College of Education and Human Services Again in Top Tier

"U.S. News and World Report" magazine has once again named Utah State University's College of Education and Human Services among the top tier of colleges of education in the nation.

In the 2006 edition of "America’s Best Graduate Schools," the magazine ranked Utah State's CEHS 35^th in the nation overall against all graduate colleges of education (25^th in the nation among public institutions). Of significant note, the CEHS was ranked sixth in the nation in total research dollars received by a college (third among public institutions).

The college's Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation ranked 19^th in the nation, and the Rehabilitation Counseling program ranked 15^th.

"These rankings once again are a reflection of and a compliment to the high quality of the college's faculty, students and staff," said Dean Carol Strong. "There are 1,150 education programs at colleges and universities in the United States, so this ranking means we are among the elite for the seventh year in a row."

Strong said the two programs that were singled out specifically deserve special attention and highlight the college's prominence in addressing issues important to people with disabilities. The Center for Persons with Disabilities also merits individual praise as it alone generated more than $13 million in external funding during the year.

But Strong added that other major research efforts in Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, Psychology, Family Consumer and Human Development, Instructional Technology and the Emma Eccles Jones Center for Early Childhood Education and others have enhanced the college's growing national prominence in other areas also.

Sarah Rule, director of the Center for Persons with Disabilities, said the CPD is one of the nation's largest University Centers for Excellence. This is noteworthy because it is not affiliated with a medical school, as is often the case, and it focuses on community-based research, education and services.

The external research funds generated by the CPD also are critical, she said, in that they supported more than 140 student employees and 25 graduate assistantships, giving those students invaluable, hands-on training in the profession.

"The energy and talents of students are vital to accomplishing the center's workscope," Rule said. "Many students have confided that their experiences with colleagues from various professional disciplines, as well as with individuals with disabilities and their families, make a valuable and unique contribution to their education."

Ben Lignugaris/Kraft, department head of Special Education and Rehabilitation, said the rankings are indicative of the faculty commitment to research and academic excellence. The faculty are dedicated to scholarship and research, and the graduate programs continue to grow and, more important, look toward the future, he said.

"We are currently in the process of developing new specializations to go along with our long-established special education focus," he said. "These include specializations in Rehabilitation Counseling, Applied Behavior Analysis with Individuals with Disabilities and Disability Studies."

This year's rankings mark the fifth consecutive year Rehabilitation Counseling and Special Education have been ranked in the top 20 in the nation. Until this year no other education program in the region or state was as highly ranked as Utah State's graduate programs in Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling.

"Undergraduate students studying to become teachers should be confident they are being taught by instructors who are recognized national leaders in their field," Lignugaris/Kraft said. "The rankings are also indicative of vibrant graduate programs for both master’s and doctoral students. These students work in schools, in rehabilitation counseling agencies and clinical settings with faculty who are writing successful grants, conducting research and publishing in the leading scholarly journals in their field."