TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents ¨ 1

Verification of Receipt of Policies and Procedures Manual ¨ 2

The Arkansas Tech University School of Education Policies and Procedures Manual ¨ 3

Teacher Education Council ¨ 3

            Function of the Council ¨ 3

            Committees of the Council ¨ 3

            Appeals Committee ¨ 4

Undergraduate Policy and Procedures¨ 4

Admission Policy ¨4

                        Unconditional Admission ¨ 4

                        Conditional Admission ¨ 5

                        Students with Disabilities ¨ 5

                        Other Teacher Candidates ¨ 5

Retention and Advising ¨ 5

Repeating of Professional Education Courses ¨ 6

Grade Point Average Computation ¨ 6

CLEP Credit ¨ 6

Correspondence Credit for Methods Courses ¨ 6

Transfer Credit for Courses in Professional Education ¨ 6

Admission to Internship ¨ 7

                        Requirements for Admission to Internship ¨ 7

                        Admission of Individuals Holding a Baccalaureate Degree ¨7

Internship Placement ¨ 7

Site Selection Policy ¨ 8

Late Registration for Internship ¨ 8

Internship Attendance Requirements ¨ 8

Appeals Policy ¨ 9

Applying for Licensure ¨ 9

The Criminal Background Check (Act 1310 of 1995) ¨ 10

Graduate Policies and Procedures¨ 10

Admission Policy ¨ 10

Degree Admission ¨ 10

                        Unconditional Admission ¨10

                        Conditional Admission ¨ 10

Academic Advisor ¨ 10

            Admission to Candidacy ¨ 11

            Degree Requirements¨ 11

                        Special Conditions of Graduate Credit ¨ 12

                                    Graduate Credit Taken Prior to Admission to Arkansas Tech University ¨ 12

                                    Graduate Credit Taken After Admission to Arkansas Tech University ¨ 12

School of Education Arkansas Tech University Academic Clemency Request ¨ 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VERIFICATION OF RECEIPT OF

ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL

 

 

 

This is to certify that I have received a copy of the Arkansas Tech University Curriculum and Instruction Policies and Procedures Manual as part of ECED 2002, MLED 2002 and SEED 2002 or as the result of advising and that I understand that the policies of the program are outlined in the Manual.  It is my responsibility to familiarize myself with the contents.

 

 

 

 

 

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(Signature- full name)

 

 

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(Please Print Name Here – full name)

 

 

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(Date)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL

 

The governing unit for teacher education programs on the Arkansas Tech University campus is the School of Education.  The responsibility and authority for teacher education programs reside with the Dean of Education.  The Teacher Education Council serves as a campus wide advisory body on matters of policy and curriculum for teacher education. 

 

Teacher Education Council

 

The Council consists of seventeen members, the Dean of Education who serves as the permanent non-voting chair and the Dean of Graduate Studies who serves in a non-voting, ex-officio capacity.  Other permanent members of the Council are the Director of Teacher Education Student Services, the Department Head of Curriculum & Instruction, and the president of the Student Arkansas Education Association.  The Vice President for Academic Affairs appoints all other members for a term of one calendar year in consultation with the Dean of Education. 

 

The Council is constituted as follows:

Chair - Dean of Education (non-voting)

Vice-Chair – Department Head, Curriculum & Instruction

Secretary - Director of Teacher Education Student Services

Representatives - School of Education  (3)

Representative - School of Systems Science (1)

Representative - School of Physical and Life Sciences (1)

Representative - School of Liberal and Fine Arts (1)

Representative - School of Business (1)

Representative - Public School Administrator (1)

Representative – Public School Teachers K-12 (3)

Representative - President of the Student Arkansas Education Association (1)

Graduate Student (1)

Dean of Graduate Studies (Ex-Officio, non-voting)

 

Function of the Council

 

Serve as an advisory body to the dean of education; review and recommend changes in the teacher education programs; approve course additions and deletions; study and recommend changes related to policies and admission standards; and coordinate the transmission of information from faculty and committees to the Council and other University committees.  The function of the council is enhanced and supported by working committees.

 

Committees of the Council

 

Membership on Council committees may be expanded to include faculty and/or student members involved in teacher education who are not members of the Teacher Education Council.  This arrangement broadens the base of teacher education in the University community.  All committees are chaired by Council members.  All non-designated members are appointed by the Chair of the Council.

 

 
 
Appeals Committee

 

Composed of four members: the Licensure Officer of the School of Education, two additional members from the School of Education and one from a school other than the School of Education.  The committee, chaired by the Licensure Officer, monitors admission & retention standards, receiving admission appeals and making recommendations to the Dean of Education.

 

 Undergraduate Policies and Procedures

 

Admission Policy

 

Admission to any phase of the Teacher Education Program at Arkansas Tech University will be granted to those students who meet the admission requirements as determined by the Director Teacher Education Student Services.  Admission requirements include the most current criteria for state approval of Teacher Education programs, and for licensure of beginning teachers in the state of Arkansas, and will supercede any requirements published in Arkansas Tech catalogs or this manual should changes occur following such publication.

 

Unconditional Admission

 

Students wishing to enter Stage II/Phase II must submit a Stage II/Phase II Application to their Education Advisor prior to preregistration.  Check your catalog and registration schedules for preregistration dates.

 

The requirements for unconditional admission to undergraduate teacher education programs, referred to as Phase II/Stage II, are:

 

1.         Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale

 

2.         Completion of the Praxis I (PPST/CPPST) “Pre-Professional Skills Test”: Academic Skills Assessment with a score on each sub-test equal to or exceeding the following: Reading, 172;

Mathematics, 171; and Writing, 173.  In completing the application for the Praxis I (PPST/

C PPST) students must designate on the form that scores be sent to the School of

Education, Arkansas Tech University and to the Office of Teacher Education and Licensure, Arkansas Department of Education.

 

3.         Submission of the application to the Director Teacher Education Student Services by October 1st if the request is for the spring semester of the same year, or March 1st if the request is for the summer or fall semester(s) of the succeeding academic year.  Applications are available from the Director Teacher Education Student Services, Crabaugh 109 or the Dean of Education, Crabaugh 204.

 

4.                  Completion of one of the following options (as applicable to the selected degree program) with a grade of “C” or better.

      a. ECED 2001, Introduction to Early Childhood Education and ECED 2002, Field-Based    Experience Seminar in Early Childhood

b.  MLED 2002, Introduction to Education

c.    SEED 2002, Introduction to Secondary Education

 

5.                  Submission of an autobiography completed in ECED 2002, MLED 2002 or SEED 2002.

 

6.                  Completion of all of the following with a grade of “C” or better:

a.  general courses in written communication (6 hrs) (English Composition (ENGL 1013, 1023)

            b.  oral communication (3 hrs) (SPCH 2003 Public Speaking or SPCH 3083 Communication and the Classroom Teacher)

            c.  mathematics  (3hrs)(Math 1113 College Algebra or Math 1103 Algebra for General Education

            (ECED and MLED majors require a “C” in all courses required for completion of the degree)

 

7.         Applicants for admission to Phase II/Stage II must meet all requirements that are in effect at the time of application. 

 

8.                  Interview and recommendation by an advisor in the field of specialization.

 

9.         Approval of the Dean of Students of Arkansas Tech University.

 

Conditional Admission Teacher Education Program

 

Students with disabilities.  In order for a teacher candidate to be eligible for special services due to a disability, the teacher candidate must be registered with the Coordinator for the Americans with Disabilities Act, Dean Hall 110.

 

All admission criteria are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  A qualified individual with a disability will not be excluded from nor denied the benefits of services, programs

or activities.  Teacher candidates who require special accommodations should contact Dr. Sid Womack, CRA 211, for assistance in completing an admission application.  The application process should be

completed at least two weeks prior to the semester in which admission is sought.

 

A teacher candidate with disabilities will be granted conditional admission status pending the determination that the teacher candidate is qualified to perform the essential functions of each clinical

assignment.  A detailed description of the essential functions of each clinical experience will be provided in the application process.  The teacher candidate is responsible for advising Dr. Womack of the type(s) of accommodation(s), which will be needed.  Dr. Womack will work with the Director Teacher Education Student Services and the Admission and Retention Committee of the Teacher Education Council to determine the final admission status of the teacher candidate.

 

Other teacher candidates.  Those teacher candidates who have successfully completed the basic skills testing requirement but, who do not meet all of the remaining requirements for admission, may submit a written petition to the Admission and Retention Committee for a special dispensation which would allow them to proceed in the teacher education program.  Approval to enter the program under these conditions would be subject to the approval of the Dean of Education upon recommendation by Admission and Retention Committee.  Admission to the Internship component will be contingent upon meeting all requirements for admission to the program.

 

Retention And Advising

 

Advising for secondary education teacher candidates is accomplished through dual advisors: one from the area of specialization and one from the secondary education area. The advisors work cooperatively to counsel and plan the program of study for the teacher candidate.  Advising for early childhood education and middle level is accomplished through a single advisor from the School of Education.

 

Teacher candidates admitted to the teacher education program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50.  Should the cumulative grade point average for any semester or summer term fall below that specified for admission to the program, the teacher candidate shall be sent a warning letter by the Director of Teacher Education Student Services stating that said teacher candidate’s status in the program is probationary.  Failure to raise the cumulative grade point average to the required level in the next semester of enrollment, excluding a single summer term, will result in the teacher candidate being dropped from the program.  Enrollment as a full-time student in two successive summer terms shall be considered the same as enrollment in a regular fall or spring term.  Internship cannot be accomplished during any semester in which the teacher candidate has a probationary status.

 

During the period of enrollment for each term, the faculty advisors review with the teacher candidate the progress made toward the completion of the program.  Pertinent information including, but not limited to, grade point average, identified strengths, essentials of professional competency, deficiencies and/or concerns is reviewed.  This information is used to plan the teacher candidate’s schedule for the subsequent semester. 

 

Repeating Of Professional Education Courses

 

Professional education courses that are more than eight years old may not be counted toward completion of the Teacher Education Program’s requirements.  In the case of work more than eight years old, the courses must be repeated regardless of grade.

 

Grade Point Average Computation

 

For the purpose of computing grade point average in the area of specialization and professional education for admission, the highest grade in a given course shall apply.  Adjustment in the number

of hours attempted and quality points earned the first time shall be made to reflect that the course was taken only one time for the highest grade.

 

The computation of grade point average shall include all work accepted by ATU in transfer. Transfer work is calculated in cumulative and major GPA.  No work less than “C” will be accepted in transfer.

 

CLEP Credit

 

CLEP credit will not be accepted as a substitute for any Phase II/Stage II course. 

 

Correspondence Credit For Methods Courses

 

Correspondence credit will not be accepted for any methods course offered by the School of Education.

 

Transfer Credit For Courses In Professional Education

 

Teacher candidates wishing to transfer credit for professional education (Phase II/Stage II) courses must provide evidence that they had been admitted to the teacher education program at the institution granting credit at the time the courses were taken.  The institution must be accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Admission To Internship

 

Students wishing to enter Internship in the Fall must submit an Internship Application to your education advisor by March 1st.  Students wishing to enter Internship in the Spring must submit an Internship Application to your education advisor by October 1st.

 

Requirements For Admission To Internship

 

1.                  Admission to Phase II/Stage II.

 

2.                  Completion of a minimum of ninety (90) semester hours with a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours in residence at ATU.

 

3.         Have in progress all professional education courses (Seed, MLED, ECED) and have no more than six (6) semester hours left in the area of specialization at the completion of the semester prior to Internship.

 

4.         A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 and a minimum grade point of 2.50 in the area of specialization.

 

5.                  SEED majors – No grade below a “C” in either field of specialization or professional education. ECED and MLED majors no grade below a “C” in any course.

 

6.         Submission of the application to the Director of Teacher Education Student Services by October 1st if the request is for the spring semester of the same year, or March 1st if the request is for the fall semester of the succeeding academic year.

 

7.         Satisfactory disciplinary record as well as behavior in classes and other University related events.

 

8.         Completion of the appropriate specialty area test of Praxis II: Subject Assessments Specialty Area Test, with a score equal to that established by the Arkansas Department of Education.  These scores can be found at www.ets.org.

 

(School districts require photo copies of your Praxis I and Praxis II scores for hiring purposes; therefore, file your Praxis I and Praxis II scores in a safe place for future reference. Most institutions do not keep copies of these scores for more than five years.)

 

Admission Of Individuals Holding A Baccalaureate Degree

 

Any teacher candidate entering the Teacher Education Program with a degree must meet all of the program requirements for the area of licensure sought as identified in the catalog. 

 

Internship Placement

 

Placement decisions provide for the teacher candidate a quality experience convenient to both the teacher candidate and the university.  Teacher candidates request their placement in application for internship through the Director Teacher Education Student Services not through the school of preference.  It is important that a prospective teacher have experiences in several schools.  Teacher candidates will be exposed to students in a variety of cultural and philosophical environments. Teacher Candidates are not to make their own placements.  Any extenuating circumstances concerning a placement should be addressed to the Director before placement activities begin.

 

Site Selection Policy

 

Experience in the field is designed to complement the theory presented in the various courses.  The selection of quality field sites is of primary concern.  The following guidelines will be used in the selection of sites.

 

1.         This guideline applies to individual school buildings since the State will accredit individual schools as well as districts.

 

2.         The district will have a written agreement with Arkansas Tech University outlining  the appropriate responsibilities of each party.

 

3.         The district will cooperate with the Director Teacher Education Student Services in the placement of Arkansas Tech University students.

 

1.                  Field sites must be geographically proximate to Arkansas Tech University to allow for adequate campus-based supervision.

 

2.                  In cases where teacher candidates are allowed to intern at a distance that will not allow Arkansas Tech University faculty to supervise, an NCATE accredited school must agree to provide supervision with the teacher candidate absorbing any additional expense of the placement.

 

3.                  Field sites may vary semester to semester and are evaluated each semester of placement.            

Late Registration For Internship

 

Teacher candidate registration cannot be accomplished after the first two days of class due to the short duration and intensity of these courses.

 

Internship Attendance Requirements

 

Promptness and dependability are professional characteristics.  Any employing school district has a right to expect that teachers of that district possess these characteristics.  Therefore, any school district accepting placement of a teacher candidate has a right to expect the same characteristics.

 

The Internship experience is a full day requirement for a minimum of 12 weeks for Secondary and semester long for ECED and MLED.  The full day is defined by the policy of the school as to what constitutes the school day.  For example, Russellville schools may define the school day as being from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Each intern is expected, then, to observe the school day. Any deviation from the school day requires the prior approval of the intern’s campus-based supervisor. 

 

Any absence requires that the appropriate education supervisor and the Director Teacher Education Student Services be notified as early as possible.  If the cause is not of an emergency nature, prior approval should be obtained.  If the cause is an emergency, the supervisor and Director Teacher

 

Education Student Services should be contacted as soon as possible

 

Guidelines for completion of your Exit Portfolio are found in your Internship Handbook and on the Internship Web Site.

 

Appeals Policy

 

(NOTE: An appeal should follow the denial of admission to Phase II/Stage II or Internship and be based upon exceptional or extenuating circumstances and/or other pertinent information not previously available or considered.)

 

1.                  Obtain an instruction sheet and appeals form from the Office of the Dean of Education (CRA 204) or Director Teacher Education Student Services  (CRA 109B). 

2.                  Complete the form, supplying pertinent additional information.

 

3.                  Deliver appeal to the Dean of Education who will forward the appeal to the Appeals Committee.

 

4.                  The Committee will consider the additional information submitted in appeal and make a recommendation to the Dean of Education who will notify the teacher candidate of the decision.

 

5.         If resolution is not achieved, a final appeal may be made to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.  The decision at this level completes the appeals procedure. Refer to the Student Handbook for the procedure for all other types of appeals.

                                                            

Applying For Licensure

 

ATU is required to submit the following for licensure:

 

1.                  Original designated score report of Praxis I (PPST) scores.  Code ATU (RA 6010) and the Arkansas State Department of Education (R 7031) when taking the test.

 

2.         Original designated score report of Praxis II (Subject Assessments Specialty Area and Principles of Learning and Teaching Test) scores.  Code ATU (RA 6010) and the Arkansas State Department of Education (R 7031) when taking the tests.

 

3.                  Both the FBI and Arkansas State Police Background Check have to be cleared and posted on the Arkansas State Department of Education Web Page.

 

4.                  A completed Application for Teaching Licensure.

 

8.                  Assessment of the teacher candidate’s essential professional competencies.

 

9.                  Although not required for Internship the teacher candidate should remember that a minimum score of 164 on the “Principles of Learning and Teaching” assessment of the Praxis II must be obtained for licensure.  * Effective September 1, 2002, the following majors do not require the Praxis II PLT: English, Life/Earth Science, Mathematics, Physical/Earth Science and Spanish.

 

 

 

 

The Criminal Background Check

 

Rules and Regulations Governing the Requirement of a Criminal Background check for all first-time and Renewal Educational Licenses, and the Procedure for Revocation of Licenses.  A copy of the Arkansas Department of Education Regulations governing the requirement of criminal background check for all first-time applicants, each applicant for his or her first license renewal and the revocation procedures for such licenses may be found at http://arkedu.state.ar.us/administrators/040.html

 

Forms for the completion of the required background check are available in Crabaugh 204.

 
Graduate Policies and Procedures

 

Admission Policy

 

Degree of Admission

 

Applicants for admission to the Master of Education or Master of Science in Education degree program must submit a completed application form and request each college which they have attended to send complete official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) directly to the Graduate Studies Office.

 
Unconditional Admission.
 
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of Graduates Studies.

 

Conditional Admission

 

Applicants who fail to meet the grade point criteria specified for unconditional admission may be admitted to earn a maximum of twelve semester hours.  To remove this condition, the student must earn a “B” average on the first twelve hours of graduate work attempted at Arkansas Tech University.  Applicants who have satisfactory academic records at unaccredited colleges are also eligible for admission under these conditions, although in some instances transcripts might be declared deficient.  In such cases the applicants would be assessed a maximum of thirty hours to be completed before being admitted to graduate study.

 

Academic Advisors

 

The academic advising process for degree students begins at the time that the student is admitted to graduate study.  The office of graduate study assigns an appropriate advisor and notifies the advisor of the admission.  The student’s department advisor (usually the department head), then, invites him/her to come for an advising and orientation session at the student’s earliest convenience. When the student meets with the department advisor, he/she is given an orientation, a master’s degree program check-off list that outlines all major steps in completing the degree, and a degree plan outline (list of courses to be completed).  This initial advising session ensures that the student is informed of all degree requirements, policies, and procedures, and is familiar with the department and the department advisor. Subsequently, the academic department advisor and the Office of Graduate Studies monitor the student’s progress as he/she progresses through the program.

 

 

 

The graduate academic advisor is responsible for:

 

1.               Helping the student plan a balanced program of graduate work adapted to the student’s particular interests, needs, and abilities;

2.               Advising and assisting the student during the completion of the requirements for the degree;

3.               Assisting the student in preparing a thesis or action research project; and

4.               Ensuring that the student is aware of assistance and services provided for graduate students by the various University Offices.

 
Admission to Candidacy

 

Students who have been granted conditional admission are eligible for admission to candidacy for the degree upon the completion of twelve hours with a 3.00 grade point average and completion of all deficiencies.  Students who have been granted unconditional admission are eligible for admission to candidacy upon completion of twelve hours with a 3.00 grade point average.  Students who do not submit an “Application for Admission to Candidacy” prior to the end of the semester in which the student becomes eligible will not be allowed to register for subsequent graduate classes.  

 

Requirements for the Master of Science in Education Degree and the Master Of Education Degrees

 

Arkansas Tech offers the Master of Science in Education in Gifted Education and Masters of Education in Secondary Education, English Education, Instructional Technology, Mathematics, Physical Education, Social Studies, School Counseling and Leadership, Educational Leadership, Instructional Improvement, and Teaching, Learning and Leadership.  The following requirements apply to all degrees. See the current graduate catalog for additional specific requirements in each degree.

 

1.                  A minimum of thirty-six semester hours must be completed, 18 of which must be at the 6000 level.

 

2.                  The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller’s Analogy Test (MAT) must be completed and official scores on file in the Office of Graduate Studies.

 

3.                  An approved thesis/ action research/portfolio capstone project must be successfully completed.

 

4.                  A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 must be achieved in all graduate work attempted at Arkansas Tech University, with a maximum of 6 hours of “C” grades.  A student receiving 6 hours of “C” grades or 3 hours of “F” grades is subject to dismissal from the graduate program.