Polices and Procedures Manual

OSFE Policies and Procedures

Office of Student Field Experiences

University of Northern Iowa

Table of Contents

CODE: 600.00Selection of School Site for Student Teaching

CODE: 601.00Orientation to the Center

CODE: 602.00Priority for Student Teaching Assignment

CODE: 603.00Cooperative Agreement (Contract)

CODE: 700.00Professor/Coordinator Position Description

CODE: 700.10Professor/Coordinator Selection Procedures

CODE: 700.20Professor/Coordinator Evaluation Procedures

CODE: 701.00Clinical Supervisor, Position Description

CODE: 701.10Clinical Supervisor, Selection Procedures

CODE: 701.20Clinical Supervisor, Evaluation Procedures

CODE: 702:00Cadre, Position Description

CODE: 702.10Cadre, Selection Procedures

CODE: 801.00Coordinator Absence Request

CODE: 802.00Claim for Expenses and Reimbursement

CODE: 803.00Curriculum Change

CODE: 804.00OSFE/Coordinator Calendar

CODE: 805.00OSFE Involvement in Inter-Departmental Projects

CODE: 806Procedure for Intention to Write a Proposal for External Funding

CODE: 900Due Process

CODE: 900.01Grievance of a Coordinator’s Decision

CODE: 900.02Grievance of Rights

CODE 901.00 Role of Student Teacher

CODE: 902.00Absence Policy Statement

CODE: 902.01Absences

CODE: 903.00Requirements for Admission to Teacher Education

CODE: 903.01Program Requirements for Teacher Education

CODE: 903.03Application for Student Teaching

CODE: 903.03RApproval for Student Teaching

CODE: 903.04Personal and Professional Data

CODE: 903.05Interviews

CODE: 903.06Approval for Student Teaching

CODE: 903.08Certification Application

CODE: 903.09Postponement or Cancellation of Application

CODE: 903.10Name and Address Changes

CODE: 903.11Personal Conduct

CODE: 903.12Membership in Professional Organizations

CODE: 904.00Campus Orientation Meetings

CODE: 904.01Center Orientation

CODE: 905.00Student Teaching Periods, Holidays and Spring Break

CODE: 906.00Student Teaching Assignments

CODE: 907.00Cooperating Teacher

CODE: 908.00Credit Hours

CODE: 909.00Special Area Majors

CODE: 910.00Multiple Endorsements or Approvals

CODE: 911.00Student Teacher Evaluation

CODE: 912.00Housing for Student Teachers

CODE: 913.00Moving and Transportation

CODE: 914.00Priority for Student Teaching Assignment

CODE: 915.00Policy Statement

CODE: 915.00ROut-of-State Student Teaching Agreement

CODE: 916.00Withdrawal

CODE: 916.00RWithdrawal

CODE: 918.00Incomplete Grade

CODE: 919.00Assignment Change

CODE: 920.00Course Work and Student Teaching

CODE: 921.00Employment and Student Teaching

OSFE Policies and Procedures

CODE:600.00Selection of School Site for Student Teaching

Selection of schools shall be based on the commitment of the administration and instructional faculty to participate in the preparation of teachers, their qualification to supervise student teachers and the appropriateness of the qualification to supervise student teachers and the appropriateness of the resources of the educational agency as a laboratory site for student teaching.

The educational program of the school system chosen must meet a sufficient number of hours per day and satisfy the days/weeks required of schools to be in session to meet the requirement as a site for student teaching.

School systems must provide liability insurance for student teachers during the period that they are engaged in the process of fulfilling the student teaching requirement according to state code.

Since the UNI student teaching program involves a network of student teaching centers with clusters of schools, educational agencies considered as sites for student teaching should be within a reasonable distance from the school system in which the resident coordinator resides.

CODE: 601.00Orientation to the Center

Orientation to the student teaching center is held prior to the beginning of the student teaching semester. The center orientation has several purposes: to provide each student teacher with an opportunity to become acquainted with his/her cooperating teacher(s) and school building personnel, meet pupils, become familiar with instructional materials and classroom setting, and explore opportunities for housing. Dates for center orientation will be announced at the on-campus orientation the semester prior to student teaching.

CODE: 602.00Priority for Student Teaching Assignment

All applicants for a student teaching assignment are given a choice of three cooperating centers listing in order of preference with #1, 2, or 3. The student should not interpret these preferences of center choices as a guarantee that a request will be fulfilled.

Considerations shall be given to center choice and period of student teaching requested.

When feasible, consideration will be given to those applicants who have obligations of a critical nature to support a need for their first choice center. Provided justification merits for each requested center will receive consideration.

Late requests will be assigned according to availability of openings.

CODE: 603.00Cooperative Agreement (Contract)

A cooperative agreement contract shall be provided to school systems which have been chosen to host University of NorthernIowa students. This agreement shall be based on CODE OF IOWA Section 262.30.

CODE: 700.00Professor/Coordinator Position Description

Policy Statement on the Role of the Professor/Coordinator

The primary functions of the Professor/Coordinator include: managing a regional student teaching center; placing and supervising pre-service teacher education students in a student teaching experience; conducting regularly scheduled observations; completing evaluations of student teachers; serving as faculty by focusing on teaching, research, and service; and facilitating the center cadre as appropriate.

The role of the Professor/Coordinator plays out in varying ways which result in site-specific programming predicted upon the diverse structures, resources and circumstances of each regional student teaching center.

Supervision/Teaching Responsibilities

1.0 Coordinate the student teaching field experiences

1.1 Conduct interviews and make placements in center communities and schools and with specific cooperating teachers

1.2 Conduct student teacher orientation meetings on campus and in the regional center

1.3 Implement and provide ongoing assessment of the student teacher curriculum

1.31Visit/observe in student teacher classrooms at least every other week

1.32Conduct student teacher seminars

1.33Conduct conferences with student teachers/cooperating teachers concerning the student teachers’ professional/personal development

1.34Establish a process for journaling with student teachers throughout the experience

1.35Assist students with the Teacher Work Sample

1.4 Compile and collect the necessary data regarding each student teacher’s field experience and prepare a comprehensive report that evaluates the student teacher’s performance and enter the data into the MyUniverse system

2.0 Teach identified courses as appropriate

3.0 Work with center professionals to facilitate the student teaching field experience

3.1Provide center personnel with inservice as to the nature and purposes of the student teaching program and how it relates to teacher education

3.2Become acquainted with school programs and instructional administrative personnel

3.3Orient, train, and assist school personnel in supervisory practices and with major elements of the student teaching program

3.4Counsel with cooperating teachers concerning their individual classroom procedures, desirable student teacher experiences, the evaluation process, and expectations for all unexpected problems they may experience during the student teaching assignment

3.5Facilitate the solution to situations that affect the cooperating teacher and their relationship with the student teacher

3.6 Serve as a liaison between the University of Northern Iowa and regional center school districts

3.7Manage, promote, and help with the activities of the student teaching cadre; this includes organization, selection, participation in meetings and projects, the training of members, and all other related endeavors

3.8Be the administrator of clinical supervisors; when appropriate help select, provide in-service and training, serve as counsel and help to remedy all situations and

questions, and offer assistance as needed

4.0 Be the administrator for the regional center for UNI activities

4.1Promote UNI programs in the local area

4.2Assist prospective students, both undergraduates and graduates

4.3Assist area educators with possible extension services

4.4Keep appropriate UNI personnel aware of regional center involvements and needs

4.5Report feedback provided by center teachers/administrators with appropriate UNI faculty or department members

Research Responsibilities

1.0Perform all requirements of OSFE members, including attending and being prepared to participate in campus meetings

2.0Maintain personal scholarship by knowing current information on UNI teacher education practices by reading current literature and by investigating center developments that could affect the student teacher field experience

3.0Conduct ongoing educational research whenever possible

4.0Present educational research in manuscripts or at professional organizational conferences whenever possible

5.0Engage in curriculum development and all other activities that promote and enhance the OSFE division

Professional Responsibilities

1.0Participate in relevant professional organizations

2.0Serve on university, college, and departmental committees

3.0Engage in activities in local communities that will enhance and promote the general welfare of UNI

CODE: 700.10Professor/Coordinator Selection Procedures

The Office of Student Field Experiences/ University of NorthernIowa are an Equal Opportunity Employer and adheres to Affirmative Action policies. For “The Principles, Standards, and procedures for Faculty Appointments” refer to the Polices and Procedures Manual as well as any applicable sections of the faculty collective bargaining agreement.

For further information refer to the College of Education, “Guidelines for Faculty Search Process.”

CODE: 700.20Professor/Coordinator Evaluation Procedures

Evaluation of Professor/Coordinators are referenced in A Master Agreement Between the State of Iowa Board of Regents and the UNI-United Faculty, Article Three.

CODE: 701.00Clinical Supervisor, Position Description

The primary role of the Clinical Supervisor is to serve as the University of Northern Iowa’s field based practitioner for preservice teachers and other such duties as will be assigned by the local school district in cooperation with the center coordinator.

The Clinical Supervisor is directly responsible to the Professor/Coordinator and may hold responsibilities in a local school district.

Responsibility to Include:

OSFE Policies and Procedures

1)To provide classroom supervision for student teachers from the University of Northern Iowa. This will include making classroom visits at least every other week for each teacher assigned to the supervisor

2)Assist with the mid-term and final evaluations for each student teacher

3)Work with the UNI Coordinator on the identification and selection of cooperating teachers and the placement of student teachers

4)Work with the UNI Coordinator and the local district administrators on the selection of cadre members when appropriate.

5)Assist the UNI Coordinator with the planning and instruction of the student teaching seminar

6)Work closely with the UNI Coordinator on the facilitation of activities for the cadre

CODE: 701.10Clinical Supervisor, Selection Procedures

The selection procedure for a clinical supervisor shall be the responsibility of the center coordinator. In some cases, the director of OSFE will also be involved.

When the need arises to hire a clinical supervisor in a center, the coordinator should identify individuals, with a masters degree, who would be highly qualified to provide quality supervision and feedback to students, assist in center responsibilities, and serve as an excellent representative of the University of Northern Iowa.

The center coordinator will make the selection of the clinical supervisor and provide training, inservice, and evaluation.

CODE: 701.20Clinical Supervisor, Evaluation Procedures

The evaluation procedures for the clinical supervisor should be as follows:

1.The center coordinator should meet with the clinical supervisor at the end of each term of service (semester or year as appropriate) to discuss the individual’s performance.

2.The center coordinator shall provide a written documentation of the clinical supervisor’s performance related to his/her work for the University to the Office of Student Field Experiences.

CODE: 702:00Cadre, Position Description

The Student Teaching Cadre, as a part of the partnership between local cooperating school districts and the University of Northern. The cadre gives local teachers increased responsibilities for the initial preparation of new teachers, and provides more opportunities for the professional growth of teachers through increased professional development opportunities afforded through work on the cadre.

The cadre membersin the student teaching centers fulfill a variety of responsibilities in the UNI teacher education program. Those responsibilities may include:

Serving as an advisory committee to the UNI student teacher program
Serving as a resource to student teachers and other cooperating teachers
Serving as a classroom cooperating teacher for student teachers from UNI
Observing student teachers who are working in a classroom other than their own
Providing input on the campus-based program that might include participating in on-campus instruction
Attending advisory meetings that might be in the local area as well as on the Cedar Falls campus
Assisting UNI with conferences, inservice meetings, and workshops that might be held in the local area
Collaborating with university faculty on research of mutual interest
Assisting the coordinator and clinical supervisor with input related to seminars and student teacher supervision

CODE: 702.10Cadre, Selection Procedures

The selection of cadre members shall include the following:

1.The UNI center coordinator, with assistance from the local district(s) as requested, shall develop criteria for the selection of the student teaching cadre members.

2.The UNI center coordinator (in conjunction with local school districts as appropriate) shall be responsible for the selection of individuals to serve on the student teaching cadre.

3.Eligible candidates should be currently practicing teachers or administrators within the school districts of the UNI student teaching regional centers.

4.Eligible candidates should complete a letter of application or other specified forms to the center coordinator.

5.Cadre members should be appointed to terms of three years, contingent on satisfactory performance. Terms shall be renewable for one or two terms and the selection and retention of cadre members shall be the joint decision of the local districts, the student teaching coordinator, or a combination of the above.

6.There is no stipend for serving on the UNI student teacher cadre.

CODE: 801.00Coordinator Absence Request

Coordinators are officially on duty during their period of appointment when the university is in session according to the official calendar. Coordinators, due to the nature of their position, are also on duty in accordance with the official school calendar of their cooperating school system(s) except in spring semester when terms of the UNI contract prevails.

In the case of spring break, coordinators can select one of the breaks of a cooperating district as their break instead of the UNI spring break. However, this alternate spring break must not exceed the total number of days provided by the UNI spring break.

Coordinators who are absent from duty during their appointment time whenever the university or the cooperating district are officially in session should file an absence request.

When possible, request for absence should be filed in advance. Absence due to illness, funerals, conferences, or workshops are examples of situations requiring an absence request.

In case of illness, the request should be filed electronically through MyUniverse as promptly as possible following return to duty. To ensure possible income tax credit, the number of calendar days as well as instructional days should be recorded.

Compliance with this absence request is essential for legal purposes (e.g. liability, sick leave benefits, disability, etc.).

CODE: 802.00Claim for Expenses and Reimbursement

Claims for reimbursement of expenses associated with the duties as coordinator shall be submitted to the Office of Student Field Experiences on the official Travel Expense Voucher. Original invoices for lodging and travel by commercial carrier must be attached to the claim.

Separate claims should be submitted for all other monthly expenses at the end of each calendar month. Expenses associated with each approved Request for Absence will be filed on separate claims.

CODE: 803.00Curriculum Change

The procedure for recommending curricular changes must comply with university policy and follow the curriculum cycle requirements.

CODE: 804.00OSFE/Coordinator Calendar

The OSFE/Coordinator calendar shall be adopted each academic year. Special dates and specific events included in the UNI Master Calendar and pertinent to OSFE and the coordinators shall be included.

The proposed calendar shall be prepared by the Department Head or Director and periodically submitted to coordinators for consideration during the spring semester. Proposed revisions agreed upon by a majority of the coordinators shall be recommended for consideration prior to adoption. Agreed upon revisions shall be communicated to all coordinators.

CODE: 805.00OSFE Involvement in Inter-Departmental Projects

The Office of Student Field Experiences Coordinators are interested in cooperating with other university departments on interdepartmental research and study projects involved with teacher education. In order to fully support these research projects, there must be an orderly process coordinating these projects with the regular teacher education program.

When an interdepartmental project is proposed which will involve the OSFE program, the Department Head will review the proposal, communicate its contents to the coordinators and sign off on the proposal. The following may be considered:

Implication for placement of student teachers
Implication for supervisor loads
Implication of coordinator’s time commitment
Implication for school district resources

CODE: 806Procedure for Intention to Write a Proposal for External Funding

All coordinators are encouraged and invited to pursue external funding sources for OSFE projects. In order to coordinate these efforts, an Intent to Write a Proposal for External Funding must be completed and submitted to the Dean’s office one week before the proposal’s due date.

CODE: 900Due Process

The student teacher shall be afforded substantive and procedural due process should a disagreement arise from enforcement of policy.

Definitions

1.1.Due process. Due process refers to the standards and procedures which must be followed in dealing with an adverse action brought against an individual by the representatives of the Office of Student Field Experiences. These procedures are meant to provide fair and equitable treatment for the individual by insuring as far as possible against arbitrary, capricious or inequitable actions.

1.2Substantive due process. Substantive due process means that the reasons for an adverse action must not be arbitrary or capricious; that they must be relevant to the competence of the individual to adequately perform the responsibilities and functions of his/her position; that they must not either directly or by their effect deny the individual the right to exercise any rights under the Constitution or laws of the United States, nor be a retaliation for such exercise. Furthermore, the reasons given must be the genuine reasons, not a subterfuge disguising other, unconstitutional intentions; and finally they must be sufficient to warrant the action taken.