TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM INFORMATION

Admission to Teacher Education

UNK students who are pursuing a program/degree that leads to initial teacher certification will begin the application process for admission to the Teacher Education Program during the semester that they complete Teacher Education 100 (TE 100GS). Transfer students who have taken the equivalent of TE 100GS elsewhere will apply during their first semester at UNK. The Application for Admission Form is available in the Educator Certification Office located in the College of Education Building C-128 and the phone number is (308) 865-8264.

Students must:

  1. Complete all of the following courses with a grade of "C" (2.0 GPA) or better:
  2. Establish and maintain an overall UNK grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
  3. Successfully complete the basic skills test (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) required by the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE). Minimum scores mandated by NDE must be attained.
  4. Satisfactorily complete the Service Learning Project (verified by the Office for Service Learning).
  5. Obtain approval by the department(s) offering the proposed endorsement(s) a minimum of one field endorsement or one subject endorsement is required).
  6. Declare a teaching program(s) at the Academic and Career Services Office.
  7. Provide evidence of the absence of any criminal conviction (misdemeanor or felony) that would prevent a student from qualifying for a teaching certificate.
  8. Provide evidence of sufficient emotional and mental capacity.

Application Procedures

The student must apply for admission to the Teacher Education program while enrolled in TE 100GS. Transfer students who have taken the equivalent of TE 100GS must apply during their first term at UNK. Applications are available in the Educator Certification Office, C-128 College of Education, phone (308) 865-8264.

The student shall be responsible for securing the application form and initiating the procedure for processing this form.

The form shall be routed confidentially throughout the entire procedure and shall be returned for action to the Educator Certification Office Director, phone (308) 865-8264.

The Director of the Educator Certification Office will determine the procedure and action to be taken on each application and will either (1) approve the applicant for the Teacher Education Program; (2) disapprove the applicant. Decisions of the Director may be appealed to the Teacher Education Appeals Board.

Students will not be allowed to enroll in "blocked" 300-400 level education courses until they have been admitted to the Teacher Education program (enrollment in a limited number of "unblocked" 300-400 level courses will be permitted in the Early Childhood Unified, Elementary Education, Middle Level, Special Education Mild/Moderate K-6, and Special Education Mild/Moderate 7-12 programs).

Student Teaching

Plans have been developed with a number of schools in Nebraska and some outside Nebraska to permit UNK students who have met all requirements to participate in student teaching on the secondary or elementary level. Most pre-student teaching and student teaching field experiences take place in schools that are members of UNK Network of Partner Schools. UNK teaching candidates will complete a minimum of 16 weeks (12 credit hours) of all-day student teaching. Teaching candidates who pursue two field endorsements will be required to complete 20 weeks of student teaching (17 credit hours).

Teaching candidates planning to student teach in the fall semester should apply for student teaching by the first Tuesday in February. Teaching candidates planning to student teach in the spring semester should apply by the first Tuesday in September. The first step, participation in a Student Teaching Instructional Session, is mandatory. This session will outline the application and placement process. A number of these sessions will be scheduled throughout the fall and spring semesters. Students can contact the Educator Certification Office to request a schedule for the Instructional Sessions.

All UNK student teachers under this program are obligated and pledge themselves to observe local rules and regulations. Any student teacher may be removed at any time upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools or his designated representative.

All student teachers will be required to return to campus for one or more designated full day of training during their student teaching semester. Student teaching is graded credit/no credit. Students must follow the rules and regulations outlined in the College of Education's Student Teaching Handbook.

Teaching candidates must meet all of the following requirements for admission to student teaching:

  1. Admittance to teacher education.
  2. An overall UNK grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
  3. A grade of C (2.0 GPA) or higher in TE 204 and TE 206.
  4. Satisfactory performance on the Individual Lesson Plan Case Study Common Assessment and a C or better in the course delivering the Common Assessment. Students whose performance is unsatisfactory will receive an incomplete in the course that delivers the assessment. The course instructor will provide a remediation plan. Within each program, a specific teaching methods course or field experience will be assigned responsibility for this assessment.
  5. Satisfactory performance in all pre-student teaching field experiences. The Pre-student Teaching Field Experiences Assessment Rubric will document performance. The Rubric includes an assessment of teaching dispositions. All education majors will complete a minimum of two credit hours of pre-student teaching field experiences. Students who perform unsatisfactorily will receive an incomplete in the field experience. The supervisor for the field experience will provide a remediation plan. Within each program, a specific field experience(s) will be assigned responsibility for this assessment.

Application and Approval Procedures

Questions about any facet of student teaching should be directed to the Director for Field Experiences. The Director's office is located in the Educator Certification Office in the College of Education Building C-128 and the phone number is (308) 865-8937.

The Director for Field Experiences will determine whether a student is approved or denied admission to student teaching (TE 400).

Students denied admission to student teaching (TE 400) may appeal the decision to the Teacher Education Appeals Board.

Advising of Students in Teacher Education

UNK provides academic advising as an integral part of the educational process. Establishing a friendly and honest relationship with an advisor will be an advantage to the student both personally and educationally.

All students are assigned an advisor in their major.

The Educator Certification Office provides advisory services to students concerning the PRAXIS I examination, admission to Teacher Education, degree audit reviews, and admission to student teaching. Students are encouraged to stop in at any time.

Although faculty advisors are important for providing information regarding degree requirements, class selections, and career direction, it is necessary for students to realize that the ultimate responsibility is their own. The UNK catalog is the official source of information on these matters.

Endorsements

The following endorsement programs have been established at UNK:

Teaching and Administration Certificates

Applications for all teaching and administrative certificates are filed through the Educator Certification Office. The institutional recommendation for certification and/or endorsement is based on admission to and successful completion of the respective programs.

24 Oct 2014

ugradcatalog@unk.edu