"We at Plymouth State University are enormously proud of this program. The collaborations among our three institutions of higher education and with our cooperating schools in the communities have been vibrant and enthusiastic. It was wonderful to share in the excitement as the first graduates saw their faith in dreams justified. And their achievements will have a ripple effect as they enter their own classrooms and teach with joy."
—Sara Jayne Steen, President, PSU

"We at White Mountains Community College are very excited to be part of this cutting edge way to offer a bachelor-level experience for our rural college. The teacher education program is of critical importance to the next generation of teachers located in all of our northern communities. We are very pleased to be working in such a collaborative way with the renowned teacher education program at Plymouth State University, sharing resources, faculty and programs."
—Kathy Eneguess, President, WMCC

"This is a wonderful example of how three public institutions with different missions can come together to jointly develop and implement an academic program that is needed in the northern part of our state. It is a true partnership that not only meets a workforce need, but in the process makes good use of our collective resources."
—Karol LaCroix, President, GSC

North Country Teacher Certification Program

The North Country Teacher Certification Program is a collaboration among Plymouth State University (PSU), White Mountains Community College (WMCC—formerly New Hampshire Community Technical College – Berlin) and Granite State College (GSC). The goal of the program is to provide bachelor’s degrees and teaching certification from Plymouth State University to place-bound students in New Hampshire’s North Country.

A Need Identified

As more teachers retire, there will be an increasing need for certified teachers in the North Country. Many North Country residents would like to become certified as teachers, but due to family or work obligations they are unable to travel to a college or university that can provide certification. Recognizing the need for a teacher certification program in the North Country, PSU collaborated with WMCC and GSC to bring its teacher certification program to North Country residents.

The Project in Action

The program, which was launched in fall 2005, runs on a two-year cycle with three semesters of course work and one semester of student teaching. The cohort of students take their Plymouth State University courses together at WMCC in Berlin. In addition, students can enroll in WMCC or GSC courses for their elective credits, thus broadening their options and enhancing the educational experience.

The goals of this unique and innovative program include:

1. Increasing access to certification by North Country students who want to become teachers
2. Increasing the number of highly qualified certified teachers in the North Country
3. Responding to the statewide need to certify and retain more teachers in New Hampshire

This collaborative program provides a seamless route to teacher certification for students in the North Country. Significantly, these students do not have to leave the North Country to obtain their certification and education degrees.

Who Can Apply?

Potential applicants must:

1. Complete the two-year Teacher Preparation Program at WMCC

   Or, have successfully completed courses from other institutions that meet transfer requirements for the first two years of a Bachelor of Science degree in Childhood Studies with Teacher Certification, as outlined in the current PSU undergraduate catalog

2. Have passing scores on all sections of Praxis I
3. Possess a GPA of 2.5 or higher

Students in the program apply to and are accepted as full-time PSU students with all of the rights and responsibilities of on-campus students. Financial aid is available through PSU and students are eligible for scholarships. Enrolled students must maintain full-time PSU status and follow a prescribed sequence of courses.

People Make the Program Possible

PSU education department faculty member Irene Mosedale is the project director. In addition to designing the program and scheduling classes, she is responsible for hiring faculty to teach in the program, advising students, and establishing and maintaining communication between the three institutions. She teaches core courses in the program, and monitors and assesses both students and the program. Mosedale, who also has an office at WMCC in Berlin, has been a member of PSU’s education department for 11 years, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses and serving on many department committees relating to curriculum, instruction, certification, and assessment.

Many people have participated in making this program a reality:

• Plymouth State University
  • Sara Jayne Steen, President
  • Julie Bernier, Provost
  • Irene M. Mosedale, NCTCP Director
  • Mary Campbell, Director of Curriculum Support
  • Ann Thurston, Assistant Provost for Academic Administration
  • June Schlabach, Director of Financial Aid
• White Mountains Community College
  • Kathy Eneguess, President
  • Frank Clulow, VP of Academic and Corporate Affairs
  • Deborah Stewart, Professor, Teacher Preparation Program
• Granite State College
  • Karol LaCroix, President

Partnerships

Stephen J. Reno, chancellor of the University System of New Hampshire, has recommended that USNH institutions partner with the New Hampshire Community College System to find ways to meet the needs of New Hampshire’s students in an efficient and cost-effective way. This partnership has brought together two USNH institutions (Plymouth State University and Granite State College) with White Mountains Community College to do just that.

Plymouth State University offers teacher certification through its NCATE-accredited* education programs. As a regional university, PSU is committed to reaching out to place-bound students, particularly those in central and northern New Hampshire.

Project funded by Plymouth State University

For more information, contact Project Director, Irene Mosedale at mosedale@plymouth.edu or (603) 535-2836

*NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) has been the premiere national accrediting body for teacher education for over 50 years. Plymouth has had NCATE accreditation for that entire time.