Measure 2 (Initial and Advanced): Satisfaction of employers and stakeholder involvement. (R4.2, R5.3, RA4.1)

Data provided should be collected on employers' satisfaction with program completers. (CAEP Standard 2)

SATISFACTION OF EMPLOYERS

The satisfaction of the employers of our completers is paramount to the continued success of our education programs at the University of Michigan-Flint. Their input has been captured this year from the Michigan Department of Education's (MDE) Administrators Survey and the One Year Out Survey.

MDE Administrators Survey for One Year Out Completers

Table 1. 2024-2025 Year Out Survey, Traditional Route.

Summary of the Satisfaction of Employers

The data shared above suggests that employers, across a variety of diverse educational settings, continue to be pleased with our completers as employees in their schools. The data provided in AY 2024-2025 has been utilized by the faculty of the education programs during our annual data retreat to focus on future program and course level improvements to address the areas of need through in-program practices before program completion.

STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT

The Special Education Program for undergraduate students has begun accepting students. This program was built in close collaboration with partners at the Flint Community Schools (FCS) and Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD). Due to the Flint Water Crisis settlement there are scholarships available to graduating seniors and current employees of FCS and GISD to join this program. We expect our first students graduating from this program will occur in April of 2028.

In December 2024 we began our first Future Teacher Academy. This half day conference was for teacher candidates to begin their lifelong learning practice by attending professional development sessions. Additionally, this conference provides a space for graduating candidates to present their Impact on Student Learning projects completed during their internship for panels of faculty and staff to evaluate. During the conference, candidates attend three sessions, in addition to a keynote speaker. The sessions are facilitated by area educators and organizations from outside of UM-Flint--some have included local administrators, local teachers of the year, the Flint Sloan Museum and Planetarium, and the Oakland-Genesee Writing Project. The sessions cover topics of interest to students that are outside of or in support of the academic program. Session topics range from a recent graduate panel to using and incorporating STEM/STEAM in lesson plans with kids of all ages. In April 2025, the Future Teacher Academy featured keynote speaker Matt Eicheldinger, an inspiring author and teacher; each attendee and presenter, received a free copy of Mr. Eicheldinger's book Sticky Notes: Memorable Lessons from Ordinary Moments.

In February 2025, we hosted a stakeholder meeting with superintendents, principals, and teachers from around Genesee County to review our Core Teaching Practices evaluations. During this meeting, we receive critical feedback about how we are measuring the Core teaching Practices. They provided valuable feedback by engaging in conversation about how to prioritize the assessment of the skills needed to: successfully lead a group discussion; elicit and interpret student thinking; explain and model content; and setting up small group instruction. Stakeholder involvement continues to be an important part of the preparing teacher candidates and education leaders. The collaboration creates mutually beneficial, co-constructed experiences for our educational partners and candidates alike. The feedback provided by stakeholders will result in changes to these rubrics beginning in Fall 2025. 

In addition, our Field Placement Coordinator, University Supervisors and Field course instructors meet with administrators and educators. These meeting are often to support our teacher candidates and to build relationships with colleagues in the area schools and districts.

Summary of Stakeholder Involvement

We continue to engage with the many stakeholders in ways to improve our candidates preparation and readiness to enter the classroom.