Changes to be made to the Spadoni College of Education in 2021

Photo courtesy of CCU.

Coastal Carolina University announced that the Spadoni College of Education will be undergoing some changes effective in 2021.

Firstly, it will no longer be called the Spadoni College of Education. Effective July 1, 2021, it will be renamed the Spadoni College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, a CCU News email said. 

CCU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Daniel Ennis commented on this change to the college. 

“I expect this to be an exceptional academic unit with thriving undergraduate programs, graduate offerings that serve our mission and the community, and a reputation for scholarly excellence,” he said. 

The renaming of the college isn’t the only change to come in 2021. Ennis announced that Edward Jadallah, who has been dean of the Spadoni College of Education for the past 10 years, will be stepping down at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year. The University will be launching a nationwide search for a new dean, who should be appointed by July 1 , 2021, according to a CCU email. 

Jadallah offered an explanation of the restructuring, beginning with the fact that it is sensible to do so as a new dean enters the position, as this will impact the criteria the new dean will have to meet. 

“From what I understand, the current restructuring plan emphasizes bringing some disciplines from the behavioral and social sciences into what was previously known as a College of Education [and may be called] The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education,” he said. “The focus of this type of organizational structure is based on the complementary interdependence of teaching, learning, scholarship and service. Human development is obviously very significant to a college of education that prepares teachers and educational leaders because the theories and research in the disciplines of human development serve as the foundation for teaching and learning.”

Jadallah wanted to ensure that the current students of education are not confused about what this restructuring will mean for them and gave a message of encouragement as he feels students across CCU have been struggling to stay positive during the pandemic. 

“I’d like to say to the students that regardless of the name change, the major that they have selected and the profession that they have chosen, teaching, and impacting student learning is the same. They are still going to be able to do what they have selected as their area of specialty,” he said. “So, they should not be concerned about a name change.”

“Right now, I think morale due to the pandemic across the university and in our college is low. I think we have to work really hard on understanding that this is a one-time occurrence, we will come out of it and to keep thinking about the future and what it holds. Eventually, we will get beyond this pandemic. “

Jadallah mentioned that he does not plan to retire now, and he is looking at different options, but has enjoyed his time at Coastal Carolina University. He believes that his greatest accomplishments from the past 10 years are the creation of the Early Childhood Development and Literacy Center which is a lab school on campus that provides opportunities for preservice teachers and faculty, and the addition of the Ph.D. in Education to the list of degrees students can earn from CCU.

“As our university and college continue to change and move forward, I hope that we preserve and build on the program development and initiatives that the Spadoni College of Education has accomplished over the past 10 years,” he said.