All activities in the College are guided by the premise that we are Partners for the Future, committed to fostering critical, creative thinkers prepared to engage meaningfully in a dynamic society. This premise is characterized and distinguished by three core values: Professionalism, Knowledge, and Leadership. Research, Diversity, and Technology are themes woven throughout each core value. The College mission, core values, and themes serve as the coherent thread running through all professional programs, guiding the systematic design and delivery of clinical/field experiences, course curricula, assessments, and evaluation. The Conceptual Framework consists of six interrelated and interacting components, which are viewed as essential contexts for shaping informed, skilled, and responsible partners:

• The first core value, Professionalism, represents the contention that candidates develop an expertise and specialized knowledge of their field. A high quality of work, standard of professional ethics and behaviors, as well as work morale and motivation are all necessary factors of a developed interest and desire to excel in job performance.

• The second core value, Knowledge, represents candidate theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. In today's world, candidate knowledge includes not only academic content mastery, but also skills such as critical thinking, communication, technology literacy, and collaboration, each of which is required for success in college, life, and career.

• The third core value, Leadership, represents candidate ability to organize, assist, and support others in the achievement of a common task. Candidates develop and refine their leadership skills within the context of their interactions with PK-20 students, curricula, faculty, and other professionals. The additional three components of the model, Research, Diversity, and Technology, represent themes woven into the core values:

• Research encompasses the investigation of ideas and theories with the purpose of discovering, interpreting, and developing new systems, methods, and support for knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes.

• Diversity is an indispensable component of academic excellence. A commitment to diversity means a dedication to the inclusion, welcome, and support of individuals from all groups, encompassing the various characteristics of persons in our community such as race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, socioeconomic background, religion, sexual orientation, and disability.

• Technology is emphasized throughout all programs and is used to support and improve content delivery and student learning.