119.1 Teacher Education Program

119.1 Teacher Education Program

A. Background

Teacher education at Furman is a university program administered by the Director of Teacher Education who also serves as the Chair of the Education Department.

B. Policy

The Education Department has the primary responsibility for initiating and implementing recommendations regarding the policies and procedures of the Teacher Education Program. The responsibility for the program is shared by the Education Department, and the Teacher Education Committee, which is appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean.

C. Guidelines

1. The Education Department

(a) recommends 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;

(b) establishes policies and procedures appropriate to the certification programs;

(c) recruits students for the Teacher Education Program;

(d) processes applications for admission to the Teacher Education Program;

(e) advises students regarding program requirements and state mandates for certification;

(f) coordinates the required field and clinical experiences;

(g) ensures that the content required to meet external accreditation standards is addressed throughout the teacher education program;

(h) maintains contact with alumni.

2. The Director of Teacher Education

(a) assumes a co-leadership role with the Accreditation Coordinator for NCATE and other accreditation self-studies;

(b) serves as member of the departmental Program Review Committee and the Graduate Council;

(c) represents Furman University at meetings of the South Carolina Council of Independent Colleges/Universities of Teacher Education;

(d) represents Furman University at meetings of the South Carolina State Department of Education and the State Board of Education;

(e) chairs the Teacher Education Committee and coordinates teacher education program efforts within the department and across departments;

(f) monitors certification regulations and regulation changes and informs appropriate departments and faculty;

(g) monitors the admission of teacher candidates to the program of teacher education;

(h) recommends to the South Carolina State Department of Education that teacher candidates who complete the program of teacher education be issued appropriate teaching certificates;

(i) monitors student progress to ensure that they meet academic guidelines set by the program of teacher preparation and/or the terms of the scholarships available to those intending to teach.

3. The Teacher Education Committee is appointed annually by the Vice President for  Academic Affairs and Dean in consultation with the Director of Teacher Education.  Chaired by the Director of Teacher Education, the Committee, consisting of faculty representing each certification

(a) reviews new policies and procedures for the Teacher Education Program as recommended by the Education Department;

(b) endorses recommendations or suggests modifications, and returns its recommendation in writing to the Education Department;

(c) may suggest changes regarding policies and procedures and may recommend new policies and procedures.  Changes and new policies, however, must be approved by the Education Department, which may consult with the committee as appropriate.

4. Participating academic departments

(a) designate a faculty member to serve as department advisors for students completing the program;

(b) inform students of teaching as a career option and encourage qualified students to pursue it;

(c) maintain an accurate program worksheet of certification requirements;

(d) ensure that all departmental courses designated on certification worksheets meet the appropriate standards; and

(e) identify faculty qualified to assist in the evaluation of student interns.

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