A proposal for developing models to enhance the teaching profession is described, along with the 1983-1984 activities of the Task Force on Excellence in Education of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The Task Force proposed that during the 1984-1985 academic year AASCU should conduct a competition among its member institutions for the development of program models in eight categories requiring initiatives and innovation in the teaching profession. The eight categories are as follows: attracting more talented students as majors in the field of education; developing more innovative teacher preparation curricula; strengthening relationships with local school districts; building and sustaining new strategies for involving the university in teaching preparation programs and enhancing the institutional climate for teaching and learning; creating new strategies for ensuring the quality of education graduates; initiating innovative applied research projects in education and disseminating the findings within the institution and to other schools; discovering new ways of training teachers to deal with disadvantaged youth; and providing professional leadership to influence state policies affecting the field of teacher education. (SW)