Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Academic and Student Affairs
Committee Charge Document

Committee Title:  Council on Professional Education (COPE)

Committee Type:  System-level standing committee

Committee Purpose:   (1) Provide recommendations to the Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs on the direction and focus of systemwide issues involving teacher development (preservice and in-service), including teacher quality, diversity, supply and demand, and effectiveness; (2) identify opportunities for inter-campus collaboration; and (3) help advance the P-16 Partnership agenda of the system and state.

Linkages to Strategic Plan:  The work of this committee supports Strategic Direction 1:  Increase access and opportunity, and Strategic Direction 2:  Promote and measure high-quality learning programs and services. 

Committee Membership:  COPE shall be comprised of 16 members.  Faculty members shall be appointed biannually according to processes determined by the IFO, with one faculty member per campus, and shall represent the breadth of professional education.
 

• 7 state university deans of education
• 7 state university faculty members, one per state university, appointed by the IFO
• 1 statewide IFO representative, appointed by the IFO
• 1 Office of the Chancellor representative (System Director for P-16 Collaboration, ex officio)

Additional faculty, staff, and administrators may be invited to attend meetings and/or serve on working groups as needed and appropriate, including representatives of two-year colleges with programs that partner with teacher licensure programs at state universities. 

Committee Member Expectations:  Members shall represent their organization or university on behalf of all organizational and/or campus stakeholders and assist in disseminating information relevant to the committee’s deliberations, recommendations, events, and tasks. 

Meeting Times and Dates:  COPE shall meet four times per year, generally on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.. Travel expenses for faculty will be paid by the Office of the Chancellor as requested.

Outcomes:  Committee outcomes will include:

• Recommended strategies to prepare and graduate a diverse cadre of teachers
• Recommended strategies to meet Minnesota needs for an adequate supply of teachers, especially in high demand fields
• Recommended responses to emerging state needs and legislative requests and issues      
• Recommendations for alignment with the MN P-16 Education Partnership, state and federal requirements, and other issues and projects with implications for teacher development
• Identification and discussion of opportunities for program collaborations and for sharing information about strategies, funding opportunities, and best practices
• On-going consultation regarding the development and operation of the Teacher Center

Office of the Chancellor Staff: Cyndy Crist, System Director for P-16 Collaboration (651.297.5264, cyndy.crist@so.mnscu.edu); Shirley Schultz, Administrative Assistant (651.282.2730, shirley.schultz@so.mnscu.edu )

Responsible Associate Vice Chancellor:  Leslie Mercer, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Planning (651.282.2547, leslie.mercer@so.mnscu.edu)

7.18.07