Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education

Answering the Call for Energized Teachers, Strong Families and Healthy Lifestyles

When Weber Stake Academy opened in 1889, there were 59 upper-division students. Many of them dreamed of becoming educators. In fact, about 75 percent of all graduates during Weber’s early years planned to teach.

Today, the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education serves more than 1,500 students each semester and offers a personalized approach to learning with nationally accredited programs in:

  • Child and family studies
  • Health promotion and human performance
  • Teacher education

In 1978, we introduced the university’s first graduate program; now, we offer master’s degrees in athletic training and curriculum and instruction.

Through the years, our distinctive teaching methods have captured attention and praise. From 1971, when the flexible WILKIT program received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, to 2012, when Online College Database ranked WSU among its top colleges for teacher education, we’ve demonstrated remarkable success in turning eager students into creative professionals.

Our athletic training program was named a 2012–13 Apple Distinguished Program because of its implementation of cutting-edge technology.

More than 90 percent of our graduates stay in Utah to positively impact our community and local economy.

Between 80 to 100 percent of Moyes College graduates find satisfying jobs soon after leaving WSU. Our graduates enjoy a 90-percent acceptance rate into master’s and Ph.D. programs, and that impressive statistic holds true for the percentage of Moyes College graduates who pass national certification exams.

Our students work side by side with faculty mentors on groundbreaking research. Recently, four child and family studies professors partnered with the Department of
Workforce Services to study intergenerational poverty in Utah with a focus on children.

Our award-winning Storytelling Festival is a community treasure that gives student-storytellers a chance to perform on stage with professionals. It is one of the few university-sponsored storytelling festivals in the nation.

Every year, our list of accomplishments grows longer and our dreams get bigger.

For 125 years, the Moyes College of Education has fueled student dreams. Inspirational faculty members connect with students on a personal level and know whether someone needs a nudge in the right direction or a pat on the back.

What We Can Accomplish Together

What we do at the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education matters. We explore new ideas, seek new paths and embrace new opportunities. That includes collaborating with other groups, on campus and in the community, to bring the freshest, most innovative concepts to our students.

But every day we challenge ourselves, asking, “How can we be even better?”

That’s why we’re launching this comprehensive campaign, inviting alumni and friends to help us raise the bar in our efforts to develop skilled teachers, trainers and practitioners, and support healthy, happy families.

Provide Opportunity

Scholarships

Without scholarships, many of our most promising students, especially nontraditional students with families to support and full-time jobs, could not afford the education that will boost their future earnings. With your help, we can fund scholarships that will allow deserving students from all walks of life to focus on their studies and take advantage of priceless research opportunities.

“I was in my 40s, working as a teacher’s aide and playground monitor, when I took a leap of faith and went back to school. I don’t know what I would have done without TAPT. It paid for tuition, books and sometimes gas for my truck — TAPT literally got me to school and to work.” — Mary PoVey ’12, Roy High School math resource teacher

Education Access

Mary PoVey is one of 120 former classroom aides who have taken advantage of our Teacher Assistant Pathway to Teaching (TAPT) program to fulfill their dreams of becoming licensed teachers. TAPT was created in 1995 in response to critical shortages of English as a Second Language (ESL) and special education teachers in six Utah school districts. It exists though the generosity of private donors. With additional resources, we can preserve and expand TAPT and other mission-related programs, events and initiatives.

Internships and Community-based Research

Our students need hands-on internships and community-based research projects in addition to theory. Two outstanding professors from the Department of Health Promotion and Human Performance were recently honored for their dedication to community-engaged learning. Your support will allow the Moyes College to create new opportunities for students to work in local schools, clinics, businesses and organizations where they can apply classroom knowledge in relevant situations.

Advance Knowledge

WSU Charter Academy and Elementary School Partnership

Launched in 2013, the academy is the first charter school in Utah to be authorized through an institution of higher education. Creative faculty from multiple departments worked with students and community members to develop a unique kindergarten that emphasizes family involvement and developmentally appropriate curriculum.

With Dream 125, we hope to partner with a local school district to create an elementary school that provides opportunities for high-risk students to succeed. This would also create additional teaching, learning and research opportunities for WSU faculty and pre-service teachers.

Boyd K. and Donna S. Packer Center for Family & Community Education Endowment

This center supports eight vital education outreach programs that serve families, teachers, students and community members:

  • Storytelling Festival
  • Teacher Assistant Pathway to Teaching (TAPT)
  • WSU Charter Academy
  • Literacy Project
  • Families Alive Conference
  • Teachers of Tomorrow
  • Melba S. Lehner Children’s School
  • Care About Child Care

A fully funded endowment will provide the resources necessary to continue these essential outreach efforts.

Faculty Development and Teacher-in-Residence Endowment

As enrollment soars and our programs grow, there’s an urgent need for well-qualified and diverse faculty. Endowed funds will give the Moyes College powerful tools to attract, retain and reward distinguished scholars and researchers.

A teacher-in-residence program will bring public school teachers to campus to collaborate on projects and share their real-world expertise with aspiring educators. In return, the teachers will take new leadership skills and insight back to their classrooms.

Wellness Center

An interdisciplinary Wellness Center would give our health promotion and human performance students a world-class setting to develop their practical skills. With your support and the diverse expertise of our faculty, we can create a unique environment that maximizes hands-on learning.

Students will practice the latest exercise, sports training and physical therapy techniques. They will work with licensed therapists to design and supervise health and fitness programs for people struggling with chronic health conditions, diseases, psychological challenges and physical disabilities. The center would also provide a backdrop for student and faculty research.

Enhance Campus

Facility and Equipment Improvements

The cost of maintaining and upgrading these facilities to meet the demands of our growing student body is staggering. With your help, we can support student learning at the highest level. We can provide the modern buildings and tools our bright, tech-savvy students deserve, but our tight budgets don’t always allow.