College Policies

Judith Herb College of Education

The Judith Herb College of Education adheres to all of The University of Toledo policies and procedures. Please refer to the General Section of this catalog for academic policies governing all students enrolled at the University. In any case where University, college, departmental and/or program policies conflict, the most stringent policy applies. Students should consult with their program for a complete list of all policies and procedures specifically related to their program. Refer to the UToledo Policy web site for most recent policies.

Licensure and Endorsement

To be eligible for an Ohio Educator License, Ohio Administrator License, or Ohio Licensure Endorsement, students must complete the corresponding preparation program and fulfill all requirements of the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce for the license or endorsement they are seeking. Student are responsible for successfully completing all required State of Ohio assessments prior to applying for licensure or endorsement and are responsible for all associated expenses. Scores should be reported to the University of Toledo. 

Administrator License Or Licensure Endorsement 

Candidates for Ohio Administrator License or Ohio Licensure Endorsement must complete field-based experiences in the subject matter and grade band associated with the license or endorsement they are seeking. 

Initial Licensure 

Candidates for an initial Ohio Educator License must complete practicum experiences and internship in the subject matter and grade band associated with the educator license or endorsement they are seeking. The Office of Field Experiences makes all practicum and internship placements in keeping with the best learning situation for the individual student. Students must be eligible for practicum experiences in PK-12 schools as outlined by the program and the State of Ohio. Students are required to obtain Ohio Department of Education & Workforce required permits prior to beginning classroom experiences and are responsible for all associated expenses.

Students in a Licensure and Master's Program (LAMP) must submit to edTPA and pay all assessments fees. This assessment is submitted during the internship semester. Information about the assessment, passing scores, and options for retaking the edTPA may be found online and in the Office of Student Services.

PROFESSIONAL ATTENDANCE DURING FIELD EXPERIENCE

Definitions Of Field Experience Types

Practicum. Practicum is a part-time, semester-long experience. Practicum students are expected to be at their field experience school regularly each week, participating consistently with the same students.

Internship. Internship is a fulltime, semester-long experience. Internship students are expected to be at their field experience school each day school is in session and on teacher workdays. Internship students will follow the field experience school’s calendar for the beginning and end of day and school breaks. Internship students will attend on-campus professional development days. These are full day sessions. Dates are provided to candidates prior to the start of their internship semester.

Field Experience Schedule

Licensure candidates in both Internships and Practicums will submit a Field Experience Schedule to the College’s field experience management system by the end of the first week of the semester. This Field Experience Schedule will list the dates and times the candidate will be in the field experience school for that semester and will include approximate dates for completing activities assigned by the faculty instructor for the co-requisite, on-campus seminar course as coordinated with their mentor teacher. The Field Experience Office and faculty instructor will verify that the schedule meets requirements for the field experience. 

The written Field Experience Schedule will include the following information:

  • A copy of the field experience school’s calendar with beginning and end of day times and school breaks.
  • A calendar listing dates and times the candidate will be in the field experience school.
  • Approximate dates for completing assigned activities.

Professional Attendance

Licensure candidates are expected to be present and active at their field experience school according to the Field Experience Schedule agreed upon by their mentor teacher and faculty instructor.

Licensure candidates should report to the main office to sign in and out as required, each day they are in their field experience school. Licensure candidates have the responsibility to learn and follow the field experience school's and their specific classroom’s policies and procedures. Licensure candidates should be considerate and professional.

MISSING TIME oN the FIELD EXPERIENCE Schedule

Licensure candidates may need to miss a planned time in their field experience due to illness or other personal matters that require immediate attention. Licensure candidates must notify their mentor teacher and field supervisor as far in advance as possible if they will be late or absent for a field experience session. If possible, the licensure candidate will provide substitute teaching plans or copies of planned activities for any missed field experience sessions. If completing the requirements of the field experience as outlined in the Field Experience Schedule for the semester is in jeopardy due to attendance, the field supervisor will notify the Office of Field Experiences.

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS

Consistent with the University policy on religious accommodations (UToledo policy 3364-71-30.01), licensure candidates may schedule up to three days away from their field experience school. These dates must be indicated on the candidate’s Field Experience Schedule submitted at the beginning of the semester. In addition, the candidate should also submit the Religious Accommodations Request Form required by the University.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHING

Opportunities to substitute teach cannot conflict with the licensure candidate’s Field Experience Schedule. If the licensure candidate substitute teaches, those events cannot be considered part of the licensure candidate’s field experience and will be at the sole discretion of the employing school district.

UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE IN A FIELD EXPERIENCE

Licensure candidates in the Judith Herb College of Education may be determined to have made an unsatisfactory performance in an internship or practicum experience. Reasons for recording an unsatisfactory performance include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Grade of U (unsatisfactory) for the Internship
  • Grade of W (withdrawal) for the Internship when concerns regarding performance have been documented.
    • Unprofessional attendance or preparedness.
    • Unprofessional dispositions or behaviors as described in the College’s disposition and behavior referral policy.
    • Concerns regarding professional performance at the level appropriate for the experience documented by the mentor teacher, field supervisor, or faculty instructor.

Depending on the nature of the concern(s), the student may be removed from the field experience by the Field Experience Coordinator before the end of the semester.

Repeating A Field Experience

INTERNSHIP

Internship may be repeated only once. Students who have an unsatisfactory performance must repeat the Internship experience within the next two terms, not including summer. Before scheduling a second attempt, the Field Experience Coordinator will consult with the field supervisor and faculty instructor to develop an Action Plan for correcting the concerns noted during the first experience. This Action Plan should be in writing and describe the deficiencies, remedies for each deficiency, and a timeline for addressing each component.

When repeating an internship, a co-requisite, on-campus seminar will also be required but may be completed as pass/fail if a passing grade (C or higher) has already been recorded for the original co-requisite seminar.

Unsatisfactory performance on the second internship experience (or failure to enroll for the second attempt) in any program disqualifies the student from any licensure preparation program in the College.

PRACTICUM

Each practicum may be repeated only once. Students who have an unsatisfactory performance must repeat that practicum experience within the next two terms, not including summer. In the interim between experiences, the Field Experience Coordinator should consult with the field supervisor and faculty instructor to develop an Action Plan for correcting the concerns noted during the first experience. This Action Plan should be in writing and describe the deficiencies, remedies for each deficiency, and a timeline for addressing each component prior to scheduling the second attempt.

When repeating a practicum, a co-requisite, on-campus seminar will also be required but may be completed as pass/fail if a passing grade (C or higher) has already been recorded for the original co-requisite seminar. If the second attempt is satisfactory, the student may continue in the program without prejudice.

Unsatisfactory performance on the second attempt for that practicum experience (or failure to enroll for the second attempt) disqualifies the student from licensure preparation in that program concentration. The student may, however, apply for admission to another licensure program concentration in the College.

Denial Of Opportunity To Repeat A Field Experience

In some cases, the opportunity to repeat the internship or practicum experience may be denied and the student will be disqualified from any licensure preparation program in the College.

Reasons for denying a repeated internship or practicum experience include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Performances that place PK-12 students at risk academically, mentally, or physically
  • Conduct that is unprofessional as described in the Licensure Code of Professional Conduct for Ohio Educators
  • Revocation of pre-service teacher permit or notification of concern from Ohio Department of Education
  • Dishonest or unethical actions

Graduate Academic Appeal

Graduate students may appeal an academic decision including an assignment or course grade, an examination or defense result, or other academic decision or action perceived to impede their progress toward completion of the academic program. Appeals dealing with student misconduct or research misconduct are explicitly exempt from this process and shall be dealt with under the relevant University policies and procedures (see UT Policies 3364-30-04 and 3364-70-21).

The student should first verbally discuss the contested grade, result, or program decision with the faculty member involved and make reasonable efforts to resolve the issue. If a verbal attempt to resolve the problem fails or the faculty member is unavailable, the student may initiate the Academic Appeal process outlined below.

Academic appeals must be initiated in writing within 20 working days following the receipt of the contested grade, result, or other academic decision. If the faculty member involved is not available during this time period due to University approved leave of absence or for any other reason, the student will initiate the appeal process described in Step 1 and contact the Department Chair. The Chair will make reasonable efforts to contact the instructor or advisor before proceeding with the appeal process.

No individual may sit in judgement of an appeal or grievance at more than one level of review.

After completing the steps listed below, the Dean’s decision may be appealed by either the student or the faculty member to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies no later than the end of the semester following receipt of the contested grade, action, or decision perceived to impede the student’s academic progress. See the COGS Grade Appeal Procedure for Graduate Students or the Graduate Student Academic Grievance Policy (UT Policy 3364-77-02) for the procedures that apply beyond the JHCOE

Note: Working days are Monday through Friday not counting holidays when the university is closed.

Steps of the Academic Appeal Process

  1. The student may initiate the appeal process through a written request for reconsideration to the faculty member involved within 20 working days following the receipt of the contested grade, result, or other academic decision. The appeal should include a statement describing the specific grounds for the appeal and suggested resolution.
  2. The faculty member must provide a written response to the student within ten (10) working days of receiving the written request for reconsideration.
  3. If no mutually agreeable resolution can be achieved, the student may present in writing their position to the Department Chair within ten (10) working days of completing the previous step. Both the student and the faculty member may provide the Chair with relevant information. The appeal should include a statement describing the specific grounds for the appeal and the written explanation of the decision made by the instructor or advisor involved.
  4. The Department Chair will attempt to resolve the case by meeting or otherwise communicating with both the student and the faculty member. If a resolution is not achieved, the Department Chair will provide a written determination within ten (10) working days of receiving the written appeal.
  5. If the problem is not resolved at the department level, either party may appeal in writing to the Associate Dean for Graduate Education. A written request for a resolution must be made to the Associate Dean within ten (10) working days of the Department Chair’s determination. The appeal should include a statement describing the specific grounds for the appeal and the written explanation of the decision made at each level of review.
  6. The Associate Dean will attempt to resolve the case by meeting or otherwise communicating with both the student and the faculty member. If a resolution is not achieved, the Associate Dean will call upon the JHCOE Student Appeals and Grievance Committee. Any member of the committee directly involved in the disputed academic decision will be excused from reviewing the case. The committee will review all relevant documentation and may interview the student and faculty member involved. The committee will provide a written recommendation to the associate dean within 15 working days of receiving the appeal.
  7. Upon receiving the committee’s recommendation, the Associate Dean shall make a recommendation to the Dean. The Dean will issue a decision within ten (10) working days of receiving the Committee’s recommendation.
  8. The Dean’s decision may be appealed by either the student or the faculty member to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies no later than the end of the semester following receipt of the contested grade, action, or decision perceived to impede the student’s academic progress. See the COGS Grade Appeal Procedure for Graduate Students or the Graduate Student Academic Grievance Policy (UT Policy3364-77-02) for the procedures that apply beyond the JHCOE.

College Of Graduate Studies