ESU Receives Reaffirmation, Note for Excellence
Maisie Nelson • June 17, 2021
During its April 2021 Accreditation Council meeting, the national Council of Accreditation for Educator Preparation (CAEP) reaffirmed the accreditation status of the Union College Educational Studies Unit (ESU), after a nearly two-year review. The review, which included one of the first completely virtual site visits in CAEP history, focused on the ESU’s ability to meet CAEP standards for excellence in preparing teachers and administrators for success in P-12 school districts.
“The Educational Studies Unit faculty and staff have excelled in continuing to provide the highest quality of education for our students at Union. The ESU team persevered throughout this accreditation process participating in a virtual site visit after the transition to working remotely as a result of the pandemic,” said Dr. Marisa Greer, Vice President of Academic Affairs.
CAEP found that the ESU had met all standards with noted areas of excellence in P-12 collaboration, technology preparedness of candidates, and impact of program completers in P-12 classrooms. The results of the review are the best the education program has ever received at the national accreditation level.
As such, CAEP granted the ESU full reaffirmation of its undergraduate and graduate programs for another seven years.
"It is my honor and privilege to work with such dedicated faculty and staff in the ESU who focus on the individual needs of students, and help them grow not only as a person, but as an educator," said Dr. Lori Henderson, Associate Professor of Education.
"The ESU would like to take this opportunity to thank the administration at Union College, our P-12 partners, EPSB, CAEP and our wonderful students for all their support and assistance throughout this state and national accreditation process," she adds.
In addition to Henderson, the ESU Leadership Team members overseeing the reaffirmation process were Dr. Jason Reeves and Mrs. Preshus Howard.
Union Commonwealth University will host its first annual Registration Day exclusively for seniors from Barbourville Independent High School, Knox Central High School, Lynn Camp High School, and local homeschool students on March 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving area students a jump start on their college journey.
UCU has announced the 2026 class of honorees for The Mackies, the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame and annual athletics awards ceremony. The event will be held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in Robsion Arena.
Beginning this Sunday, Union will reintroduce voluntary chapel services for students, faculty, staff, and community members; providing opportunities for worship and spiritual exploration.
The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to acknowledge students for their academic achievement throughout the fall 2025 semester. A total of 67 students were named Presidential Laureates while 269 students were honored with recognition among the Dean’s List.
Union Commonwealth University celebrated community partnership and academic achievement as the Bulldogs men’s basketball defeated Alice Lloyd College 90–80 on Tuesday inside Robsion Arena.
Union Commonwealth University’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the following appointments to its board during its annual meeting on October 24, 2025.
Union Commonwealth University (UCU) has announced the launch of its inaugural Presidential Fellows Program, a new leadership initiative created in partnership with Rural Up.
Union Commonwealth University proudly celebrates the 90th birthday of one of its most cherished figures, Dr. Paul “Pete” Moore, whose name and legacy are forever woven into the history of Union.
Union Commonwealth University’s Student Support Services (SSS) program has been awarded a nearly $2 million TRIO grant from the U.S. Department of Education, securing funding for the next five years to support underserved and underrepresented students in post-secondary education.
Under the guidance of College Program Liaison and Coordinator Dr. Lori Henderson, the program that started out as a small group has nearly tripled in size with at least 90 students from Knox County
