Coastal Carolina University has been invited to become a member of The Renaissance Group, a national consortium of universities noted for their strong teacher education programs and their institutional commitment to teacher preparation.

The organization, comprising 26 universities across the nation, was created in 1989 to improve the education of teachers on member campuses and to facilitate efforts to reform teacher education nationally. Now educating one out of 12 new American teachers, Renaissance Group institutions are experimenting with innovative models for preparing educators. The organization develops new curricula, teaching strategies and textbooks, and also provides data to assist public policy makers and educational leaders in making informed decisions.

"The invitation to join The Renaissance Group is a confirmation of the strides we have made in establishing a tradition of quality teacher education programs at Coastal," said Coastal President Ronald R. Ingle. "Many of the primary goals of The Renaissance Group are identical to Coastal's own long-standing mission regarding teacher education. One of the group's fundamental principles is that the education of teachers is an all-campus responsibility - a philosophy that Coastal strongly embraces. Associate provost Dennis Wiseman is now working on an institution-wide agenda outlining the university's commitment to improving the quality of K-12 teaching in South Carolina."

The Renaissance Group also emphasizes the importance of field experiences and new technologies in the education of teachers, and the development of programs which prepare graduates to teach in a pluralistic, multicultural society.

Other universities which are members of The Renaissance Group include Eastern Michigan University, Emporia State University, Kean University, Longwood College and the University of Central Florida.