Master of Arts in Teaching with Secondary Teacher Certification. Program Handbook. Fall

Transcription

1 Master of Arts in Teaching with Secondary Teacher Certification Program Handbook Fall

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 2 Congratulations Why This Handbook Professionalism Getting Ready to Begin THE COHORT WHAT IT MEANS 4 Planned Courses Keeping Up with the Cohort Rumor Control INTERACTING WITH STAFF AND FACULTY 5 Communication Meeting Deadlines Registration Oakland University Student Spirit Card Name and Address Changes Tuition Payment Financial Aid Dropping or Withdrawing from a Class Incomplete Grades and Disputing a Grade Retrieving Grades on the Web ADVISING 12 Program Plans Major and Minors Course Sequence FIELD AND INTERNSHIP (STUDENT TEACHING) PLACEMENTS 15 Assignment of Placements and Internship Internship Experience Rules about Internship Placements Internship Placement Procedure Other Internship Requirements Felony/Misdemeanor Disclosure Forms Safety Seminar Internship Seminars Problem Resolution during the Internship Professionalism during the Internship STEPS FOR OBTAINING YOUR TEACHING CERTIFICATE 21 Requirements for Certification Certification Procedures HOW TO CONTACT US 23

3 CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations on being accepted into the Master of Arts in Teaching with Secondary Certification Program. Admittance into the program is competitive; you and the other members of your cohort group have met high standards to be included. Although condensed into a shorter period of time, we believe that we have designed a rigorous teacher-certification program that will prepare you well as an educator. WHY THIS HANDBOOK We have put together this handbook so that you clearly understand the nature of a cohort, program requirements, services that are available to you and our expectations of your professional conduct. This guide is the result of considerable experience with teacher certification programs and the kinds of information and procedures participants need to know and the staff wants to communicate. Referring to the handbook will save all of us many s and telephone calls. PROFESSIONALISM Teaching is a PROFESSION, and teachers have a significant impact on young people s lives and their contribution to society as future citizens. How you conduct yourself as a teacher-in-training reflects on you as a role model for the children you will teach, as a future employee in the districts with which you will be involved, as a representative of the program that prepares you, and as a career-long learner. How you interact with Oakland University staff, faculty, administrators, advisers and field placement personnel is also a measure of the kind of professional you are and will become. Rev. 7/21/2008 2

4 GETTING READY TO BEGIN Oakland University is committed to assist you on the journey of becoming the best teacher you can be. To that end, the schedule and coursework are fairly demanding. It may have been some time since you have been a student. Based on our experience, here are some suggestions that can make things easier. Communicate with others who also may be affected by your new career direction. Talk to your significant others about your goal of becoming an educator. Explain that your life, schedule and activities will change (even if temporarily). Ask them to assist you in attaining your goal. Set aside time and a place to study, do projects and papers. Save vacation time, if necessary, to do field placements. Plan for your internship semester and internship seminars; your student teaching requires a minimum of 12 weeks full time in the schools during school hours. Seek assistance from faculty and staff. They are here to help you succeed. Rev. 7/21/2008 3

5 THE COHORT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MEMBER A cohort, according to the dictionary, is A group or band united in a struggle. As part of this cohort, you too, will become a member of a close-knit group of people united in attaining a common goal. Planned Courses Practically, being a cohort member means that you will be taking courses in a planned sequence as they are listed on page 11. Everyone in your cohort will take the same core program courses and will finish, barring any unforeseen circumstances, at the same time. Throughout this process, the cohort provides support and encouragement to its members. Keeping Up with Your Cohort To stay within the cohort Core courses must be taken in sequence as they are offered. Minimum Grade Point A minimum grade point of 3.0 must be maintained for each MAT professional course. A minimum grade of 3.0 must be maintained in each major/minor course after admittance to the MAT Secondary program. (Courses taken before fall of 2001 may be accepted with a 2.0 grade and will be indicated on your program plan. A grade of 3.0 or better is required for recent coursework) Attending Class It is expected that MAT students will attend all scheduled classes, as well as the orientations and seminars held in conjunction with the student teaching internship. Individual instructors may also set specific attendance requirements in conjunction with their courses. Please note: Some instructors may opt to have a final exam administered during the university's final exams week. Be sure to check with your instructor before making personal plans for that time period. Rumor Control Because of the closeness of its members, rumors tend to run rampant in a cohort. To minimize anxiety for your fellow classmates, before you pass on information make sure it is accurate. When you hear something that you think needs clarification, please talk to your program administrator. Rev. 7/21/2008 4

6 INTERACTING WITH STAFF AND FACULTY Communication Program coordinators, faculty, advisers and the field placement coordinator are here to help you with any difficulties you may have. It is important to keep in touch and communicate with them about potential problems with registration, courses, scheduling, major/minor work, field placements and internships.. Meeting Deadlines Paperwork is a part of life as a student and an educator. Some of the documents that are time sensitive include registration forms, field placement and internship reports and applications for certification. Submitting paper work on time will make your participation in the program much smoother and eliminate time-consuming s and phone calls. Registering for MAT Secondary Program Courses Registration for all core courses in the program will be done through the Professional Development Office. You will receive your registration form by or mail with a deadline indicating when it must be returned. Class lists are prepared in advance. If you do not register by the deadline, your name may not appear on the class roster and/or you may not have access to course content delivered on the Web. Any problems with registration, your name not appearing on class lists, class drops or withdrawals should be addressed to the Administrative Secretary in the Professional Development (P.D.) office immediately. Tuition Payment and Electronic Billing Electronic billing notifications are handled by Student Accounts. An e-bill notification will be sent to your OU address. Frequently asked questions about billing and payment information are online at nformation&site=6. (See page 8 on how to obtain an OU account.) Electronic billing details will be enclosed with your registration material. We are unable to register students who have a balance on their account from a previous semester. Questions about tuition and fee payment should be directed to Student Accounts at (248) Financial Aid Financial Aid information is online at Contact the department by ing finaid@oakland.edu or by calling (248) Applications are available to complete online at Rev. 7/21/2008 5

7 STEP 1: How to Obtain Your SAIL ID and PIN Number Once a new student is admitted and his/her paperwork is in Banner (OU s student information system), his/her record is sent to the directory service. An account is created, but the student will not know his/her address or their password. To find out the address and password, a new student must have a valid SAIL and PIN NUMBER. Step-by Step instructions for obtaining the one s SAIL ID are online at STEP 2: How to Obtain an OU Computer Account (OUCA) User ID and Password to Access Your OU Account Students can begin to use the account by obtaining their OU Computer Account (OUCA Profile) user ID and password. Open up a Web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape and go to the Web site 1. Click on the: Obtain your account or reset your password. link. See Figure 1. Figure 1: 2. In the Dialog box for Student/Employee ID type in your Social Security number or Employee ID number. 3. In the Dialog box for PIN Number type in your PIN number. 4. In the Dialog box for New Password type in a password that is 6 to 8 characters long. 5. In the Dialog box for Verify Password type the same password as in Step 4. The password will be changed within seconds for purposes. Rev. 7/21/2008 6

8 6. After inputting your new password, you will be taken to a new screen that displays your OUCA User ID and your Oakland address. (Figure 2) Figure 2: An OU Account is required. You will need an OU account to receive important communication from our office, electronic tuition bills, student news and Web access to Kresge Library. Additional Documentation on Obtaining an OU Account Please see the online documents, How Do I Get an Account? at How to Forward Your OU to a Personal or Work Account To eliminate having to check more than one account, you may automatically forward your OU to your existing home and/or work address. See How Do I Forward My OU ? at Checking Your OU You can use Webmail to check your OU . Log in at or have your OU forwarded to your home or work account. Directions to forward your OU are online at Rev. 7/21/2008 7

9 Contacting the Helpdesk You may contact the UTS Helpdesk by phone or , (248) 370-HELP (4357) or for further assistance. How to Obtain Your GRIZZLY ID (Student Number) Your Grizzly ID will be included in your graduate letter of admission Obtain your ID at Your Grizzly ID will be ed to your OU address Assistance is available by contacting OU s Helpdesk at (248) or ing, helpdesk@oakland.edu Oakland University Spirit Card (Student ID Card) You should obtain an Oakland University Spirit Card (Student I.D. Card). This will enable you to check out books from Kresge Library and books and other materials from the Education Resource Lab (ERL) on campus. Information is online at Address and Name Changes Students wishing to change their address may do so either by phone or in person at the Registration Office, 100 O'Dowd Hall, (248) A valid driver s license must be presented for in-person changes. Students wishing to change their name need to do so in person at the Registration Office, 100 O'Dowd Hall, with the following documentation: either marriage certificate or valid driver s license and social security card with name change. You must also inform your program coordinator in the Department of Professional Development by phone or of your address and/or name change. Delaying or Withdrawing from the Program If for reasons beyond your control you drop out of your cohort, you must notify your program coordinator in writing immediately. If it is your intention to rejoin the program with a future cohort, if a new one is started, you must note this in the letter as well. Because there are courses which must be taken in sequence, it is impossible to drop out one semester and re-enter the next. If approved to do so, you may join the next cohort, provided the program is available and there is space to enroll. It may begin six months to a year later. This program is not available during the day. Rev. 7/21/2008 8

10 Dropping or Withdrawing from a Course A list of critical dates to drop a class without penalty (refund of tuition) and to withdraw from a class will be sent or ed to you with your registration material each semester. Dates are included on the Registrar s Web site at The critical dates should be noted upon receipt of the registration material. You have six years within which to complete the MAT program. Please note: Students who have been admitted to MAT program, and who have completed coursework but subsequently have not enrolled for a period of two years, must reapply for readmission. (Your status remains active and will support registration until the two year mark, and then you become inactive and must reapply.) The subject area tests which are required to add endorsements to the teaching certificate have a shelf life of 5 years. If they expire before an individual is recommended for certification, the tests must be retaken in order to have the endorsements added to the certificate. Dropping a Class If you intend to drop a class within the specified time limit, you must notify your program coordinator in the Professional Development Office immediately by fax. Include your name, student Grizzly ID number and the class name and number you wish to drop. Your signature is required. Withdrawal from a Class After the drop period, should you wish to withdraw from a class, you may do so within the period allowed for withdrawal. See critical dates for the semester at Simply notifying the instructor and/or ceasing to attend class does not relieve you from the obligation of officially withdrawing. Students must officially withdraw from a course by sending a letter of intent by certified mail or FAX (248) to the Registrar, Oakland University, 101 O Dowd Hall, Rochester MI Your signature, student Grizzly ID number, course title and section number must be included on any notice of withdrawal. Failure to withdraw will result in a failing grade. You must also notify your program coordinator that you are withdrawing from a class. Incomplete Grades The I (Incomplete) Grade: The "I" grade is temporary and may be given only after the cut-off date for use of the W (withdrawal) grade. It is used in the case of severe hardship beyond the control of a student that prevents him or her from completing course requirements. Course work to remove an I grade must be completed during the first eight weeks of the next semester (fall or winter) for which the student registers unless a student-initiated extension is approved by the instructor and the Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning. If course Rev. 7/21/2008 9

11 requirements are not completed within one year and no semester has been registered for, the I grade shall become permanent. A student who wishes to receive an Incomplete grade in a course must submit to the instructor by the day of the scheduled final examination and send a letter by certified mail or fax to (248) to the Professional Development Office, Oakland University, 373 Pawley Hall, Rochester, MI The letter must state the reason you are unable to complete course. Accompanying the letter must be a statement written and signed by the instructor that indicates his or her willingness to grant the "I" grade, as well as the schedule he or she has established for the completion of the term's work. Disputing a Grade Occasionally students receive a grade that is different from what they have expected. To resolve a dispute about a grade, you follow the procedure below. Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Contact the instructor and present the request for a grade change with your justification in writing to the instructor who issued the grade no later than thirty (30) calendar days following the official posting of grades. For monitoring purposes, please file a copy of the request for a grade change with your Program Director in the Office of Professional Development and Education Outreach (PD Office) and keep the P.D. Office notified of all steps you are taking. If the dispute is not resolved satisfactorily between you and the instructor, you may appeal further by notifying the appropriate academic department chair. Your program director in the P.D. Office will assist you in contacting that chairperson. The appeal must be given to the chair of the academic department in writing within fifteen (15) Oakland University business days of the time of the filing of the appeal at step one. This means that you and the instructor have 15 business days to resolve the dispute. The chair will review the appeal, and take appropriate steps in an effort to resolve the dispute. If the appeal is not resolved at step two, and you wish to appeal further, submit a written request within thirty (30) Oakland University business days of the initial submission of the appeal. This request will ask that the academic department chair have the appeal reviewed by an internal departmental faculty committee. The decision of the faculty committee shall be final. The committee, which will be appointed by the department chair to hear a grade appeal, will not include the faculty member who taught the course and/or issued the disputed grade. The committee will gather evidence from both you and the instructor, hear all that it considers relevant, and render its decision based on a vote of its members within thirty (30) Oakland University business days of the time the appeal is submitted to the chair for faculty committee review. Step 4 You may appeal the decision of the faculty committee to the Dean of the School of Education and Human Services concerning only procedural complaints (that is if the preceding steps have not been properly completed). File a written request for review to the dean within ten (10) Oakland University business days after receiving the decision at step three. The subject matter of an appeal to the Dean shall only focus on whether there are procedural errors that denied you appropriate and effective use of this appeal process. Rev. 7/21/

12 Time is of the essence regarding the processing of any appeal since memories fade, materials are misplaced and transcripts are written. If you do not meet the time limits, your right of appeal will end. If at any time, the instructor, chair or faculty committee does not meet the time limits, please contact your Program Director in the Office of Professional Development and Education Outreach. Please note: You must follow the steps in sequence. There is a protocol for a grade change or grade appeal and no steps can be skipped. How to Obtain Student Grades Available on the Web Grades are not mailed, but can be accessed on the Web with Internet access: Go to the Oakland University home page at Click on the SAIL (Student and Administrative Information Link) in the lower right corner of OU s home page Click on Login to Secure Area Enter your Grizzly ID number as the User ID and six-digit personal identification number as the PIN (your 6-digit birthdate, example (010573); or the last 6 digits of your Grizzly ID Click on Login Click on Student Services & Financial Aid Click on Student Records Click on Final Grades and then Select a Term Grades then can be printed from the Web. How to Obtain a Paper Copy of Grades for Employee Tuition Reimbursement In the event that a paper copy of grades is needed for employee tuition reimbursement, forward a request to registra@oakland.edu with your name, Grizzly ID and address. Rev. 7/21/

13 ADVISING The services of the Advising Staff of the School of Education and Human Services are available to you. Program Plans: You were provided with a program profile prior to beginning the Master of Arts in Teaching with Secondary Certification program. Advisers have reviewed your transcripts and identified those courses you have already taken that will count toward a major and a minor subject area. The plan will also identify courses that can or must be taken to fulfill the number of credit hours needed for you to complete your requirements for certification. See the table below for approved majors and minors and the number of credits required. You may also make an appointment with an adviser to have questions answered or to discuss any change in your plan. A second advising appointment is required before you begin the second half of the program so as to update your file and make sure you are on track with your program plan. Of course, if you have questions at any time, you may call an advisor at (248) (for OU on campus advisors) or (for the Macomb advisor) to schedule an appointment. You should also fell free to send an to the advising staff. Major and/or Minor and Professional Course Grade Requirements Prior to acceptance into the Master of Arts in Teaching and Secondary Certification program, courses with a grade of 2.50 or better may be counted toward major or minor requirements. After admission into the Master of Arts in Teaching and Secondary Certification Program, all courses require a grade of 3.0 or better. OU Majors and Minors: Major or Minor Major Credits Minor Credits English minimum of 30 minimum of 20 Biology minimum of 30 minimum of 20 Chemistry minimum of 30 minimum of 20 Social Studies minimum of 36* History minimum of 30 minimum of 20 Political Science minimum of 20 Mathematics minimum of 30 minimum of 20 Modern Language** 1,2 minimum of 32 minimum of 20 Sociology minimum of 20 Dance minimum of 29 Rev. 7/21/

14 * A social studies major is based upon a required history major. ** Foreign Languages include Spanish, German and French 1 Major is K-12 only. Persons seeking this endorsement must also take EED Minor is 6-12 only. Persons seeking this endorsement must also take SED 428 Taking Major/Minor Courses at Other Institutions: Please see OU s transfer equivalency guides at to determine if a course may transfer and be applied toward your major or minor. Contact an adviser for online major/minor course suggestions. Petitions of Exception: If you have taken graduate level education courses, and they are not older than six (6) years, they may be allowed to replace one or more of the core courses. You may not petition courses which have already been counted toward another master s degree. To petition to have a course waived, follow this procedure 1. Fill out a Petition of Exception Form (available from the Office of Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning: 2. Include a syllabus from the course (usually available on-line or by contacting the department at the college or university where you took the course). 3. Write a strong rationale as to why this course should be waived. 4. Include the course description 5. Submit the petition and all required supporting documentation to the Professional Development Office. A copy of your petition will be returned to you either approved or denied. File Audits: Education Advising will periodically audit your file and update your program plan. It is important that you have official transcripts sent to your program coordinator as you complete major and minor coursework. Contact names and addresses are on page 25. If you have taken courses at Oakland University, your transcript will be in OU s student management system, Banner. It is not necessary to provide an official transcript for OU courses. Rev. 7/21/

15 COURSE SEQUENCE MASTER S OF ARTS IN TEACHING COURSES Courses Credits Fall TD Introduction to the School & Society 2 TD Learning Theory 3 Winter TD Instructional Interaction and Classroom Management 3 RDG Guided Reading-Learning in the Content Area 4 Spring TD Issues of Equity in the Schools 3 Summer IST Intro to Technology Applications in the Classroom 2 Fall TD Instructional Design and Assessment 3 TD Secondary Teaching Methods 3 Winter SE Serving Students with Special Needs in General Education 3 TD Internship: Secondary Education 10 TD Internship Seminar 2 SECONDARY CERTIFICATION COURSEWORK COMPLETED CERTIFIED HERE Master s Degree Completion 8 Additional Credits EST Introduction to Educational Studies 3 EST Collaborative Action Research 5 *Sequencing of courses is subject to minor changes depending on instructor availability. Rev. 7/21/

16 FIELD PLACEMENTS AND STUDENT TEACHING PLACEMENT Applied Learning All of Oakland University s teacher preparation programs involve applied learning. It is important that you have an opportunity to be in a school setting to observe, participate and apply the concepts and skills you are learning in your classes. Thus, three field placements and one semester of student teaching are required of participants in the MAT Program. Assignment of Placements and Internship All MAT students are required to complete no less than 100 field experience hours prior to the start of the student teaching internship. The Coordinator of School and Field Services arranges field placements with a cooperating teacher (or teachers) in high schools and middle schools so as to ensure a variety of experiences and settings. All MAT students are required to complete three field experiences of hours and each is to be completed over a period of about 10 weeks. (No field experience is to be completed in less than 6 weeks.) The schedule of classroom visits during each field experience is planned with the classroom teacher and must meet university requirements. There are specific assignments to be completed in conjunction with each field experience. These include, but are not limited to, observations and teaching lessons. While completing a field placement, a student may also have one or more Rev. 7/21/

17 assignments to complete in conjunction with his or her professional courses. For all field placements, it is intended that students have a full range of activities so that they might see and experience theory put into practice. Thus MAT students may be involved in a variety of instructional activities under the direction of the cooperating teacher. When possible, the final field experience is with a teacher who also is the potential cooperating teacher for the student teaching internship. Keys for Success in Field Placements How you handle yourself during your field placements reflects upon you as a potential employee. The manner in which you conduct yourself also impacts on the positive relationship Oakland University has established with the districts, as well as on the placements that will be sought for future cohort members. Thus, we require that you: Contact the teacher involved in your field placement as soon as you are assigned. Be proactive; let the teacher know when you will be arriving at the school, and follow through on your plan unless the teacher indicates otherwise. Arrive on time and check in at the school office. Plan your work schedule for some flexibility for your placement. Be prepared to involve yourself fully in the experience. Internship (Student Teaching) Experience The culminating course for the MAT student is TD 559, Student Teaching (10 credits). The internship is for a minimum of 12 weeks with a cooperating teacher. (Fifteen weeks are recommended.) The assignment is for full days, everyday. During the internship, your schedule is determined by the calendar of the district to which you have been assigned. You are expected to participate fully in your internship assignment. Thus, if you have a daytime job, please plan for how you will handle your absence from work during the last semester of your program. Please note: The 12 weeks of the internship do not include scheduled school closures for holiday or mid-winter breaks. All placements for TD 559 must be arranged through the Coordinator for School and Field Services. The third field placement, which is the final field assignment before the student teaching internship, will be arranged with the potential cooperating teacher for your student teaching internship. This will require that you interview with your potential cooperating teacher for your third/final field placement and potential student teaching placement. The interview will be arranged for you during the semester prior to your last field placement. For obvious reasons, a participant may not do an internship In a school where he or she has done recent long-term substitute teaching; In a school his or her children attend; In a school that employs a relative of the participant; and/or In a school he or she attended as a student Internship Placement Procedure Seeking an internship placement encompasses the following steps: 1. Complete your student teaching application and submit as scheduled. Rev. 7/21/

18 You must submit a signed Felony/Misdemeanor Form and a FERPA release as part of the application. (You will be asked to sign another Felony/Misdemeanor form prior to the internship, as well as at the completion of the internship.) 2. Update your resume and submit an electronic copy at the same time that the internship application is turned in. 3. Get a TB test and provide documentation to the Field Placement Coordinator. (The TB test must be taken within one year of the start of the student teaching internship) 4. The Field Placement Coordinator sends your resume to the school district. Please note: In instances where an intern has a misdemeanor or felony conviction, that information is provided to school districts which have been asked to place that intern for a final (third) field placement and potential student teaching internship. 5. A teacher who has indicated an interest in having a student teacher (and the principal) will review your resume and decide whether to interview you for a placement. 6. You interview with the cooperating teacher (and occasionally the building principal). 7. You are accepted or not accepted* *Cooperating teachers look for specific backgrounds, types of experiences, teaching majors, and fit with the school environment. They also try to assess the potential for developing a positive working relationship. Like any employment process, a person may fit one job but not another. If you are not accepted in a particular school, the Field Placement Coordinator will send your resume to another district. Internship Interview To improve your chances of making a positive impression before and during the interview, you can do the following: Update your résumé (look at it from an employer s point of view). Bring your portfolio-in-progress to the interview. Be prepared to talk about your abilities in your major/minor teaching areas. Be prepared to discuss your understanding of teaching methods, theories, and strategies. Listen to the expectations and needs of the cooperating teacher. Assess your ability to work effectively with the cooperating teacher. Interns are assigned an Oakland University supervisor who serves as the liaison between Oakland University and the public school personnel. The university supervisor visits the classroom to observe the intern and his or her teaching techniques. Mid-term assessments are completed for the intern with input from the cooperating teacher and the university supervisor. A final evaluation is completed at the end of the internship. Prior to the internship, students are required to participate in an OSHA Regulation and Bloodborne Pathogen training, and to provide proof of a negative TB test and of liability insurance. Proof of CPR (adult and child) and first aid training are required in order to be recommended for provisional certification. TD 559 must be taken in the final semester of the certification component of the Master of Arts in Teaching and Secondary Certification Program. Rev. 7/21/

19 Criteria for the Student Teaching Internship are: 1. Satisfactory grade point average and minimum required grades (3.0 or better). 2. Completion of the scheduled professional education course work with a minimum 3.0 GPA Please note: No single education course grade may be below 3.0.The program status of a student whose grades or GPA fall below these levels will be placed on hold until deficiencies are remedied 3. Completion of a minimum of 100 field hours with required documentation. Internship Seminars Internship seminars (TD 556) are scheduled for your student teaching semester. Topics present and/or discussed will help you with your student teaching and your ultimate employment. Seminar topics include but are not limited to Equity Issues, Classroom Management, Lesson and Unit Planning, The Job Hunt and The Interview Process, and Professional Organizations. A meeting with your university internship supervisor is a component of selected seminars. Felony/Misdemeanor Policy Candidates majoring in elementary education, candidates in the Secondary Teacher Education Program, and/or candidates in the Master of Arts in Teaching and Elementary or Secondary Certification Program who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor are required to meet with a committee composed of the Coordinator of School and Field Services/ProDev, members of the Professional Development Office, and/or a representative of Academic Advising. At this meeting the following will be discussed: Potential difficulties in arranging field placements and student teaching placements, as well as potential difficulties for future employment when recent and/or serious felonies and/or misdemeanors have occurred. Oakland University will make three (3) attempts to place students in schools for their required fields associated with their coursework. If a placement cannot be arranged, the student is administratively dismissed from his or her current program of study or, if applicable, may petition to graduate with a degree without completing student teaching and without achieving certification recommendation. Career counseling and an appointment with the SEHS Academic Advising Office will be highly recommended. Please note: Oakland University, local schools or school districts may require you to sign a statement identifying all crimes for which you have been convicted, obtain or consent to state and federal criminal history record checks and/or submit your fingerprints to the Michigan State Police, all at your own expense, before you may participate in student teaching or field placements. Problem Resolution during the Internship Occasionally problems arise during the internship. If you are having difficulty during your internship, the problem resolution sequence is as follows: 1. Discuss the problem with your university supervisor. The supervisor will work with you and your cooperating teacher to resolve the problem. 2. Contact the university Field Placement Coordinator for assistance. Rev. 7/21/

20 Internship Termination Policy Any of the following conditions will be cause for termination of a student's placement in a directed teaching contact: 1. The students' learning is significantly impeded due to inadequate planning. 2. The students' learning is significantly impeded due to inadequate classroom management and/or discipline. 3. The students' learning is significantly impeded due to lack of content knowledge. 4. The students' learning is significantly impeded due to deficiency in oral and written communication skills. 5. There is documented evidence of inappropriate personal or professional behaviors that impede a successful experience. 6. There is documented evidence of ethical impropriety, violation(s) of community standards or policies, or improper professional judgments that impede a successful experience. Procedure for Termination of Student Internship 1. University supervisors may document the deficits with written observations, logs, notes, videotapes or formal evaluations of performance. 2. Once a cooperating teacher or University supervisor judges that there is cause to terminate you, the University Supervisor presents documentation to the Coordinator of School and Field Services. The Coordinator of School and Field Services, under the advisement the Executive Director of Professional Development, will then decide if your case warrants possible termination. 3. It is recommended by the School Services Office that the school administrator work through the University Supervisor and the Coordinator of School and Field Services before making a decision to terminate you. However, as guests in the school, we must accede to the building administrator* for requests of removal. (In cases where other school personnel make the recommendation for your termination, it is still the building administrator s responsibility to give final approval for your removal.) 4. Following the termination you are required to have a conference with the Coordinator of School & Field Services. 5. In certain cases, you will be given another opportunity for an internship experience. You will first need to file a petition of exception, stating the rationale to be considered in making this determination. If approved, a remediation plan will be devised to attempt to ensure you have a successful contact. Your individualized plan may include but is not limited to: a) Additional course work, b) Additional training in the deficit area(s), c) Support service offered by the University, and/or d) Extended internship experience. Rev. 7/21/

21 If a remediation plan is not possible, or if requirements of the plan are not satisfactorily completed by you, termination from the program will be final. 6. If problems continue after your second assignment, you will be terminated from the certification program. Termination procedures are meant to be humane; however, they also are firm. Professionalism during the Internship Your internship (student teaching) placement is an opportunity to show school personnel what kind of employee you might be. You will also be rated by your cooperating teacher and graded by your university supervisor. A few ideas about how to demonstrate your professionalism are listed below: Remember you are a guest in the building. Dress professionally. (Business casual is professional. No jeans, sneakers, sweatshirts or t-shirts.) Remember you are a novice teacher. Negative comments and criticism of the school, your cooperating teacher s methods, or your students are not appropriate. Address students by name. Be positive and open to learning during the experience. Use the university supervisor as an ally and a coach. A Final Word about Student Teaching Student teaching is an exciting time, it is a very intense time and it is a very rewarding time. The path to a successful internship begins with the first field experience and the intern s commitment to learning, to growing professionally, and to helping students learn. Striving for Excellence! Student teaching requires a commitment of much time and energy particularly during the internship -- and a striving for excellence in every opportunity you are afforded to work with students. Your cooperating teacher, your university supervisor, and the administrators and other teachers in the school to which you are assigned will certainly be assessing your knowledge and skills as they pertain to instruction and classroom management. However, as one district administrator remarked, they will also be looking for. Enthusiasm: Are you excited about teaching, learning, and working with students? Energy: Does your enthusiasm translate into action? Empathy: Do you care about students? Are the needs and interests of the students foremost? Building Your Professional Reputation Please keep in mind that from your first day in the schools as a MAT field experience student until your last day as a student teaching intern, you will be building your professional reputation. Rev. 7/21/

22 STEPS FOR OBTAINING YOUR TEACHING CERTIFICATE As you complete your internship you will be planning to complete the steps for obtaining your teaching certificate. Requirements for Certification In order to be recommended for a teaching certificate you must have satisfactorily completed the following: All of core program and major/minor courses. Please note: As with all MAT coursework, a grade of 3.0 or above is required for the student teaching internship. Students who do not earn a 3.0 or above will not be recommended for certification. Also not that the internship, TD 559, may not be repeated. Teaching major/minor coursework will have been completed prior to admission to the MAT program. All field placements and the student teaching internship; All of the required MTTC tests completed before admission to the MAT program. Completed the training and earned certification in First Aid and CPR (adult and child.) These certificates must be in effect at the time you are recommended for Provisional certification, and must have been issued through organizations or agencies approved by the Michigan Department of Education. NOTE: It is important that you submit to the Professional Development Office or the Education Advising Office official transcripts for all courses taken to fulfill your major/minor requirements. Certification Procedure The Professional Development Field Placement Coordinator and School of Education Advisers will audit your files to determine that you have fulfilled all the requirements listed above. After your file has been audited and you are ready to be recommended for certification, the following procedures will take place: You will fill out an application for certification. See Internship Handbook online for details. Rev. 7/21/

23 You will receive a 90-day letter from the Certification Officer indicating you have successfully completed your requirements and have been recommended for Provisional Certification. (While you job-hunt, the 90-day letter can be used as proof that you have been recommended for teacher certification to the Michigan Department of Education. School districts recognize the letter as adequate proof of impending certification for new teachers.) The recommendation for certification will be forwarded to the Michigan Department of Education; The Michigan Department of Education will bill you for your Provisional certificate. This process could take up to three months depending on the volume of recommendations it receives. Do not contact the Michigan Department of Education about the status of your application. You may check the status of your certification online at Recommendations for certification candidates who have felony or misdemeanor convictions must, in certain instances, be forwarded directly to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). Candidates for certification who have criminal convictions will not be issued a 90-day letter. The Michigan Department of Education will notify those individuals once their reviews have been completed. Felony/Misdemeanor Disclosure Form If you have answered yes to any of the statements included on the Felony/Misdemeanor Disclosure Form, you need to know that passing our program, student teaching, and state certification tests does not guarantee certification or employment. Convictions are assessed and evaluated at the state level, including a review of the court documents. You will not be issued a 90-day letter by Oakland University and will need to wait for the state review and decision regarding certification. Rev. 7/21/

24 HOW TO CONTACT US Oakland University at the Macomb Intermediate School District Site Garfield Road (just south of Hall Road) Clinton Township, MI Phone: FAX: Julie Ditchel, Director Ginny Ellis, Administrative Assistant Julianne Leigh, Macomb ISD Coordinator (MAT Program Administrator - Macomb County) leigh@oakland.edu Andreea Bordeianu, Education Advisor bordeian@oakland.edu Professional Development at Oakland University s Main Campus School of Education and Human Services 373 Pawley Hall Rochester, MI Education Advising 363 Pawley Hall Main Number: Fax Number: Sandra Deng, Director of Teacher Education Advising Services skdeng@oakland.edu Field Placement and Student Teaching Coordinator Helen Gauntt, PhD Phone: FAX: gauntt@oakland.edu Professional Development and Education Outreach Main Number: FAX Number: Lisa Reeves, Executive Director reeves2@oakland.edu Christine Abbott, Special Lecturer cabbott@oakland.edu Monique Smith, Administrative Secretary smith210@oakland.edu Rev. 7/21/

25 Holly Reed, Project Manager or phone (248) Kaarin Averill, MAT Coordinator e-learning and Instructional Support for OU Online Courses Oakland University 207 Varner Hall Rochester, MI (248) Financial Aid Office Oakland University 120 North Foundation Hall Rochester, MI Phone: Student Business Services and Accounts Oakland University 120 North Foundation Hall Rochester, MI Phone: (248) Student Technology Training Center (Not the Helpdesk) (Computer lab, walk-in software training and scheduled workshops, digital video and digital camera loans for students) Oakland University 44 Oakland Center Rochester, MI Phone: TEC (4832) University Technology Services (UTS Helpdesk for questions about OU ) Dodge Hall of Engineering, 2nd floor Rochester, MI Phone (248) 370-HELP (4357) Rev. 7/21/