Education Student Governance Association (ESGA)
The Education Student Governance Association (ESGA) organizes activities that bring students in the Five-Year Teacher Education Program together for the purposes of mentoring, leadership, collaboration, and celebration. An important organization in the governance structure of the Benedum Collaborative, ESGA is comprised of representatives from the tutor, participant, and intern cohorts who want to have a voice in teacher education. ESGA serves as a vehicle for student participation in reflecting on, reviewing, and offering input into the content and structure of the Five-Year Teacher Education Program. Through this organization, students work together to address issues related to coursework, matriculation, graduation, practica, etc. ESGA is supported by a student leadership team and a faculty sponsor who can be contacted by email at esgawvu@yahoo.com.
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Judy Abbott: judy.abbott@mail.wvu.edu
West Virginia Student Education Association (WVSEA)
WVSEA is the WVU chapter of the West Virginia Student Education Association, which is a National Education Association Affiliate. WVSEA members at WVU receive: liability insurance for all their field placement experiences; access to the NEA library of resources; an annual magazine, Tomorrow's Teachers; The West Virginia School Journal, The Circuit; local professional development sessions with guest speakers in education; participation in local service and tutoring projects; and a membership rebate in the NEA after graduation.
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Jane Cardi: jane.cardi@mail.wvu.edu
American Association of Mental Retardation (AAMR) and Best Buddies
The AAMR is a multidisciplinary professional organization that is the oldest professional organization in the field of mental retardation. Its membership consists of physicians, lawyers, social workers, psychologists, educators, rehabilitation personnel, community-based workers, and anyone who is interested in topics related to mental retardation. For several years the WVU AAMR chapter was the only student chapter in the world. Many students have had opportunities to present poster sessions, participate in panel forums, attend regional meetings, and other professional functions as part of their experiences as chapter members. The work of the AAMR directly involves young people with mental retardation in a variety of ways. AAMR and the organization Best Buddies often overlap in activities. Best Buddies pairs a WVU student with a child with mental difficulties. They work together as buddies with the Monongalia County Special Olympics, as chaperones, and helping with other activities sponsored through the organization.
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Elizabeth Dooley: elizabeth.dooley@mail.wvu.edu
Phi Delta Kappa (PDK)
Phi Delta Kappa is an international professional fraternity for men and women in education. The membership is composed of professionals in the field of education, graduate students preparing for careers in education, and undergraduates who are enrolled in or have successfully completed their internships, or student teaching. There are currently more than 660 PDK chapters in the United States, Canada, and 18 other countries. Membership is obtained by chapter invitation. WVU's chapter has over 400 members including WVU President David Hardesty. The primary goal of PDK is to promote quality education through research, service and training programs at the local, regional, national and international level.
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Barbara Ludlow: barbara.ludlow@mail.wvu.edu
WV Pro Ed
Process Education (Pro Ed) is based on student-centered approaches in which children help construct their own knowledge through active exploration and interactions with relevant people, events, and materials in their environment. WV Pro Ed is an organization sponsored by West Virginia University and funded in part by a grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation that supports West Virginia teachers and process education. To promote professional development, WV Pro Ed organizes workshops, speakers, graduate courses, and research opportunities. It also supports educators through informational newsletters and mini-grants for classroom projects and professional growth activities. For a nominal fee, WVU students may become associate members. For more information contact:
WV Pro Ed
WVU Box 6122
B187 Prete Building
293-4385
Morgantown, WV 26506-6122
Council of Exceptional Children (CEC)
The Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) seeks to improve educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities. The organization, a non-profit international association supports special education professionals and others working on behalf of individuals with exceptionalities by advocating for appropriate governmental policies, by setting professional standards, by providing continuing professional development, byadvocating for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and by helping professionals achieve the conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Ann Richards: ann.richards@mail.wvu.edu