The university recently unveiled a new policy guaranteeing the quality and preparedness of its teacher education graduates. “Old Dominion is able to issue this guarantee because of the university’s commitment to excellence in education preparation and because of the quality of students ODU attracts to teaching careers,” said William Graves, dean of the Darden College of Education. “We are pleased to issue the guarantee because of what it means for our graduates and Virginia schools.”

The college guarantees its graduates’ preparedness for the first two years of teaching after graduation from Old Dominion and receipt of the university’s recommendation for initial licensure in Virginia. The university will “take back” any teacher who has been mentored by the employing school division according to the Guidelines for Mentor Teacher Programs for Beginning and Experienced Teachers of Virginia and who has been identified by a school division as having less than acceptable performance in a classroom. Old Dominion will provide the teacher with additional preparation at no cost to the teacher or the school division.

While several schools around the country have begun offering such guarantees, Old Dominion’s program is only the second such program in Virginia. The University of Virginia offers a similar warranty.

The Darden College of Education is among the top producers of teachers in Virginia. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in education, counseling and human services, exercise science, sports management, recreation, training, fashion, speech-language disorders, and instructional and occupational technology.