Message from the Dean

Dear Students, Prospective Students, Alumni and Friends,

Thank you for visiting our website. Good things are happening in the College of Education at The University of Alabama. We have enjoyed unprecedented growth over the last three years. This growth did not come at the expense of quality. We have the best students we have ever had. Our College received the highest possible rating (4.00 “A” and 100% pass rate on basic skills tests) on the latest Alabama State Department of Education Institutional Report Card for the State’s 16 public and 13 private colleges and universities educating teachers. We were the only college associated with a major research university to have an “A” rating.

We have also received unprecedented support from our alumni, friends, and faculty. Our annual support of the Capstone Education Society (our alumni group) was up considerably the past three years and the number of members of the Capstone Education Society increased more than 400%. Also, the average contribution increased. The Capstone Society supports a number of programs in the College including scholarships. In the last two years, the Capstone Board has endowed the James P. Curtis Lecture Series as well as a Capstone Education Society Scholarship. We have met our Capital Campaign Goal, but are working hard to add more student scholarships.

Our college magazine, The Capstone Educator, highlights the many things our students, faculty, and alumni are doing and the best is yet to come. We share this magazine with alums, other deans of education, state board of education members, legislators, and many others. If you didn’t receive a copy and would like to, send me your address and I will send you a sample copy. By joining the Capstone Education Society, you will be assured of receiving your own copy each semester. The easiest way to join is right on this web site (http://education.ua.edu/alumni/membership.html). Remember, joining also helps increase the value of your degree as the percentage of alumni support is a variable in many of the national rankings.

I look forward to your continued support and enthusiasm. In addition, I look forward to meeting with more of you as I travel around the State and nation.

Sincerely,

James E. (Jim) McLean, Ph.D.
Dean and University Professor
jmclean@bamaed.ua.edu
205-348-6052