Students visiting Suite 1000 this semester may notice some physical changes to the office - and some not as obvious changes, too.

While educating future teachers remains the core of the office, the mission continues to evolve as the school added its first non-teaching major, a B.S.Ed. in Counseling and Student Services. It’s a trend that will continue, as the IU School of Education recognizes the importance of professionals who support children and schools both directly and indirectly. That trend has resulted in a name change for the office, which will now be known as the Office of Undergraduate and Teacher Education.

“We’re expanding our horizons and thinking about P-12 education more broadly,” said Jeff Anderson, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education. “Teachers are absolutely core, but more and more it’s become clear that schools cannot operate in isolation. Schools have to have healthy relationships with their families.”

Anderson said he hopes students from across IU who have an interest in supporting youth and their families will now consider the School of Education as they think about their future careers.

“We’re the place that you might check in (when you think), ‘Well I’m not necessarily interested in being a teacher, but I like working with kids,’” he added.

In the future, there will be additional majors and pathways for undergraduates who aren’t necessarily interested in being a classroom teacher but want to be involved in professions that support healthy growth of young people and support schools and families.