a.Standards of Professional Conduct
As a Faculty within the University of Lethbridge, the Faculty of Education is committed to maintaining its students’ freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression. As a professional Faculty, the Faculty of Education is committed to assisting students to become professionals. The Faculty, then, has the dual responsibility of fostering the academic freedom of students within the context of professional standards of conduct. The standards describe professional characteristics and behaviours that students are expected to develop and demonstrate during field experience components and field related courses within the Teacher Education Program. Appropriate demonstration of these professional standards will be judged by on-campus instructors and school personnel.
1.The student acts in a manner that respects the dignity and rights of all persons without prejudice as to race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, sexual orientation, physical characteristics, age, ancestry, or place of origin.
2.The student treats pupils, peers, school personnel, and faculty with dignity and respect and is considerate of their circumstances.
3.The student acts in a responsible manner which includes being punctual, dependable, trustworthy, consistent, and reliable.
4.Recognizing that attendance in practicum courses and professional semesters is a professional responsibility, students apprise appropriate personnel at the University and/or school in advance of unavoidable absences.
5.The student demonstrates empathy for others by showing concern for and understanding of others’ feelings and/or ideas.
6.The student responds to feedback by listening to, evaluating, and responding to suggestions.
7.The student maintains positive interpersonal relationships with peers, faculty, school personnel and pupils by contributing, co-operating, participating, and working with others in a flexible and adaptable way.
8.The student shows enthusiasm and initiative by being actively involved as a participant while encouraging the involvement and participation of others.
9.The student shows maturity and judgment.
10.The student demonstrates a commitment to teaching through interest in learning about teaching, consulting, questioning, reading, and discussing.
11.The student criticizes (verbally or in writing) the professional competence or professional reputation of others only in confidence to proper officials and only after the other person has been informed of the criticism.
12.The student respects the confidentiality of information about pupils, peers, school personnel, or faculty received in confidence or in the course of professional duties.
13.The student acts both in person and in their online presence (email, social media, etc.) in a manner which maintains the honour and dignity of the profession and the University of Lethbridge.
14.The student follows the policies/expectations of the school/school division in which they have been placed in terms of professional conduct and student interactions.
15.The student does not make representations on behalf of the Faculty of Education, the University of Lethbridge, the school, or the profession.
b.Academic Regulations and Information
1.Academic Standards
Upon completion of the program and in order to graduate, students must present a cumulative GPA of 2.50 in their teaching major and a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher in all courses taken after admission to the Faculty of Education. In order to have a teaching minor endorsed on the official academic transcript, the student must also present a GPA of 2.50 or higher on all non-Education courses comprising the minor and, additionally, a minimum B- in the appropriate Education methods course.
2.Institutional Honours
Students who graduate with a Faculty GPA of 3.60 to 3.79 (calculated on all courses taken after admission to the Faculty of Education), who have demonstrated excellence in student teaching practica and the internship, and who present an admission GPA of 3.00 or higher are eligible to receive the Bachelor of Education degree ‘With Distinction.’ Students who meet the same criteria but present a Faculty GPA of 3.80 or higher are eligible to receive the Bachelor of Education degree ‘With Great Distinction.’
3.Education Courses Taken Prior to Admission
With the exception of transfer students (who may bring in a maximum of five Education courses), Education courses other than Education 2500 taken prior to admission may not be counted toward the Bachelor of Education requirements.
Note: Students intending to major in Music Education may complete courses designated Education 387X prior to admission with permission of the instructor.
Students who have completed a minimum of 24.0 credit hours with a GPA of 2.50 or higher, calculated on all courses including all transferable courses, may register directly in Education 2500. If available spaces are not filled, additional students will be enrolled on the basis of the proximity of their GPA to 2.50 and the number of courses remaining in their program (i.e., those with fewer remaining courses will be given preference). Such students will be added during the Add/Drop period upon application to Student Program Services in the Faculty of Education.
Students who do not receive a favourable recommendation, or who have withdrawn, may be permitted to re-enrol in the course after one full year and with permission of the Assistant Dean, Student Program Services.
5.Visiting Student Status
Authorization is required from Student Program Services in the Faculty of Education to study at other post-secondary institutions while enrolled in the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge.
6.Registration Limits
Students may enrol in a maximum of six courses (18.0 credit hours) during a non-practicum term (winter or fall). Students may not register in a sixth course while enrolled in Professional Semester I, Professional Semester II, or Professional Semester III. Students may register in a maximum of three courses in Summer Session I, two courses in Summer Session II, and one course in Summer Session III.
7.Consecutive Professional Semesters
Only students who have completed a minimum of 25 term courses (75.0 credit hours) at the time of admission may complete Professional Semester I and Professional Semester II in the same academic year.
8.Waiver of Practica
Students who have appropriate and successful Grade 1-12 Canadian classroom experience may have Education 2500 waived. Under exceptional circumstances students may have Professional Semester III waived. Students will be required to replace waived elements with Education electives. Requests must be submitted to the Assistant Dean, Student Program Services in the Faculty of Education. Students who have received ‘not recommended’ status after completion of Education 2500 are ineligible for a waiver.
9.Withdrawal Deadline
A student may withdraw from any component of a professional semester any time in consultation with the Assistant Dean of Student Program Services. However, a student withdrawing from a professional semester component is withdrawing from the Faculty and must successfully go through the readmission process (see Readmission after Withdrawal) before resuming studies toward the Bachelor of Education.
10.Required Withdrawal
A student is required to withdraw from the Faculty of Education if the following occurs:
•The GPA falls below 2.50 in Professional Semester I or Professional Semester II;
•The student fails any course, module, or practicum in any Professional Semester; or
•The student fails to meet the Standards of Professional Conduct. The student may be assigned a failing grade for the component where the Standards of Professional conduct were not met.
c.Practicum Regulations and Information
The following policies will guide the assignment of students to schools:
1.Placement Policy
While on campus and during practica, students are expected to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct set out by the Faculty of Education (see Standards of Professional Conduct). The Faculty of Education reserves the right to deny or terminate a placement in any practicum course, including Education 2500, to any student if the Dean has reasonable grounds:
•The student has violated any part of the Faculty of Education’s Standards of Professional Conduct;
•The student is unable to carry out the classroom responsibilities of that practicum; or
•The Dean believes denial or termination of a placement is necessary in order to protect the public interest.
Students whose practicum placements have been denied or terminated will be informed of the reasons in writing.
2.General Policies
a.All school placements within Zone 6 will be made by the Field Experience Office. Students must not contact schools with the intent of procuring an internship or student teaching placement.
b.Professional Semester I and II placements will only be made within Zone 6 and Calgary area.
c.Professional Semester III placements outside of Zone 6 are subject to the approval of the Assistant Dean, Field Experience and the Assistant Dean, Student Program Services in the Faculty Education.
d.Students receiving a waiver of Education 2500 must complete Professional Semester III in Alberta.
e.Students may complete only one practicum/internship with any one teacher associate or teacher mentor. Students will complete only one practicum/internship in any specific school.
f.Students will not be placed in schools where family members are employed or where family members are pupils.
g.No student will be placed in a school from which she or he graduated.
h.Placements in Professional Semesters I and II will differ by a minimum of three grade levels.
i.Students who refuse a placement may be required to withdraw from the practicum and reapply for admission to resume their studies in a subsequent year.
j.Students who do not provide all relevant information at the time a placement is made may be required to withdraw from the practicum and reapply for admission to resume their studies in a subsequent year.
k.Students who provide false information at the time a placement is made may be required to withdraw from the practicum and reapply for admission to resume their studies in a subsequent year.
l.Students in the Faculty of Education may be required to complete hours outside of the regularly scheduled term during a practicum or internship. Term breaks, if scheduled, may have different dates than what is listed in the Academic Schedule.
3.Location of Placements
The Faculty of Education collaborates with Education institutions throughout Zone 6 (which extends in Alberta from the British Columbia border to the Saskatchewan border and from the Montana border up to locations immediately south of the city of Calgary) and Calgary area. Students entering the Faculty of Education should note that practicum placements include locations anywhere within Zone 6. Students must be prepared to travel. Some locations require relocation Monday to Friday.
Note: Acceptance of an Offer of Admission to the Faculty of Education indicates acceptance of a possible requirement to travel to or relocate to practicum placements within Zone 6.
4.Criminal Record Check (or equivalent)
Many school jurisdictions require criminal record checks from all individuals (including student teachers and interns) working with children and adolescents. Consequently, all students accepting an Offer of Admission from the Faculty of Education must immediately make application for a criminal record check including a Vulnerable Sector Check. The student is responsible for the cost of obtaining such documentation. Criminal record checks are not submitted to the Faculty of Education, but must be available for the student to present on Practicum Orientation Day should the school or school jurisdiction require it. Students who are unable to present an acceptable criminal record check for any reason may be denied a placement by the co-operating school, the school jurisdiction, or the Assistant Dean, Field Experiences. The Faculty of Education does not guarantee an alternate placement. In the event a student cannot be placed, the student will be unable to complete the program and thus will be required to withdraw from both the practicum and the Faculty.
5.Out of Zone and International Professional Semester III Placements
Students may apply to the Assistant Dean, Field Experience to complete Professional Semester III outside of Zone 6. Further, it is possible for students to complete Professional Semester III in an international placement. Students must apply well in advance of the intended term, and will be required to request statements of support from teacher associates and previous practicum supervisors. Only students with an outstanding record of professionalism and an outstanding record of classroom teaching in both Professional Semesters I and II will be granted Professional Semester III placements outside of Zone 6 (including international locations).
Some restrictions on out of zone and international placements do exist for students completing certain specializations. Students are encouraged to contact the Assistant Dean, Field Experiences, for further information.
In order to have an international placement designated on the official academic transcript, students must register in Education 4577 - International Education Internship. This internship has as a prerequisite (one of the following courses):
*Education 4310 - Comparative Studies of Education in Developed and Third World Nations
*Education 4311 - World Issues and Problems in Education
Education 4783 - Culturally Different Students
*These courses would also fulfill the Education Foundation requirement.
1.Applied Studies
Eligible students in the Faculty of Education may earn up to five course credits through Applied Studies, designated by the numbers Education 2510 and Education 4980. The Applied Studies program in the Faculty of Education is administered through Career Bridge - Co-operative Education & Applied Studies (AH151; 403-329-2000; artsci.coop@uleth.ca; www.ulethbridge.ca/career-bridge) in consultation with the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs.
Students may be permitted to earn credit for Independent Study, which is designated by the course number Education 4990. Independent Study may be undertaken only in areas not covered by courses offered in the Education curriculum. Independent Study proposals must be submitted to a faculty member who agrees to serve as examiner for the proposed study. Formal registration occurs after approval by the faculty member, Student Program Services, and the Dean. A maximum of two Independent Studies may count toward requirements for the B.Ed. portion of the Basic Teacher Education programs (see Academic Regulations, Exceeding Course Limits). Students are advised to register in the term in which the work will be completed.