C. Guidelines
1. The Education Department
(a) recommends new policies and procedures for the Teacher Education Program to the Teacher Education Committee and votes final approval upon receiving the written endorsement from that committee. If final approval is not voted, the Education Department must return its objection(s) in writing to the committee for further consideration. Approved recommendations which are acceptable to both the Education Department and the Teacher Education Committee will become part of the official policies and procedures of the Teacher Education Program as outlined in the Teacher Education Handbook;
(b) establishes policies and procedures appropriate to the concentrations in elementary education, early childhood education, and special education;
(c) recruits students for the Teacher Education Program;
(d) processes applications for admission to the Teacher Education Program;
(e) coordinates tests (e.g., the Education Entrance Examination, 16 PF Test, etc.) required for admission;
(f) coordinates the required field experience programs Levels I and II);
(g) administers (and in most cases schedules and staffs) the Eeducation courses required for certification; offers these courses on a regular basis;
(h) ensures that the content required to meet external accreditation standards is addressed in education courses as appropriate;
(i) establishes content for all courses offered by the department;
(j) assigns student interns in all areas to appropriate supervisors;
(k) publicizes teaching vacancies through the department newsletter and bulletin boards;
(l) supervises the acquisition of materials for the curriculum laboratory; and
(m) maintains contact with alumni.
2. The Director of Teacher Education
(a) administers the Teacher Education Program;
(b) maintains and updates the Teacher Education Handbook, which describes the Teacher Education Program, application procedures, regulations, and certification requirements;
(c) acts as liaison between the Teacher Education Committee, the Education Department, other academic departments, and the university administration;
(d) approves admission to the Teacher Education Program;
(e) certifies completion of all levels of the field experience program;
(f) recommends students for certification;
(g) acts as liaison between the university and outside agencies, such as the South Carolina Department of Education;
(h) refers all appeals on exceptions to program regulations to the Teacher Education Committee;
(i) monitors the progress of all students admitted to the Teacher Education Program in professional Education courses;
(j) communicates all new policies and procedures for teacher education to the academic departments concerned; and
(k) works to ensure that the content of all courses required by the Education Department but offered by other departments and any methods course offered by another department reflects appropriate standards, including those specified by accrediting agencies.
3. The Teacher Education Committee and the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, in consultation with the Director of the Teacher Education Program, annually appoints the committee and designates its chair. The committee consists of nine voting members--seven faculty and two students. The seven faculty members should represent departments that participate in the Teacher Education Program and should include only faculty with some experience in and commitment to teacher education. They should include three members of the Education Department and four other members to be drawn from the humanities, fine arts, sciences (including mathematics), and social sciences other than education. Consideration should be given to balance and to a given department's enrollment of students in the Teacher Education Program. The two student members should include one enrolled in elementary or special education and one in secondary education. The chair of the committee is a member of the Education Department. The Director of the Teacher Education Program serves as an ex-officio member of the committee. This committee:
(1) The chair of the Teacher Education Committee presents recommendations of the Education Department (with a report of the voting) to the committee;
(2) Upon receiving a recommendation from the Education Department, the Teacher Education Committee reviews the recommendation, endorses it or suggests modifications, and returns its recommendation in writing to the Education Department;
(3) Suggestions regarding policies and procedures may originate in the Teacher Education Committee. However, they must be approved by the Education Department, which may consult with the committee as appropriate.
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rules on all appeals of program regulations after consultation with appropriate departments;
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meets at the request of the Director of the Teacher Education Program to discuss matters related to the program.
4. Participating academic departments
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designate a faculty member to serve as department advisor for teacher education who monitors student progress in completing the program;
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inform students of teaching as a career option and encourage qualified students to pursue it;
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maintain an accurate program worksheet of requirements and request that the Director of Teacher Education apply for approval of any program changes;
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ensure that all departmental courses designated on certification worksheets meet the appropriate standards; and
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identify faculty qualified to assist in the evaluation of student interns.
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