MEADVILLE, Pa. - January 8, 2004 - Allegheny College will become the nation's first college to enter into a pioneering teacher preparation partnership with Columbia University Teachers College (New York, N.Y.).

Teachers College will give special consideration to Allegheny College students who apply for admission—guaranteed interviews to any students that Allegheny recommends for Columbia's highly competitive graduate programs in teacher education. This program will respond to America's pressing need for teachers who are thoroughly educated in the sciences, arts, and humanities, followed by specialized teaching certification at the graduate level.

“Allegheny's focus on providing undergraduates with strong preparation in a major and cognate courses in preparation for graduate study in teacher education is a model for our nation,” according to Teachers College President Arthur Levine. “I applaud Allegheny College for its leadership in the area of teacher education.”

Aspiring teachers attend Allegheny to major in one of its many nationally ranked liberal arts disciplines, such as biology, economics, environmental science, English, or psychology. Students then pursue a Master's degree and state certification at one of Allegheny's partner institutions, including the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Cincinnati, as well as Columbia.

Traditional undergraduate teacher education programs can no longer keep up with the demands of both teacher certification and education in subject areas. “For too long teacher education programs have been less effective than they should be,” according to Allegheny College President Richard Cook. “This innovative approach will ensure that teachers have the best possible preparation for entering our nation's classrooms.”

Cook notes that, “For nearly 200 years, Allegheny College has prepared young adults for successful, meaningful lives by providing world-class instruction and experiences in the arts and sciences while developing personal and civic responsibility. This preparation is ideal for those who want teaching careers. I fully expect to see other leading institutions adopting this approach.”

Teachers College's offer to grant special consideration to Allegheny College students has yet to be made to any other college in America, Levine said.

Founded in 1815, Allegheny College is a selective residential college of the liberal arts and sciences, noted for attracting students with unique combinations of interests, skills, and talents.

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Allegheny College ranks in the top seven percent of all liberal arts colleges in the number of graduates who go on to earn Ph.D.s.