Mercer University’s Tift College of Education is a place for people and ideas, for learning and change, for study and reflection. A place where what students learn, believe, and become is of primary concern. The core principles of our conceptual framework, the Transforming Educator, are reflected in not only our approach to teaching but also by how we prepare our students to contribute to society through sharing their knowledge, skills, and character. The mission of the Tift College of Education is to prepare candidates to blend theory with practice, to think critically, and to interact effectively in a technologically complex, global society. To accomplish this mission, the College offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs and educational services designed to meet the needs of diverse students and of the professional education community. The College is committed to preparing students to serve as teachers and school leaders in the schools of our state, nation, and the world and is committed to the pursuit of excellence in every aspect of educator preparation. We are also committed to supporting the educational needs of all learners across their lifespan, and to working closely with educators, leaders, and policymakers in the field. These are some reasons why the Tift College of Education has become the largest private preparer of educators in Georgia.