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Points of Pride

Natasha Croom, Doctoral Student;

and Blaire Trevil, (M.Ed.,2009).

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ELPS Points of Pride

ELPS is a nationally recognized and ranked academic unit. In U.S. News and World Report, ELPS had two nationally ranked programs in 2009. Among public university programs, Counseling and Personnel Services (the category under which the student affairs program is listed) ranked 18th and Higher Education ranked 13th. In the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index (FSP Index), administered by Academic Analytics which evaluates faculty scholarly productivity, ELPS ranked 6th out of the top 10 programs in the General Education category in 2006-2007.

Educational Administration

View the Educational Administration Program Brochure

• Our Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) has been recognized by the Iowa Department of Education as the State's most innovative superintendent preparation program.
• The UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), is the nation's only center focused on the technology needs of school administrators.
• A responsive blend of award-winning academic and clinical faculty to meet the preparation needs of preservice administrators. Convenient, cohort-based learning communities for Iowa educators.
• Coursework that is deeply rooted in administrative dilemmas of practice. Synergistic connections with major leadership associations and educational agencies in Iowa and the Midwest.
• A multitude of dedicated educational administration alumni serve in key leadership positions across Iowa and around the nation.

Higher Education

View the Higher Education Program Brochure

• The highest number of ethnic/racially diverse faculty among top-ranked higher education programs throughout the country.
• Among graduate programs at ISU, our program has the highest percentage of students of color. ELPS faculty members include 1 ASHE Research Achievement Award recipient, 1 ASHE Distinguished Service Award recipient, 1 ASHE Promising Scholar/Early Career Award, 3 Fulbright scholars, 3 ACPA senior scholars, 2 ACPA emerging scholars, 3 ACPA Annuit Coeptis awardees, 3 NASPA Robert H. Shaffer awardees, and 2 have been inducted in the prestigious Iowa Academy of Education.
• Acclaimed faculty who have published more than 25 books used in higher education programs throughout the nation, and served on 29 editorial boards of top scholarly publications.
• Several faculty have served as presidents and vice presidents of the nation's most highly-regarded organizations, including the American College Personnel Association, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Association for the Study of Higher Education, American Educational Research Association (Division J), Association for Psychological Type International, and the Association of College and University Housing Affairs International.
• Counseling and personnel services (i.e., student affairs) and higher education programs ranked among the top 15 public university programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
• In the past 10 years, the ELPS Community College Leadership Program has prepared a combination of 41 presidents, vice presidents, and deans in Iowa and beyond. Placed nearly 200 of our Ph.D. graduates as faculty and student affairs administrators throughout the nation. Nearly 100% placement rate of our master's graduates in student affairs administrative positions.
• A community college leadership program cited as one of the nation's most innovative by the American Association of Community Colleges. Conducting some of the nation's leading research on the participation of women and underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields of study. The nation's first social justice concentration in a higher education program. Strong cohort of graduates of our Community College Leadership Program who have become presidents, vice presidents and deans in the nation's two-year colleges.
• Editing of the Journal of College Student Development, the premier refereed journal of research focused on college students - Florence A. Hamrick, Editor (2004-08); John H. Schuh, Associate Editor (1994-2008).
• Editing of ACPA Books and Media, a rich collection of books and resources published by ACPA-College Student Educators International - Nancy J. Evans, Editor (2003-06).
• Editing of New Directions for Student Services, among the most recognized publications in student affairs education - John H. Schuh, General Editor (1997 to present).
• Book review editing of the Review of Higher Education, one of the nation's premier scholarly journals - John H. Schuh, Book Review Editor, (2008 to present).
• Publish and disseminate the ASHE/Lumina Policy Briefs and Critical Essays in conjunction with the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), the Lumina Foundation for Education and Michigan State University - Laura I. Rendon Co-Editor (2007 to present); Stephen R. Porter, Co-Editor (2007 to present).
• Publish and disseminate Education Policy and Practice Perspectives (EP3), a policy brief series with a graduate student editorial board analyzing current issues confronting the K-16 educational system - Laura I. Rendon, Faculty Editor (2006 to present).

Research and Evaluation (RESEV)

• Extensive expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Notable, nationally-recognized faculty

Research Institute for Studies in Education (RISE)

• RISE has built a strong reputation for quality evaluation and institutional research related studies. Through funding from research and evaluation projects, RISE has been able to support students through research assistantships and hourly positions. RISE provides strong mentoring and research training to students; many of whom have gone on to prestigious positions post degree.
• RISE provides opportunities for growth and instruction through the provision of training opportunities. This year RISE has provided free training in the use of online survey development software and qualitative data analysis.
• RISE plans to continue to provide similar types of research-related training to the department. RISE’s strength also lies in the expertise and experience of the professional staff. The professionals including postdoctoral associates have a wide array of statistical and methodological knowledge as well as application knowledge in preK-20 settings.
• RISE has amassed a large number of projects and funding. As a result RISE has supported a number of students (both graduate and undergraduate) as well as postdoctoral fellows.