Letter of Agreement for
Professional Education Faculty
in the UNI Teacher Education Program
Definition: The Professional Education Faculty (PEF) consists of all full-time tenure/tenure track faculty members whose regular teaching responsibility is Professional Education Sequence courses or methods courses.
PEF members are appointed to membership in the Teacher Education Faculty (TEF) upon accepting a position at the university, completing the TEF application form, and being endorsed by the Council on Teacher Education.
PEF Membership:
1. PEF membership guarantees representation on the governing body of the Teacher Education Program—the Council on Teacher Education—and the right to vote on matters related to the Teacher Education Program.
2. Membership allows PEF members to participate in standing committees and task forces and other special needs of the Council on Teacher Education, as well as to become an elected member or alternate to an elected member of the Council on Teacher Education.
3. PEF members become a part of a professional development network which seeks to keep faculty informed of State mandates for accreditation and licensure. The professional development network not only seeks to update faculty on skills and knowledge necessary to meet mandates but also, more importantly, to provide faculty members with the face-to-face opportunities to share knowledge and strategies with each other for their own edification as models of excellence in teaching. It provides PEF members opportunities to suggest topics of need for PEF colleagues to enhance their teaching and the management of teaching as well as improvements for the UNI Teacher Education Program.
Responsibilities of Professional Education Faculty Members (as defined in the Iowa Code, section 256.7(5), Chapter 79, “Standards for Practitioner and Administrator Preparation Programs,” Iowa Administrative Code):
281—79.12(256) Faculty Standard: Faculty qualifications and performance facilitate the professional development of practitioner candidates.
79.12(1) Faculty members in professional education are adequately prepared for responsibilities assigned to them, and have had experiences in situations similar to those for which the practitioner preparation students are being prepared.
79.12(2) Faculty members instruct and model best practices in teaching, including the assessment of their own effectiveness as related to candidate performance.
79.12(3) Faculty are engaged in professional development as well as scholarly and service activities that relate to teaching, learning, and practitioner preparation.
79.12(4) Faculty members collaborate regularly and in significant ways with colleagues in the professional education unit and other college/university units, schools, the department, area education agencies, and professional associations as well as community representatives.
79.12(5). Part-time faculty and graduate assistants, when employed, are identified as such and meet the licensure and experience requirements appropriate for their assigned responsibilities.
79.12(6) Faculty members preparing practitioner candidates maintain an ongoing, meaningful involvement in activities in preschools, elementary, middle, or secondary schools. A minimum of 60 hours of activities of such activities shall include team teaching during the period between approval visits. A maximum of 30 hours of the 60-hour requirement may be completed by supervising pre-service candidates in P-12 classroom settings.
Implementation of Standard 79.12(6) at UNI:
Reporting hours: complete the School-Based Activities Template, found on the Teacher Education web site, and submit it to the Office of Teacher Education, SEC 159A. The due-date for completing the 60 hours of involvement corresponds with the state accreditation visit. PEF members receive annual letters from the Office of Teacher Education stating the next due date as well as the number of hours recorded at the time of the update. Failure to complete this process could lead to reassignment of teaching duties.
For the Benefit of the Teacher Education Students:
Teacher candidates are required to satisfactorily complete a dynamic list of state mandates to be recommended for licensure. It is important for students to be able to experience a cohesive program which can only come about by continual collaboration and adherence to university and college strategic plans, Teacher Education Program requirements, and State and/or federal mandates. PEF members play a critical role in providing students with updated knowledge, skills, and strategies that prepare students for professional practice while meeting both Program goals and licensure requirements.
Therefore, PEF members:
· Comply with Chapter 79 Standards as they pertain to faculty responsibilities.
· Craft syllabi in accordance with university policies and accreditation standards.
· Are available for communication with faculty, staff, students, and administrators.
· Remain current with the Teacher Ed web site (www.uni.edu/teached) and relay pertinent information to students.
· Engage in collaboration with colleagues to advance the Program and contribute to the success of its students.
Evaluation:
The university and the Teacher Education Program have the right to determine expected outcomes and assessments for evaluating the success of each teacher candidate’s knowledge, performances, skills, and dispositions. It is the responsibility of the PEF members to engage in instructional practices and course evaluations in a manner which is consistent with these determinations and those mandated in the Principles, Standards and Procedures of the University Master Agreement.
Faculty Activity Reports provide a record of PEF members’ contributions to the Teacher Education Program and are evaluated yearly by Department Heads. New PEF members deserve a solid beginning to their careers at UNI and, thus, may request a mentor from the Professional Education Faculty to offer advice.
Teacher Education Program Fall 2007