The unit comprises programs in each of four colleges at Western Illinois—College
of Arts and Sciences, Business and Technology, Education and Human Services and Fine Arts and Communication. Since teacher education
programs and faculty are located in each college, the leadership and policy
making authority for the unit resides in the University 
Teacher Education
Committee (UTEC), while the College of Education and Human Services
has been designated as the administrative home for the unit. UTEC reports
to and derives its authority directly from the university vice president
for academic affairs. UTEC's mission statement indicates that the committee
controls policy and approves courses, programs, and all program reviews
for both the initial and advanced level. Membership consists of administrators
and faculty from all four colleges as well as an education candidate and
members from the P-12 school community. The Dean of COEHS, chairs the
committee.
UTEC ensures that candidates meet program, state, and national standards and follow the conceptual framework by mandating and monitoring program assessments in each education program. Programs are managed and coordinated by several committees that have representatives from all four colleges. These committees report to and support the work of UTEC.
