Bluffton University's education department has received reaccreditation until 2017 from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

In its report, the NCATE team that visited Bluffton specifically cited the department for modeling best professional practices in teaching and service, and for its leadership and authority, facilities and resources, including technology. Those areas received the council's highest rating, called "target," meaning they exceed standards.

"We are excited and honored to gain this reaccreditation from NCATE," said Dr. George Metz, professor of education and chair of both the department and Bluffton's Division of Education and Sport Science. "Our teacher education department ranks consistently in the top tier for teacher education preparation in the state, and our national recognition is a testament to the exceptional students who come to Bluffton, the strong collaboration we enjoy with our pre-kindergarten-12 colleagues and to the entire faculty and staff at the university.

"The intense preparation and stringent criteria established by NCATE, as well as comments from the team of outside reviewers who evaluated our program, demonstrate our ongoing commitment to excellence and preparation of outstanding future teachers," Metz added.

Bluffton's education department was first accredited by NCATE in 2005 and will be assessed next by the council in 2017. The department includes 14 programs in which roughly 275 Bluffton students are currently seeking licensure as teachers.