Program Evaluation

The University of Richmond annually collects completer effectiveness and impact on student learning and development data and reports these data for program improvement in our initial licensure programs. Across the last four academic years, the University of Richmond EPP has assigned trained university supervisors and full-time faculty the role of observing and collecting completer’s Virginia Uniform Performance Standard Summative Evaluations (VDOE, 2012). Additionally, the EPP has worked with completers digitally and personally to collect or self-report effectiveness and impact on student learning data using in-state data collection systems. These data are triangulated with employer surveys, completer surveys, focus groups, and in-program assessments to continuously improve our educator preparation programs.

• Impact and Effectiveness Report

The University of Richmond annually surveys the employers of program completers in both our initial and advanced programs.

The EPP collects data on employer satisfaction through annual surveys completed by Teacher Education Program completers’ principals and Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program completers’ administrators. The surveys are aligned, where appropriate, to the Virginia Uniform Performance Standard and InTASC Standards. Current job placement and contact information are collected via the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) report on completers working in Commonwealth of Virginia public schools. Additional contact information was collected by the Director of Clinical Practice and chair of the Education Leadership and Policy Studies program. Beginning in 2019, the Teacher Education Program collaborated with the Virginia Education Assessment Collaborative (VEAC) to field identical survey questions and benchmark data for program improvement. In spring 2024, the University of Richmond was recognized at the Virginia Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators conference for participation and leadership in VEAC.

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Employer Survey

• 2018 Survey
• 2019 Survey
• 2020 Survey
• 2021 Survey

Teacher Education Program Employer Survey

• 2018 Survey
• 2019 Survey
• 2020 Survey
• 2021 Survey
• 2022 Survey
• 2023 Survey

The EPP engages with school division and community partners through the Education Advisory Board, Next Generation Leadership Academy (NGLA), Teacher LEAD, and Provisional Licensure Support (PLuS) program.

The EPP reports back to the community partners through the twice annual Graduate Education Newsletter.

The University of Richmond assesses teacher candidate competency at program completion through the Teacher Education Final Evaluation and Capstone Portfolio assignments. These assessments are completed in conjunction with the Teaching Internship at the conclusion of the program. Data are reported by term to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) Working Group and utilized for annual review each January.

• 2023 Teacher Education Program Evaluations Report

The University of Richmond assesses Educational Leadership and Policy Studies candidates at program completion through the Final Evaluation and Capstone Assignment. These assessments are completed in conjunction with the Leadership Internship at the conclusion of the program by leadership mentors. Data are reported by term to the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS) Working Group and utilized for annual review each summer.

• 2023 Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Evaluations Report

Annually, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) provides EPPs with data on program completers working in Commonwealth of Virginia public school divisions. According to the VDOE 2023-2024 Report, including candidates graduating in the years 2019-2022, 62% of our licensed Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program completers were employed by a Commonwealth of Virginia public school in October 2023. Additionally, for candidates graduating in the years 2019-2022, 60% of our Teacher Education Program licensed completers were employed by a Commonwealth of Virginia public school at the October 2023 report deadline. Note these results do not consider candidates not teaching in the Commonwealth, candidates hired before completing the teaching internship, or candidates who began employment after the reporting deadline.

In addition to VDOE data, the EPP collects employment data for the annual completer and employer surveys. For the 2024 survey, the EPP found that 80% of 2020-2023 completers were employed in teaching or education positions. In a review of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Spring 2021 to December 2023 program completers, 52% of graduates have received a promotion to a leadership role as of April 2024. Leadership roles include Head of School, Principal, Associate Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean of Students, Specialist, Project Manager, Program Director, Coordinator, Senior Teacher, and other roles in Central Office or School Administration. In a review of all ELPS graduates from the last ten year, 90% of those still employed in an educational setting have received promotion to a leadership role as of April 2024.

In addition to data on completers hired in education positions, the EPP tracks Teacher Education Program and Educational Leadership and Policy Studies completer awards.

Teacher Education Program Completers Awards

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Program Completers Awards

From the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program, the EPP has verified that at least 26 program completers are currently enrolled or have completed Ed.D, Ph.D., or J.D. programs. Additionally, three recent Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program completers have published in the Virginia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (VASCD) Journal.