Education Organizations

Opportunities for involvement

The Bluffton University ideal of education recognizes the need for developing the whole person -- mind, soul, and body. While giving primary emphasis to learning through study and instruction, Bluffton provides a wide variety of activities and organizations designed to develop all aspects of character and personality. Students are encouraged to select carefully among these co-curricular activities and to participate in as many as interest and time permit.

Bluffton Education Organization (BEO)
The purpose of the Bluffton Education Organization (BEO) is to develop in prospective educators an understanding of the education profession, to advance the interests and welfare of candidates preparing for a career in education and to stimulate the higher ideals of professional ethics, standards and attitudes. There are both formal and informal meetings in which members share ideas and concerns.

Bluffton Teacher Education Advisory Council (BTEAC)
Area teachers as well as a select number of current Bluffton education students serve on the Bluffton Teacher Education Advisory Council (BTEAC.) The primary purpose of the council is to advise on the design, approval and continuous evaluation and development of teacher education, including criteria, policies and procedures pertaining:

to developing a working knowledge of the Bluffton teacher education program.
to endeavor to assure that Bluffton teacher education department has continued input from a cross section of interested constituency.
to encourage the expansion of services for pre-service teachers.
to disseminate information in various ways to help educate the public, prospective students and professional educators on the services provided by the Bluffton University teacher education department.
to encourage and promote research in areas related to the licensure programs: early childhood, middle childhood, adolescent/young adult, multiage/vocational and intervention specialist.
to cooperate with organizations and individuals serving pre-service teachers at Bluffton University.
to work toward the improvement of employment opportunities for pre-service teachers at Bluffton University.
to encourage and work toward the recruitment of prospective teacher education students.
to fulfill the expectations of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for colleges and universities preparing teachers.
to review comparable teacher education programs to better implement the Academic Content Standards.

Pi Lambda Theta International Honor Society and Professional Association Group
Pi Lambda Theta International Honor Society and Professional Association in Education was founded in 1910 to honor excellence and foster leadership skills and intellectual values.

Membership is offered to students who are at least second semester sophomores or graduate students and have earned a 3.5 or higher GPA. Membership is also available to teachers and educators who have met national professional standards. Membership in Pi Lambda Theta offers members access to a three-part career service network; scholarships, research support and professional development through national conferences and workshops.