West Liberty University announced Wednesday that it has earned accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

“These providers meet high standards so that their students receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate,” said CAEP President Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”

CAEP is a nationally recognized accrediting body for educator preparation. Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement.

“Earning CAEP accreditation affirms the exceptional commitment of our faculty and staff, who work tirelessly to provide outstanding preparation and resources for future educators,” said WLU Provost Cathy Monteroso. “This achievement reflects West Liberty University’s enduring dedication to strengthening our region through high-quality teacher education.”

“As West Virginia’s oldest public institution, West Liberty has always carried a legacy of preparing those who shape the future,” added Sherri Theaker, Dean of the College of Education and Human Performance. “This accreditation reaffirms that our teacher preparation programs continue to honor that responsibility with excellence and heart.”

“Achieving full CAEP accreditation is a tremendous milestone for our educator preparation programs,” said Richard Whitehead, Department Chair of Teacher Education at West Liberty University. “This recognition affirms the exceptional work of our faculty, the dedication of our candidates, and our commitment to preparing highly effective, future-ready educators. CAEP’s rigorous standards challenge institutions to continuously elevate quality and impact, and we are proud to demonstrate that our programs meet and exceed those expectations. This accreditation validates who we are and inspires us to keep advancing excellence in teacher education.”

Established as West Liberty Academy in 1837, the preparation of teachers was WLU’s original purpose. It was chartered as the West Liberty Normal School in 1870, was renamed West Liberty State Teachers College in 1931, and was accredited in 1937 by the American Association of Teachers Colleges.

As the institution grew, it became West Liberty State College and, in 2009, it earned university status. This was the same year the first master’s degree program began–in education. The University’s first doctoral program, the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), started in Fall 2023 and will celebrate its first graduates this coming May.

The CAEP Accreditation Council held its Fall 2025 review in October, during which 36 providers were approved under the rigorous, nationally recognized CAEP Teacher Preparation Standards.