For Immediate Release February 3, 2006

For More Information Contact: Rich Schneider, 317-278-4564 rcschnei@iupui.edu

School of Education Receives Prestigious Diversity Award

INDIANAPOLIS - The School of Education at IUPUI has been awarded the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education's (AACTE) Best Practice Award in Support of Diversity.

The award was presented at AACTE's 58th Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA, January 29-February 1 to Executive Associate Dean Khaula Murtadha and Christine Leland, Associate dean for Academic Affairs.

This award, sponsored by AACTE's Committee on Multicultural Education, recognizes the infusion of diversity throughout all components of a school, college, or department of education (SCDE) as critical to quality teacher education and professional development.

“The growing diversity of our nation makes it more urgent than ever that teachers be well prepared to help students from varied backgrounds be successful. Our faculty have made community-based learning a focus of the teacher education program. I am proud that their efforts have won this recognition,” said Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Chancellor Charles R. Bantz said.

AACTE is a national voluntary association of higher education institutions and other organizations and is dedicated to ensuring the highest quality preparation and continuing professional development for teachers and school leaders in order to enhance PK-12 student learning. The almost 800 member institutions prepare more than two-thirds of the new teachers entering schools each year in the United States. AACTE's headquarters is in Washington, DC. ###