LHU faculty accepted Eagle statues for their departments' achievement of national recognition. They are joined by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Deborah Erickson (far left) and LHU Interim President Dr. Barbara B. Dixon (far right). Representing their departments are (left to right) Michelle Eaton, Dr. Catherine A. Traister, Bridget Roun, Dr. Daniel E. Tess, Dr. Paul Ballat, Dr. Robert H. Myers and Dr. Alyce R. Baker.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Three Lock Haven University departments received Eagle statues for achieving national recognition by their professional associations. The awards were presented at the university’s opening meeting on August 26.

The awards were presented by Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Deborah Erickson, who praised all LHU departments which have earned national accreditation and recognition. “Accreditation is verification of excellence” she said. “The accreditation process is a long and demanding one, requiring demonstration that we are meeting the highest professional standards for education in the discipline.”

To commemorate accreditations, LHU presents each department with an Eagle statue. These are on permanent display in the 24-hour room of Stevenson Library.

The three departments receiving the latest Eagle statues are the Department of Academic Development & Counseling, the English Department, and the Health & Physical Education Department.

The Academic Development and Counseling Department was honored for accreditation by the International Association of Counseling Services. Accepting the award was Dr. Daniel E. Tess, professor and director of the Department of Academic Development & Counseling.

Dr. Robert H. Myers, professor and chair of the English Department, and Dr. Alyce R. Baker, assistant professor of English, accepted the award honoring the English Department’s recognition by the National Council of Teachers of English Specialty Professional Association (SPA) report. Professors Myers and Baker wrote the English SPA report.

The award honoring the Health and Physical Education Department’s accreditation by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education Specialty Association (SPA) report was accepted by Dr. Catherine A. Traister, chair of the Health and Physical Education Department and Co-Writers, Dr. Paul Ballat, Ms Michelle Eaton, and Ms Bridget Roun.

In 2009, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) reaccredited LHU’s teacher education programs. NCATE accreditation is an ongoing process of examination and critique and necessitates considerable commitment by the university. Specialty Professional Association (SPA) reports for each teacher education department comprise a major part of the NCATE accreditation process. SPA reports are written using guidelines established by each discipline’s professional association.

The inaugural Eagle statues were presented at the 2009 opening meeting to honor departments which had achieved national recognition. Accepting the awards were the writers of SPA reports for Health Science; Elementary Education; Special Education; Early Childhood Education; History, Political Science, Economics and Geography; Mathematics; and Geology/Physics. SPA reports in Health and Physical Education and English were still in the review process.