The Master of Arts in Literacy Education program at the West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences has been named a WVU Board of Governors Program of Excellence.
This designation reflects the highest standards for programs at WVU," said Matthew Campbell, Interim Director of the School of Education and Counseling. "Our Literacy Education faculty are national leaders in their field, and I'm proud of the work they have done to build and continually improve this program. The best measure of the program is its graduates, who lead literacy instruction in classrooms across the state and country."
Programs earning the designation must demonstrate excellence in four areas: distinction, including state or national recognition; faculty qualifications and scholarly achievement; graduate success in career placement or continued education; and curriculum and assessment, including measurable learning outcomes and accreditation.
The Literacy Education program holds National Recognition with Distinction from the International Literacy Association, the national accrediting body for reading specialists. Six of the 200 eligible programs nationwide currently hold the distinction, and WVU is the first program to renew it after earning the recognition in the inaugural 2019-2024 cycle.
In its most recent accreditation review, the program earned acceptable ratings on 100% of the ILA's 28 standard components, with 82% rated at the distinguished level, exceeding the 65% threshold required to advance to a site visit.
The online program serves educators in several states, though 90% of its students live and work in West Virginia. Graduates remain in their communities and classrooms for decades, helping shape reading instruction for students throughout the state. Students and graduates regularly publish and present at professional conferences, including the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers, the West Virginia Reading Association, and the American Reading Forum.
Since the program's last review, its faculty have secured $800,000 in grant funding and a cohort agreement with Kanawha County Schools, earned university and national awards, and taken on leadership roles in state and national literacy organizations.
"The Literacy Education program continues to expand its impact through high‑quality online instruction that reaches the state’s many rural teachers," said Aimee Morewood, who serves as the program's coordinator. "The program’s use of evidence‑based curriculum equips educators with the tools they need to strengthen literacy outcomes in every region of West Virginia and across the nation."
Requests for the Program of Excellence designation are considered by the Undergraduate or Graduate Council, which nominates programs for the recognition. The Office of the Provost reviews the nominations and endorses those deemed appropriate, and the Board of Governors certifies the designation. The Program of Excellence designation lasts five years, from the time of the award until the program's next review.
Click here to learn more about the Literacy Education program.