History of Teacher Education at UNCW
Date Event
1946 Extension Division of the University of North Carolina and Fayetteville State Teachers College form the College Center in Wilmington with classes held at New Hanover and Williston High Schools
1955 Wilmington College offers first teacher education courses in pre-professional programs in elementary and secondary
1961 Wilmington College moves to present campus consisting of Alderman, Hoggard, and James Halls with Education housed in Hoggard Hall
1963 Department of Education and Psychology is formed at Wilmington College with Dr. Harold Hulon as department chair

Wilmington College offers first courses in teacher education degree program in elementary education and licensure in secondary education
1964 Department of Education begins offering courses for in-service teachers
1965 First graduates of teacher education program
1969 Wilmington College becomes the University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Department of Education and Psychology temporarily housed in Kenan Hall
1970 Department of Education and Psychology moves to new Arnold Kimsey King Hall
1971 Child Study Center opens in King Hall
1973 Psychology becomes a separate department
1974 Curriculum Materials Center established in King Hall, but later moves to Randall Library
1976 Dr. Roy E. Harkin becomes chair of Department of Education
1978 UNCW initiates graduate study in Elementary Education and Educational Administration and Supervision.

UNCW adds Special Education and Middle Grades undergraduate programs

Extension efforts begin in Brunswick County
1979 University reorganizes into the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, and School of Education.

UNCW names Dr. Roy E. Harkin Dean of School of Education

First graduates of the master’s degree program

Grant approved to establish the UNCW/Pender County Teacher Corps
1980 UNCW forms Graduate School

School of Education establishes Departments of Curricular Studies and Educational Design and Management.
1982 Social and Behavioral Sciences Building opens and Psychology department moves from King Hall

National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) gives approval of UNCW's teacher education unit.
1984 School of Education initiates Master’s degree in Special Education

Computer technology comes to King Hall with the installation of VAX terminals and microcomputers
1986 School of Education offers Master’s degree in Reading Education.

Department of Curricular Studies establishes Education Lab in King Hall
1987 Teaching Fellows program begins
1989 Master of Arts in Teaching added
1990 Model clinical Project established with Brunswick, Duplin, and New Hanover County school systems.
1991 Dr. Robert E. Tyndall becomes Interim Dean

Reading Recovery program begins
1992 School of Education initiates first off-campus degree program in connection with Coastal Carolina Community College and Camp Lejeune with program in Elementary Education.

Teaching Fellows and School of Education offer first international experience for students with trip to Australia
1993 UNCW names Dr. Robert E. Tyndall Dean

Razor Walker Awards established
1994 School of Education renamed Donald R. Watson School of Education

Watson Distinguished Professorship established

Distance Education Initiative begins

School of Education adds M.Ed. in Middle Grades Education
1995 Professional Development System established with signing of district level agreements with eight school districts in the region

Classroom Technology Assistance Plan developed
1996 Birth-Kindergarten undergraduate degree program begins
1997 Home Grown Scholarship program for minority recruitment begins
1998 School of Education adds M.Ed. in Secondary Education and a M.S. in Instructional Technology
1999 Dr. Andrew E. Hayes serves as Interim Dean
2000 Dr. Cathy L. Barlow becomes Dean of Watson School of Education

School of Education receives the Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to use Technology (PT3) grant
2002 Ground breaking held for building to house the Watson School of Education, a regional educational resource center, and the North Carolina Teacher Legacy Hall

NC Department of Public Instruction names WSE Teacher Education program exemplary
2003 WSE initiates Teacher in Residence program

WSE signs agreement with Osaka Kyoiku University of Japan to begin administrative, faculty, and student exchanges; efforts continue in England; expansion sought in South Africa

Coalition for Transition to Teaching (CT3) Grant awarded
2004 UNCW anticipates opening of new building

Principal in Residence and Superintendent in Residence Programs initiated


History Timeline information researched by Dr. Eleanor Wright and Jeanne L. Barnes

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