Category Archives: Ed.D. Leadership Program

Statement from Dean Heather Lattimer and Associate Dean Marcos Pizarro | July 13, 2020

Dear Lurie College of Education Students,

We hope you each are taking care of yourselves and your loved ones.  It has been an intense few months for all of us.  The protests and calls for addressing institutional anti-black racism and white supremacy have inspired SJSU and the Lurie College of Education to dedicate resources and significant energy towards taking our work for racial justice and equity to a deeper level.  We want to share what we are envisioning for the new year that we hope you will be involved in:

  1. First of all, we want to hear from you, current students and recent alumni, with your ideas, needs, and priorities: we will hold a college-wide forum, you can reach out to us directly, you can share anonymously via this Google form, and departments will also provide program-specific opportunities for your input. 
  2. We are working with faculty and staff to confront all the different forms and manifestations of racism that have dominated higher education for far too long.  We will identify and address the language, norms, policies, practices as well as the underlying thinking and ideologies that perpetuate racism and oppression within our college, departments, and programs.  One specific example will be to increase access of historically under-represented students to Lurie College programs by rethinking admission requirements to reflect a holistic assessment of applicants’ potential and strengths rather than an over-reliance on standardized tests.
  3. We will emphasize and grow existing and newly created opportunities to both learn about and engage in racial justice work, including:
    • a) an anti-racist Inquiry to Action Group (ITAG) that will build on key racial justice readings;
    • b) film discussion groups that will similarly use innovative racial justice themed films to explore how we can build on their insights through actions in our daily lives and collective work as a college;
    • c) launching the newest program in the college, the MA in Emancipatory School Leadership program, which will be a training ground for principals and other school leaders to do innovative equity work in our surrounding schools;
    • d) an Ethnic Studies Residency Program in East Side Union High School District where teacher candidates in secondary social science will be trained to implement transformative approaches to ethnic studies to enhance engagement and success of students of Color;
    • e) the Impact San Jose fellowship, which provides mentorship and scholarships for those dedicated to working in historically underserved communities in the San Jose area;
    • f) the Lurie College Promise Group, which supports first-generation college students to achieve success as undergrads and beyond;
    • g) including students in shaping the vision for the college through the Strategic Plan work and other leadership initiatives;
  4. Through our Student Success Center, we are also building a support network with one-on-one and group opportunities for those struggling with the realities of our past and on-going personal experiences with racism, as we create pathways for collective efforts to confront and upend the ways in which our own programs and SJSU as an institution have perpetuated inequities.
  5. We are developing a resource guide to support the entire Lurie College community in our own learning to become racial justice educators, advocates and leaders because we see this as essential to our lifelong commitment to work for justice and equity through our learning, teaching, counseling, mentorship and advocacy.  More details on this will be shared soon.

It is our collective responsibility to actively engage in anti-racist work through our daily lives as educators, counselors, therapists, school and community leaders.  Lurie College is committed to growing in this work and supporting all members of the college in being fierce anti-racist advocates.  Please reach out to us with ideas, needs, suggestions, concerns or if you need any support in pursuing our shared goals for racial justice and equity, and feel free to use this anonymous Google form to give us feedback.

In Solidarity –

Marcos Pizarro, Associate Dean – marcos.pizarro@sjsu.edu
Heather Lattimer, Dean – heather.lattimer@sjsu.edu

Lurie College Faculty Highlighted by the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate

Shoutout to our EdD Leadership Program Director Brad Porfilio, whose previously co-authored article “Centering Social Justice in EdD Programs” was recently highlighted by the Carnegie Project on the Educational Doctorate as a resource on racial justice in educational systems and leadership.  Read the publication at https://bit.ly/2VeiqQU.

SJSU Lurie College of Education Ed.D. Leadership Program Faculty Brad Porfilio

Educators of Impact | Veronica Weaver

With the COVID-19 crisis making it abundantly clear the critical role that educators play in our society, Lurie College is recognizing SJSU Educators of Impact who have made a transformative difference in the lives of children, families, and communities.  Learn more about SJSU Alumni Veronica Weaver below.  To nominate an SJSU graduate who is an Educator of Impact, please complete this brief Google form.

SJSU Lurie College of Education Educator of Impact Veronica Weaver

“Veronica is an early childhood special education teacher in Santa Clara County and has been actively working with families of students with disabilities to fight for inclusive educational preschool supports for students with disabilities. After the transition to Shelter-in-Place, Veronica’s role dramatically shifted as she had to provide online supports to students and their families amid COVID-19. Veronica rallied folks to provide digital stories/read alouds for her students! She is passionate about supporting inclusive education for all and has incorporated this into her Ed.D. program for her dissertation research using frameworks such as DisCrit and community cultural wealth!”

Spring and Summer 2020 Ed.D. Leadership Program Dissertation Defenses

SJSU Lurie College of Education EdD Leadership Program Cohort 4 Costa Rica

Students from the fourth cohort of the Lurie College Ed.D. Leadership program are defending their dissertations during the Spring 2020 semester.  Learn more about each of their dissertations below.  Dissertation defenses are open to the public and are currently being held via Zoom. If you would like to attend the defense, please email your request to edd-leadership@sjsu.edu.

Past Dissertation Defenses

Angela Lyte-Crowther | Wed., Mar. 18, 10am

“Understanding the Barriers, Bridges, and Bases to Inclusion Instruction for Secondary Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities”

The purpose of this multi-method research was to gather and analysis site administrator and teachers’ opinions on the barriers, bridges, and bases needed for the furtherance of inclusion practices and the elimination of the segregated classrooms for students with mild -moderate disabilities.

Committee: Dr. Senorina Reis, Dr. Roxana Marachi, Dr. Demerris Brooks, and Dr. Matthew Love

Laura M. Shroder | Fri., Mar. 27, 12:30pm

“The Role of Socioeconomic Status and Prior Industry Exposure on the Attitudes, Career Goals, and Career Decision Self-Efficacy of Undergraduates Studying Hospitality and Tourism Management”

This quantitative study explored hospitality students’ socioeconomic status, prior industry exposure, and demographics related to attitudes, career goals, and career decision self-efficacy. Varied results have implications for the education of hospitality students and the industry.

Committee: Dr. Paul Cascella, Dr. Robin Love, Dr. Andrew Feinstein, and Dr. Susan Roe

Heidi Schmidt Emberling | Tue., Mar. 31, 1pm

“How Does Alignment Between Policymakers and the General Public Affect Expansion and Improvement of High-Quality Childcare/Preschool in California?”

This mixed methods study examines specific factors that impede or interfere with expansion and improvement of high-quality early care and education programs and services in California, as well as identifies potential solutions, with a specific focus on alignment between policymakers and the general public.

Committee: Dr. Emily Slusser, Dr. Amy Leisenring, Dr. Arnold Danzig

Prabhjot Singh | Tue., Apr. 7, 11am

“Examining the Effects of a Peer-Mediated Social Skills Intervention on the Prosocial Behaviors of Elementary Students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders”

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a peer-mediated social skills intervention on fourth and fifth grade students, aged 9, 10, and 11 with EBD in a public-school setting. The current study proposes to explicitly teach students the target social skills of sharing, compliment giving, and sportsmanship using modeling, role-play, and discussion with feedback.

Committee: Dr. Lisa Simpson, Dr. Peg Hughes, Trudy Gross

Angela Maria Rengifo | Wed., Apr. 8, 10am

“The impact of the language of instruction on second grade Latinx Emergent Bilinguals’ understanding of place value in two Spanish-English bilingual classrooms. An Exploratory Study”

This mixed methods study examines whether and how the language of instruction impacts second grade Latinx Emergent Bilingual students’ understanding of place value and their communication patterns around this mathematical concept in two Spanish-English transitional bilingual classrooms.

Committee: Dr. Cheryl Roddick, Dr. Allison Briceno, Dr. Delnaz Hosseini

Jennifer Gee Huei Wang | Wed., Apr. 8, 3:30pm

“Developing Teachers’ TPaCK with Design Thinking and Community of Practice”

This study examines whether and how the self-selected K-5 teachers in a suburban elementary school in California demonstrated TPaCK in the integration of instructional technologies when they engage in a community of practice structured around design thinking.

Committee: Dr. Mark K. Felton, Dr. Lara Ervin-Kassab, Dr. Joe McCreary

Tri Nguyen | Wed., May 13, 2pm

“Construction of Classroom Community in a Full Inclusion District: Comparative Case Studies with Elementary School Teachers”

The qualitative comparative case study focused on the teachers’ behaviors to structure and maintain an environment of inclusion, care, and belonging. The significant findings of the study indicated that teacher’s intention impacts the classroom environment, teacher encouragement affects student participation, and teacher’s design of the classroom environment facilitate conditions of learning.

Committee: Dr. Allison Briceno (Chair), Dr. Andrea Golloher, Dr. Michael Gallagher

Sonia Vargas | Wed., Jun. 17, 11am

“Exploring The Deleterious Connection Between Traditional School Discipline Practices And Male Latino Students Who Have Endured Adverse Childhood Experiences: An Exploratory Study In North California”

This exploratory study utilizes a video documentary film design to examine the damaging connection between traditional school discipline practices and male Latino students who have endured adverse childhood experiences in northern California.

Committee: Dr. Robert Gliner, Dr. Senorina Mendoza Reis, Dr. Victoria Tarumoto-Wallace

Statement from Dean Heather Lattimer | June 2, 2020

Last week’s murder of an unarmed Black man was shocking, horrifying, and infuriatingly familiar.  George Floyd and his family have now joined a grievously long list of Black and Brown Americans who have had their lives and their liberties taken away by individuals and systems that perpetuate injustice and inequality.  Eric Garner.  Sandra Bland.  Philando Castile.  Freddie Gray.  Terence Crutcher.  Alton Sterling.  Walter Scott.  Tamir Rice.  Michael Brown.  Ahmaud Arbery.  Breonna Taylor.  The list of names seems endless and the pain behind each one is overwhelming.

So many in our community are hurting.  We’ve witnessed a modern-day lynching and it has brought fresh trauma to those who have suffered personal and generational wounds of injustice, racism, and oppression.  These are not isolated incidents but part of a larger culture which privileges some and oppresses others in ways that manifest in everything from the disproportional rates of COVID-19 deaths in Black and Brown communities to the flagrant abuse of privilege by a white dog walker calling the police and falsely claiming that her life was threatened by a Black birdwatcher who had simply asked her to follow the posted leash laws.

Our college is committed to the preparation of transformative educators, counselors, therapists, school and community leaders.  In the face of such glaring and graphic evidence of the deep roots of racism and the brokenness of our society, this work has taken on even greater importance and added urgency.

Our society needs transformative leaders in education-related fields now more than ever.  We need teachers who recognize the racist and hegemonic roots of our society and seek to understand how that reality impacts the lived experiences of our students.  We need counselors and therapists who believe that an integral part of being an advocate for the children and clients in our care is the willingness to call out discriminatory structures and systems that continue to breed inequity.  We educators who are willing to interrogate our own assumptions and engage in hard conversations about privilege, marginalization, bias, and inequity.  We need leaders who consistently and repeatedly stand with marginalized communities and vulnerable individuals and take bold action to make transformative change happen.

In the midst of heartache and outrage, I take solace in the knowledge that Lurie College is a community that is deeply committed to equity, inclusion, and racial and social justice.  I see strength in the dedication of our faculty, staff, and community partners.  I see hope in the passion and tenacity of our students and alumni.  Together, we will continue to work toward the promise of transformative change and the realization of a more just and equitable society.

Watch the Lurie College Faculty Documentary: South Asian Student Experiences

Lurie College EdD Leadership Program Alumni, Dr. Radha Aravamudhan, and Lurie College Lecturer, Dr. Bob Gliner, produced a documentary film that describes experiences of South Asian students and parents in public schools. The documentary project was funded by the Lurie College Research and Teaching Collaborative Grant and was designed with valuable inputs from Dr. Rebeca Burciaga, Dr. Arnold Danzig and Dr. Saili Kulkarni.

The film shares perspectives from students, parents and teachers and hopes to raise awareness about the successes, struggles and resources needed to meet the needs of South Asian students. The students and families interviewed for the documentary are from a public school district in the south bay area.

Watch the Lurie College Spring 2020 Graduation Celebration

Spring 2020 Graduation Celebration

The Spring 2020 SJSU Lurie College of Education Graduation Celebration took place on Friday, May 22, at 4pm!  The full recording is available above and at sjsu.edu/education/graduation.  You can also skip to a section of the recording below.

Order of Events

  • 9:56 – Video acknowledgment of Spring 2020 Lurie College graduates (alphabetized by last name) and remarks from Dean Heather Lattimer
  • 13: 29 – Remarks from Associate Dean Marcos Pizarro
  • 18:14 – Remarks from Lurie College Commencement Speaker, Giselle Arellano (undergraduate, child development)
  • 33:17 – Slideshow of collages submitted by graduates (alphabetized by last name)

If you have any questions about the Lurie College Graduation Celebration, please contact luriecollege@sjsu.edu.

SJSU Spring 2020 Graduate Recognition Websites

SJSU has also created a website to recognize all of the Spring 2020 graduates for the entire university.  Visit the recognition webpage for Lurie College of Education Spring 2020 graduates.

Congratulations, New Lurie College Alumni

SJSU Lurie College of Education Commencement Graduation Counselor Education Department New Alumni

Congratulations to our new SJSU Lurie College of Education alumni.  We have no doubt that you are prepared to be transformative educators, counselors, therapists, school and community leaders!

We would love for you to stay connected with us as you transition into your next chapters.  Visit our Alumni webpage to take advantage of the many opportunities to connect with one another, stay connected with the college, and actively participate in the continued growth of the college.

If you plan to enroll in a graduate program, credential program, or doctoral program in the future, we have numerous opportunities available and our Student Success Center Advisors are happy to assist you with your application process.

Congratulations from Lurie College Dean Heather Lattimer

Congratulations to all of our SJSU Lurie College of Education undergraduate, graduate, credential, and doctoral students for completing a very challenging and unconventional semester! Watch this video for a shoutout from Dean Heather Lattimer.  The transcription of the message is available below.

Congratulations!  You have made it through what has been one of the craziest, most unpredictable, most challenging semesters that I’ve experienced in more than 20 years as a member of a university community.  I hope that you recognize your accomplishment and that you take great pride in the fact that you made it through.

You deserve huge admiration.

Continue Reading…

Lurie College Set to Celebrate Spring 2020 Graduates

SJSU Lurie College of Education Spring 2020 Graduation Celebration

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted so many facets of society over the past couple of months, that’s not stopping the Lurie College of Education at San Jose State University from organizing a live graduation celebration to recognize its more than 500 Spring 2020 graduates (and soon-to-be alumni)!

This is an incredibly significant moment for our graduates, their support networks, our Lurie College of Education community, and our society as a whole. College commencement ceremonies are a rite of passage for students every year who have worked tirelessly to prepare themselves for the next chapters in their lives. While we are saddened that we are not able to celebrate with our graduates in person at this time as a result of COVID-19, we are proud of how our entire Lurie College community of students, faculty, and staff have responded and persevered during this pandemic, and so it’s our priority to celebrate virtually with our graduates to acknowledge their accomplishments and bring some closure to their academic experiences with us.  We look forward to welcoming our graduates back to campus and celebrating in person together at the Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 Commencement events. – Dean Heather Lattimer

The Lurie College Graduation Celebration will take place online on Friday, May 22, at 4pm and begin with a college-wide ceremony that will include remarks from Dean Heather Lattimer, Associate Dean Marcos Pizarro, and student speaker Giselle Arellano, who is graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Development.

It feels really special to be the graduation speaker, especially during these times.  When I was first selected as the speaker, it was more of an ‘I did it’ moment as a first-generation student of an immigrant family and someone who is representing that small percentage of graduating Latinas all over the world.  Now it feels like I am the person who is able to voice what I’m hearing from my fellow classmates, my friends, from those who are graduating from other departments.  Many of us are feeling the same sadness about not being able to celebrate in person, but we still feel very accomplished and made it to a point where, even though the odds may not be in our favor right now, we still can celebrate and know that ‘we did it’! – Giselle Arellano

Each Spring 2020 graduate will also be recognized during the college-wide ceremony.  Lurie College graduates, faculty, and staff have been invited to attend the event live and family and friends are invited to watch the ceremony live on the Lurie College YouTube channel.

After the college-wide ceremony, each Lurie College department – Child & Adolescent Development, Communicative Disorders & Sciences, Counselor Education, EdD Leadership, Special Education, and Teacher Education – is hosting an online reception to include remarks from faculty chairpersons, individualized slideshows, and socializing among graduates, faculty, and staff to close out the academic year.

Since this year’s experience is entirely digital, Lurie College has created some other digital items to enhance the experience, such as:

San Jose State University as a whole is honoring and celebrating all Spring 2020 graduates by launching graduate recognition websites, which will go live on Friday, May 22.  Learn more about the San Jose State University graduate recognition websites on the SJSU Newsroom website.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s faces and feeling that overall sense of relief in knowing that, while this journey seemed daunting at first, I’m finally able to say ‘I’m a graduate’ and complete something that I’ve been working towards for so long.  Overall, this all feels very surreal and amazing! – Giselle Arellano

SJSU Lurie College of Education Child and Adolescent Development Student Giselle Arellano

Giselle Arellano, SJSU Lurie College of Education Graduation Speaker

Educators of Impact | Candice Nance

With the COVID-19 crisis making it abundantly clear the critical role that educators play in our society, Lurie College is recognizing SJSU Educators of Impact who have made a transformative difference in the lives of children, families, and communities.  Learn more about SJSU Alumni and current Lurie College EdD Leadership Program student Candice Nance below.  To nominate an SJSU graduate who is an Educator of Impact, please complete this brief Google form.

SJSU Lurie College of Education Educator of Impact Candice Nance

“Of anyone I’ve ever met, Candice embodies the idea of being a lifelong learner.  She constantly works to improve her own knowledge and skills so she can improve opportunities for her students.”

Upcoming Scholarship and Grant Application Deadlines

  • Scholarships:  Watch this recording to learn from staff in the SJSU Scholarships Office and faculty on the Lurie College Scholarship Review committee about the 2020-2021 Lurie College scholarship application process.  More details about all of the Lurie College scholarship and grant opportunities are available at sjsu.edu/education/financial-aid.  The deadline to apply for SJSU and Lurie College scholarships is Friday, May 1, 2020, so start your application process as soon as you can!
  • Student-Research Awards:  Supports students to be mentored by a faculty mentor on a student-initiated research project.  Students can receive an award of $2,000 per semester and $4,000 a year.  The deadline to apply for these awards for the 2020-2021 academic year is Thursday, April 30, 2020, at 4pm via this Google form.  Learn about research projects by Department of Special Education graduate student Monica Gonzalez and Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences student James Chow who each received a student-research award for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Statement from Lurie College Dean Heather Lattimer | April 23, 2020

Watch this video message from Dean Heather Lattimer following the announcement from SJSU about planning for the Fall 2020 semester in response to COVID-19.  The transcription of the message is available below.

Hello Lurie College.  The message that we received earlier this week that we’re not coming back to campus as usual this fall was hard to hear.  Although many of us might have suspected that such a message was coming, based on news reports that we’re seeing from across the country and around the world, it was nevertheless hard to see in print.  Many of us are grieving a sense of normalcy, missing rites of passage that were supposed to take place this spring, especially commencement, and frustrated that this sense of limbo that we’re all in might continue for weeks and even months ahead.

I want you to know that we see you, and we understand.

We see how hard you’re working in your academic classes, we see how many challenges you are navigating in school, at home, with family and finances.  We see the pain, the exhaustion and the fear that many of you are experiencing.  We also see your successes.  We see the triumphs, large and small, academic and personal.  We see the kindness that you’ve shown to one another and to our larger community and we’re grateful.

Continue Reading…

Plans Underway for Lurie College Graduation Celebration

While we at the Lurie College of Education are saddened that we are unable to have an in-person commencement ceremony during the Spring 2020 semester as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, we also realize the importance of continuing to follow our current public health orders for the health and safety of our families, our communities, and society as a whole.  Despite these constraints, we still want to celebrate with all of our Lurie College graduates this semester to recognize their accomplishments and perseverance, even if we must do so in a virtual environment.  Plans are underway for a live Lurie College of Education Graduation Celebration on Friday, May 22, at 4pm and we will send out an invitation with more detailed information to our graduates, faculty, and staff in the near future!

SJSU Lurie College Graduation Celebration Zoom Background

Call for Nominations for Educators of Impact

COVID-19 has made it clear how critical educators are in our society.  Help us recognize SJSU Lurie College of Education alumni who have made a transformative difference in the lives of children, families, and communities!  Nominate an Educator of Impact at https://bit.ly/3eFjy8n

SJSU Lurie College of Education Alumni Irene Castillon

Lurie College Hardship Fund Requests and Contributions

Lurie College has a limited amount of grant funds available to support its students who have experienced an unforeseen financial hardship that will prevent them from continuing their enrollment at Lurie College and SJSU. Awards are processed fall and spring semesters only, but advisors are available year-round. If you are a currently-enrolled Lurie College undergraduate, graduate, credential, or doctoral student who has experienced this type of hardship, please complete this brief Google form so that a Lurie College advisor can contact you.

We’ve recently had two donors who have agreed to match additional contributions to the Lurie College Hardship Fund.  If you have the means to contribute to the fund, you can do so by visiting the Lurie College Giving webpage and indicating “Student Financial Hardship Grant” in the special instructions section.  Contributions of any size are greatly appreciated since they will become tripled after matching – $10 will become $30, $25 will become $75, $50 will become $150, etc.

SJSU Lurie College of Education Hardship Fund

Lurie College Student Grants

Lurie College is pleased to offer several grant awards for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester and the 2020-2021 academic year to support our students!  Awards include:

  • Student-Research Awards:  Supports students to be mentored by a faculty mentor on a student-initiated research project.  Students can receive an award of $2,000 per semester and $4,000 a year.  The deadline to apply for these awards for the 2020-2021 academic year is Thursday, April 30, 2020, at 4pm via this Google form.  Learn about research projects by Department of Special Education graduate student Monica Gonzalez and Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences student James Chow who each received a student-research award for the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • Conference Travel Grant:  Provides financial support to its students who are presenting their research at conferences.  Undergraduate, graduate, credential, and doctoral students are eligible to apply for up to one $500 grant per fiscal year (July 1 – May 31) towards expenses for registration fees, travel, lodging, and meals.  A limited amount of funding is available.  To apply for a Lurie College Student Conference Travel Grant, please download and complete this brief form (PDF).  Learn from Lurie College Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences students Ali Murueta, Liz Cagle, and Michelle Ballou, who received a conference travel grant for the 2019-2020 academic year.  If your conference has recently been shifted to a virtual environment, you should still apply for this grant.
  • Student Research Supplies Grant:  Provides financial support to our students who are in need of supplies to conduct their academic research.  Undergraduate, graduate, credential, and doctoral students are eligible to apply for up to one $200 grant per fiscal year (July 1 – May 31) towards expenses for research supplies.  A limited amount of funding is available.  To apply for a Lurie College Student Research Supplies Grant, please download and complete this brief form (PDF).
  • Hardship Grant: Lurie College has a limited amount of grant funds available to support its students who have experienced an unforeseen financial hardship that will prevent them from continuing their enrollment at Lurie College and SJSU. If you are a Lurie College undergraduate, graduate, credential, or doctoral student who has experienced this type of hardship, please complete this brief Google form so that a Lurie College advisor can contact you to discuss this option as well as other possible campus resources.

 

SJSU Lurie College of Education Financial Aid Opportunities Spring 2020

Video Message from Dean Lattimer | March 18, 2020

Watch this video for a message from Dean Heather Lattimer following the announcement from SJSU that the Spring 2020 Commencement ceremonies have been postponed in response to COVID-19. Those who are eligible to complete their academic programs, apply for graduation (undergraduate) or candidacy (graduate), and fulfill all of their academic requirements will still graduate as planned. If you are experiencing a financial hardship during this time, please visit http://sjsu.edu/education/financial-aid to apply for a Lurie College of Education Hardship Grant.

“Creative Minds” provided royalty-free by bensound.com. Video edited by Brian Cheung Dooley.

Lurie College of Education Impresses in Best Graduate School Rankings

This story was originally posted on the SJSU Newsroom website by Robin McElhatton.

SJSU Lurie College of Education 2021 U.S. News & World Report

San Jose State’s Connie L. Lurie College of Education had an impressive showing in the 2021 U.S. News and World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings.

The rankings, released on March 17, show the Lurie College placed in these four categories:

  • Tied for #2 among CSU schools of education
  • In the top 5 for schools of education in the Bay Area
  • Tied for #16 among schools of education in California
  • Debuted at #158 for best education schools in the country

“All of us in the Lurie College of Education are proud that we have been recognized for our efforts to prepare transformative educators, counselors, therapists, school and community leaders,” said Lurie College Dean Heather Lattimer. “We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners to expand our college’s opportunities and impact in the region!”

The magazine bases its ranking of best graduate schools of education on two types of data: reputational surveys of deans and other academic officials and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students. They also assess both the preparedness of a school’s incoming students and the career or academic outcomes of a school’s graduates.

Statement to SJSU Lurie College Students from Dean Heather Lattimer | March 17, 2020

Good evening Lurie College Students —

In response to the County of Santa Clara’s shelter-in-place order and President Papazian’s instructions, the Lurie College of Education is now fully virtual.  Although we are now in separate physical spaces, our staff and faculty continue to be very much present in our support for our students.  We care deeply about you, your academic success, and your physical, financial, and emotional well being.

Staying Connected — This sudden move to a “virtual university” is new territory for us too…. We’re working to create virtual spaces for collaboration and connection within and beyond courses (if you have ideas on how to make this happen, please send them our way!).  You can also stay connected by contacting any of the offices listed below.  This information is also listed on the contact page on our website — You may want to bookmark the page for future reference.  We’ve arranged for on-campus phone numbers to be forwarded to staff and faculty cell phones so that we can be available for you at any time.  Please reach out with questions, concerns, or suggestions.  We are here for you!

Getting Help — If you are experiencing concerns about your health and well being, food or housing insecurity, financial stress, or anxiety, you are not alone.  The traumas associate with this global pandemic are real and impact many in our community.  We want to help!
  • Our Lurie College of Education Student Success Center team is available by phone and email.  They are trained in a holistic support model and prepared to respond to a diverse range of concerns.
  • SJSU’s Student Health Center and Counseling and Psychological Services also offer a full range of services remotely.
  • For those experiencing food insecurity, the Spartan Food Pantry remains open (please check hours).
  • For tenants who are worried about being able to pay rent amidst the COVID-19 crisis, the Cities of San Jose and San Francisco have adopted a temporary ban on evictions; Governor Newsom is encouraging cities throughout the state of California to adopt similar policies. Please connect with the Student Success Center or SJSU Cares if you need help pushing back agains a landlord who is threatening eviction.
  • For those who are struggling to pay bills and stay in school, Lurie College offers “Hardship Grants”. These one-time grants can provide up to $500 to cover unanticipated expenses and help you stay on track toward your degree.  Thanks to some generous donors, we’ve been able to increase the amount available this spring.  Please don’t feel that you are alone if you are struggling.  Reach out.  We want to help!

Looking Ahead — There is a lot of uncertainty right now.  In her Monday evening message (below), Pres. Papazian announced that online instruction will continue through the end of the Spring 2020 semester.  We hope to be able open campus back up for face-to-face advising and events before then, but will need to follow the directions of our state and county officials.  We know that many of you, especially graduating seniors and final year graduate students, have been looking forward to commencement.  I’m hopeful that we will be able to celebrate commencement as currently scheduled on May 21, 2020.  You’ve worked hard, experienced much, and the pomp and circumstance of a commencement celebration is a well-earned rite of passage!  Unfortunately, I can’t yet promise that we’ll be able to hold an in-person commencement event on 5/21.  What I can promise however, is that when this is over (and that is a when – not an if), Lurie College will have a full-blown, in person commencement celebration …  and it will be awesome!

Lurie College is a family and we are all in this together!  Thank you for supporting one another over these last weeks and for your bravery in facing the adversity of this moment.  We are here for you. Please reach out and let us know how we can help.

With Gratitude — Heather

Heather Lattimer, EdD
Dean and Professor
Connie L. Lurie College of Education
San Jose State University

Statement to SJSU Lurie College Students from Dean Heather Lattimer | March 14, 2020

Dear Lurie College of Education Students –

Many, many thanks to all of you for your strength, flexibility, generosity, and leadership during these challenging times. I’ve been so impressed by students who have stepped up to help create calm and consistent learning environments in your field placements, offered support for peers learning to navigate online learning platforms, and reached out to faculty and staff with thoughtful questions and suggestions. Your response to adversity speaks volumes about your personal strength and your potential for leadership in our schools, clinics, and communities. Thank you!!!

A few notes as we prepare to re-launch classes during this coming week —

Field Experiences — Many of our field placement sites have closed. Most closures are currently planned for 3-4 weeks. We will continue to work with our placement providers and monitor future placement options.

  • Students in Credential / Licensure Programs — For those in credential and licensure programs that require minimum numbers of hours and/or performance assessments, closures pose particular challenges. We are working with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and other licensing agencies to explore options. CTC has told us that it is their intent that everyone who is on target to complete a credential this year be able to do so. Exactly what this will look like is not yet known — Options for completing field experiences could include (1.) returning to placement sites when schools and clinics reopen, (2.) working alongside field experience mentors in online environments if placement sites move to online instruction / therapy, (3.) alternative assignments or simulation activities. We will keep you posted as we know more. If you have questions / concerns about the individual status of your program, please reach out to your program coordinator or department chair.
  • Speech Language Pathology Master’s Students — Some of our private and clinic placements remain open. If you are in the second year of the SLP program, we will work with you individually to determine how best to proceed. Please contact Drs. Mahendra and Quach.
  • Pre-Credential Students — Good news for our undergraduates who are planning to apply to credential programs this year. The Chancellor’s Office has temporarily suspended the required 45 pre-professional hours usually required to apply to a credential program. Saul Ruiz is available to help you navigate the application process. Please reach out to him directly.

Online Learning — Our faculty have spent the last week preparing to move classes online and we are excited about the possibilities ahead. That said, we fully anticipate that there will be challenges with the technology not working as hoped or the lesson not going as planned. It typically takes 6 months to move a class from on-site to online and we are asking faculty to accomplish this feat in 6 days. We are in this together as we all work to ensure that your learning continues and your progress to degree is on pace. Thank you in advance for your patience and persistence. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your instructors or advisors. We all want you to succeed! Please let us know if you require additional support or modifications due to individual circumstances.

Learning Supports — SJSU’s campus remains open and there are multiple people standing by to support you. Supports to ensure your success include the following:

  • The Lurie College Student Success Center has study space, computers for student use, and advising support available.
    • Both Sweeney Hall 106 (SSC) and 446 (SAC) are open and have been configured to allow for social distancing. We will open additional rooms as needed.
    • Academic advising is taking place in-person and virtually. Please make a note of your location preference in the comments when scheduling your appointment.
    • Upcoming workshops in the SSC will be held virtually! Please visit our calendar for access links.
    • Janene, Krista, Saul, and Annie are also great listeners and problem solvers. Please reach out by email, phone (408-924-2700), or in person if we can help you in any way!
  • SJSU Library’s Student Computer Services has laptops, iPads, headsets, and other tech resources available for take out. The library also provides computer labs and quiet study spaces. In addition, the Clark Hall Computer Lab and the ballrooms in the Student Union will have quiet study spaces available.
  • The Writing Center has suspended in-person tutoring, but is expanding their online options. Students can make appointments for online tutoring here.
  • The Accessible Education Center has staff available to support students with disabilities or learning challenges as we all navigate this new learning environment. If you have concerns, please reach out directly. If you do not yet have documented accommodations and would like to do so, they have designed a process specifically to help students who need support learning online. Learn more at sjsu.edu/aec/students/covid19

Additional Student Supports — We recognize that this is a stressful time. In addition to the services listed below, please reach out to faculty, staff, and administrators here in the college if you need support. We are here for you!

Thank you again for all of your care and support for one another and our larger Lurie College community.  We certainly did not expect that Spring 2020 would look quite like this… but thanks to our amazing students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners, I am confident we will come through this with strength and resilience!

If you have any additional questions, concerns, or suggestions or if you just need to talk, please email us at luriecollege@sjsu.edu.

With Gratitude —

Heather

Heather Lattimer, EdD
Dean and Professor
Connie L. Lurie College of Education
San Jose State University

Student Success Center Continues to Support Lurie College Students

The Lurie College of Education Student Success Center is still open during normal hours Monday-Thursday, 8am-6pm and Friday, 8am-12pm!  Feel free to stop by Sweeney Hall 106 for advising support, wifi and study space, and more.  Here are a few small changes to our services:

SJSU Lurie College of Education Student Success Center

Statement to SJSU Lurie College Students from Dean Heather Lattimer | March 9, 2020

Good Evening Lurie College Students —

Pres. Papazian recently announced that the university is moving courses to distributed or fully online instruction beginning March 16 and that for the next four days (3/10 – 3/13) we will be suspending in-person classes in order to provide time for faculty and staff to prepare for the transition.  Visit the SJSU Health Advisories webpage for more information.

I wanted to follow up with some additional information specific to the SJSU Lurie College of Education —

Field Experiences: Field experiences are critical components of your academic program and, in many cases, a minimum number of hours are required for credentialing and licensure. We anticipate that most field experiences will continue this week and into the foreseeable future (see details below). Exceptions to this expectation include: (a.) If you have a reasonable concern that participating in a field experience will pose an inappropriate risk to your own health or the health of others. (b.). If you have had any known exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. (c.) If your placement has closed down due to health concerns and/or is limiting access to students. If you believe that you fall into any of these three categories, please contact your supervisor, instructor, and/or program coordinator.

    • Off-campus field experiences will continue — If you are in student teaching, a practicum placement, internship, or other clinical experience as part of your degree or credential program, you are expected to continue in your placement this week and for the foreseeable future. Although the CTC has recently announced that there may be some flexibility if schools close, they continue to expect that students will participate in field experiences as long as schools remain open. I have been in contact with the Santa Clara County Office of Education Superintendent, Dr. Mary Ann Dewan; at this point, she expects schools to continue with normal operations.
    • ChAD lab preschool will continue — The toddler and preschool lab schools operated by the Department of Child and Adolescent Development (ChAD) will continue to operate this week and into the foreseeable future. If you are currently teaching in this school as part of your ChAD degree program, you are expected to continue in this assignment. This experience is an essential part of your learning and the children and families of the school depend on your classroom leadership. Please confirm your continued participation with your instructor(s).
    • CDS Clinics are suspended this week — We will suspend CDS Clinic operations this week while we explore remote delivery options for some of the clinic experiences. Since some of our CDS clinics serve vulnerable populations, including elderly individuals and individuals with compromised immune systems, it is appropriate to explore how TeleHealth services might be utilized to continue to provide services and support CDS student learning. We will also be looking at simulation options and may continue to provide some face-to-face services. More information will be provided later this week.

On-Campus Supports: As noted in the President’s message, the SJSU campus and all services will remain open. Specific supports that may be of assistance include the following:

    • The Lurie College Student Success Center — Janene, Krista, and Saul are here to help! If you have questions about how to access online learning, need access to a computer or wifi, need academic support, need a referral for additional services, or just need a place to hang out, please call or stop by. They will also be continuing with scheduled writing tutor hours, workshops, and drop-in advising. Location: Sweeney Hall (SH) 106 Office hours: Monday – Thursday | 8:00am-6:00pm; Friday | 8:00am-12:00pm Phone: 408-924-2700 Email: luriecollege-successcenter@sjsu.edu
    • Accessible Education Center — If you have specific concerns about being able to access online content as we look ahead to transitioning to remote teaching and learning, please connect with support providers in AEC. Although every effort will be made by instructors to ensure accessibility we know that the speed of this transition may lead to some challenges. Please let your instructor know if you anticipate challenges and take advantage of the resources provided by AEC. Administration Building 110. 408-924-6000 aec-info@sjsu.edu
    • Counseling and Psychological Services — A public health concern can lead to feelings of depression, panic, and helplessness. If you are feeling overwhelmed, please know that there are many people in the college and across the university who care and want to help. Please reach out to faculty, staff, and administrators directly or contact CAPS at (408) 924-5910 and counseling.services@sjsu.edu.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to respond to evolving conditions. Please know that we are working to balance two very real priorities — We want to protect the health and well being of our students and community, and we also want to ensure that you are continuing to make progress toward your degrees and credentials.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out at luriecollege@sjsu.edu or call 408-924-3600.

With Gratitude — Heather

Heather Lattimer, EdD
Dean and Professor
Connie L. Lurie College of Education
San Jose State University

2020-2021 Lurie College Scholarships Application Cycle Now Open

All returning and incoming Lurie College undergraduate, graduate, credential, and doctoral students for the 2020-2021 academic year should apply for our scholarships!  For the 2019-2020 academic year, we awarded 111 students a median of $1000 and an average of $2469.  Students can apply by Fri., May 1, at sjsu.edu/faso/scholarships and learn more about all of our scholarship and grant opportunities at sjsu.edu/education/financial-aid.  There will be a scholarship workshop on Thu., Mar. 5, from 3:30-4:30pm in the Student Success Center – Sweeney Hall 106.  RSVP to attend the workshop by completing this Google form.

2020-2021 SJSU Lurie College of Education Scholarships