The Renaissance Group, a national organization of colleges and universities with teacher education programs, is holding a three-day meeting this week at Southeast Missouri State University.

The meeting began Wednesday with an executive committee meeting in Dempster Hall. The meeting of the Renaissance Group runs through today.

Provost Dr. Charles Kupchella said the spring meeting focuses on "change" and the best practices in teacher education and assessment of learning.

"The Renaissance Group provides us all with a unique opportunity to come together in a common purpose to meet those challenges of change and affirm the important principles which we all value and share," he said.

At 8:45 a.m. Thursday, Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast's president, and Dr. James Walker, president of Middle Tennessee State University, delivered welcoming remarks in Glenn Auditorium.

A panel discussion with representatives of colleges and universities followed.

Today, Kupchella will lead a morning session in Glenn Auditorium on assessment of learning.

Dr. John Hinni, dean of Southeast's School of University Studies, will discuss outcomes assessment and how it relates to teacher education.

The Renaissance Group was created in 1989 to improve teacher education on member campuses.

Seventeen schools are members of the consortium.

Universities participating in the Renaissance Group are California State University-Fresno, California State University-San Bernardino, Eastern Michigan State University, Emporia State College, Georgia Southern, Kentucky State University, Longwood College, Middle Tennessee State University, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Norfolk State, Sam Houston State University, Towson University, University of Alabama-Birmingham, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Northern Iowa, Western Kentucky, and Southeast.