WHO WE ARE

NLU’s National College of Education (NCE) understands that serving PreK-12 students as teachers and school leaders is a calling, a commitment, and a career. Our unique style of partnership with students at all levels—from new teacher preparation to advanced professional programs to doctoral degrees—guides all we do as we create today’s teachers and tomorrow’s leaders.
Our programs are designed with the needs of our students in mind. Graduates frequently cite the National College of Education’s top quality professors, convenient locations, flexible course offerings and affordability. Most of all, the commitment to “real world” progressive education is unparalleled. NCE graduates make a difference. Our educators are found in 40% of Illinois public schools and 75% of Chicago Public Schools, collectively impacting the lives of 60,000 students each year.
At NCE, our commitment to learning includes ourselves. We have recently created four new programs and evolved an additional 21 programs to more appropriately address the needs of today’s educators.

• Teaching includes developing and teaching core special education and related courses and creating and fostering an inclusive learning environment for all students, as well as advising and mentoring graduate students on their academic and professional goals.
• Engaging in the thought leadership responsibilities of a professional practice faculty member. This includes but is not limited to collaborating with colleagues on curriculum and course development, grant proposals, and extracurricular activities as well as maintaining expertise in the areas of special education research, policy, and practice.
• Contributing to the university through service, including mentoring and advising responsibilities for graduate students, service to the department through program improvement and development, program recruitment, and program accreditation efforts, service to the college (e.g., through committee work), and service to the larger university, community, and profession.
• Supporting and leading efforts at the course, department, college, and university levels to address educational justice using an intersectional lens. Efforts include curriculum improvement and development as well as departmental and university committees, initiatives, and activities related to advancing racial, disability, and social justice.
• Maintaining and enhancing community engagement and existing partnerships with community agencies and schools. This includes working alongside other faculty members, leadership, and students to build relationships with administrators, teachers, and community organization leaders