to the review.

Accreditation and Program Approval

The Alma College Teacher Education Program, designed to prepare initial-licensure level teaching candidates, was granted Accreditation by CAEP from Fall 2019 to Fall 2026, with no Areas for Improvement or Stipulations.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) reviews all certification programs for the accreditation process. All teaching majors and minors are approved by MDE.