Mission Statement

Purposes   

In light of the urban, Catholic and Vincentian mission of DePaul University and the public need for quality education, the School of Education intends:

  • To be the primary vehicle through which the university manifests its commitment to the improvement of pre-collegiate education.
  • To be the primary locus within the university for the articulation and the disciplined study of educational issues and problems.

Principles

To give direction to its activities, the School of Education subscribes to the following principles:

  • Given the urban mission of DePaul University, the School of Education is committed to the improvement of pre-collegiate education, particularly in Chicago, and more generally in the Chicago metropolitan area.

  • Given the religious character of the University, which emphasizes individual dignity, personal responsibility, and concern for values, the School of Education is committed to programs that promote respect for persons, appreciation of diversity, and the ongoing examination of values.

  • Given the Vincentian agenda, which calls people to a deep respect for the poor and abandoned in our society, the School of Education is committed to fostering change in those educational and social systems and institutions which perpetuate poverty and an inequitable distribution of resources.

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Goals

In order to fulfill its function, the School of Education adopts the following goals (which encompass the traditional areas of teaching, scholarship, and service):

  • To prepare professionals to work in schools, and in settings which support the work of schools.

  • To provide practicing professional educators with degree programs, in-service programs, and other opportunities to develop advanced skills.

  • To provide the university community, professionals in related fields, and the public-at-large with programs and other opportunities for them to examine educational issues in a larger social and cultural context, and with the perspective of life-long learning.

  • To promote scholarly activity which may lead to the improvement of educational practices (e.g., quantitative and qualitative research, inquiries leading to understanding and insights into current practices or changes in education, projects resulting in innovation or improvement in schools, or collaborative endeavors with professionals in schools).

  • To sponsor programs of service to children and youth, as well as their families and communities, and to collaborate with private and public agencies in formulating and delivering these service.

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