Standards for Admission and Retention in the Undergraduate
Teacher Education Program at Marshall University

06.22.2001

Undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate students pursuing initial licensure in Elementary or Secondary Education must be admitted to teacher education before they can take professional education courses or student teach. The application packet will be given to students in EDF 218 or can be picked up in Jenkins Hall 232. All requirements listed below must be met before turning in the application, and the application should be turned in as soon as possible.

1. Declare major in education program.
   
   

2. Complete EDF 218/270.
   
   

3. Pass all parts of the Praxis I:  Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST)
   Passing scores are set by the state.  
   The tests should be taken at the first opportunity so there is time to review skills and retake any sections that have not been passed.
   
   

4. 2.7 GPA overall.
   
   

5. 2.7 GPA at Marshall University.
   
   

6. Completion of 24 hours (Transfer students: 12 hours of courses at Marshall University).
   
   

7. 21 ACT (see Alternative Admission Policy)
   
   
   
   

Monitoring Acceptance Status 

Once applications are processed and entered on the teacher education database, the student will receive a letter that indicates whether he/she has been accepted in teacher education or if any deficiencies exist. 

Appeals of Acceptance Status 

Students who have not been fully accepted in teacher education will be “blocked” from registering for professional education courses.  During registration and course adjustment periods, students will often want to be “unblocked.”  If a student has already applied to teacher education, there are only two avenues for appeal.

1. Appeal to the Director of Academic Services
   

2. If denied by the Director of Academic Services, student may appeal to Teacher Education Standards Committee (TESC)

The Teacher Education Standards Committee meets early during the first week of the semester.  Students make an appointment to see the Committee through the Director of Academic Services.

Maintaining Admission Status 

Students who have been admitted into teacher education programs must continue to meet all criteria that were required for admission throughout their course of study.  Failure to maintain those criteria could result in probationary status or dismissal from the program. 

It is also expected that students in professional education programs will exhibit professional behaviors and apply professional knowledge in their course work and clinical experiences. Students will be expected to:

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing

• Apply professional knowledge and skills (content and methodology) to meet their ethical and professional responsibilities in order to enhance student learning

• During course work and clinical experiences, demonstrate a respect for individual and family diversity

• Demonstrate the application of critical thinking skills

• Meet all standards of professional behavior established at each clinical site

Probationary Status or Unsatisfactory Performance 

Initiating the Process 

Any member of the professional education community who questions the competency of a candidate related to any of the criteria for admission or other relevant professional performance standard, as described above, should contact the program coordinator. The program coordinator will request that the Leadership Team for the School of Education review the candidate’s overall performance and make one of three decisions.

• Student’s performance is satisfactory
  
  

• Student’s performance is unsatisfactory; the student should be put on probation and counseled with an appropriate plan for action. The Teacher Education Standards Committee should be notified.
  
  

• Student Performance is extremely unsatisfactory; the student should be counseled regarding options for a major other than teacher education. If necessary, the case would be referred to the Teacher Education Standards Committee.
  
  

• The student should be informed of each performance review, have the opportunity to meet with the Leadership Team and the Teacher Education Standards Committee, and be informed of the decisions of the committees.

Determining Probation

To place a student on probation, the program coordinator should notify the Leadership Team that he/she is recommending probationary status for the student.

• If the Leadership Team agrees with this recommendation, it should oversee development of a plan of action that identifies the areas of concern, an intervention plan, expectations for satisfactory performance, a monitoring process and timeline including what impact the probationary status would have on student teaching, and specified consequences.  The student should receive a copy of the recommended plan.
  
  

• The Teacher Education Standards Committee will review the plan and endorse it or ask for more clarification first. The student may request to meet with TESC if he/she objects to any portion of the plan. TESC will then make the decision regarding the plan, and notify all parties. The student will receive a copy of the final plan and will meet with the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and the Program Coordinator (or representative) to review the plan.
  
  

• At the end of the time period specified in the action plan, the Leadership Team will either recommend removal or extension of the probationary status or dismissal from teacher education.

Determining Extremely Unsatisfactory Performance 

To recommend that a student not continue in teacher education, the program coordinator will submit a written recommendation from the Leadership Team with supporting documentation to the Teacher Education Standards Committee. The student will also receive the information.

• Within 21 days, the Teacher Education Standards Committee will meet to review the recommendation. At that time the Program Coordinator (or representative) and the student will be asked to meet with the committee.  Each will have the opportunity to present their case with supporting evidence.
  
  

• The Teacher Education Standards Committee will then meet in a closed session to make a decision either not to permit the student to continue in teacher education or to place him/her on a continuing probationary status.
  
  

• All parties involved will be advised of the results of the review.
  
  

• If a student is placed on continuing probation, a timeline for improvement will be developed. If the student does not improve, he/she will not be permitted to continue in teacher education.
  
  

• Students who are not successful on continuing probation in the teacher education program will be notified in writing by the chair of the Teacher Education Standards Committee. Reasons for non-continuation of the program will be explained as they relate to standards of professional behavior.

Procedures for Appeal

The decision of the Teacher Education Standards Committee may be appealed to the Executive Dean of the College of Education and Human Services on the grounds of due process. This is the final decision level. 



Related Documents

• Performance-based Assessment System for Teacher Education (PDF Format)
  (Adobe Acrobat Reader required) 

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