Programs - Teacher Education Guidebook

Appeal Procedures

Students who think they have been dropped from or denied admission to the program unjustly may appeal in writing to a committee consisting of the chair of the Teacher Education Committee, the chair of the Education Department Student Support Committee, and one other member of the Teacher Education Committee. Written appeals are submitted to the Dean for Teacher Education, who will forward them to the committee. Further appeals relating to issues of due process may be made to the college Academic Standards Committee.

Candidate Support System

Class rosters are checked each semester by the Teacher Certification Coordinator to determine if all of the students enrolled are eligible to be in that class. Students who are not eligible are informed of their deficiency and are told that they will be dropped from the course(s) unless they become eligible or are granted permission by the Appeals Committee to stay in the course(s).

Entry into the program may be denied for a number of reasons. Below is a list of some of those reasons and some advice as to what to do should you not meet the admission criteria:

1. Grade Point Average below a 2.5.

This is probably the most common and serious reason for ineligibility. If your GPA is below a 2.5, you should do the following:

•  Plan your program so that you know when you have to take EDUC 302-303. Once you know the latest semester during which you must take your first 300-level education course, you have a target date so that you can then work on improving your GPA. The planning process is described in the "Planning Your Program" section of this booklet.

•  If you are at a point where you must take EDUC 302-303 and your GPA is between a 2.40 and 2.49, you may appeal to the Teacher Education Appeals Committee for permission to take these courses. You will have to prove that you must indeed take these courses at this time and that your GPA is improving.

•  If your GPA is 2.39 or below, you will have to make alternate plans because the committee generally will not accept or hear your appeal. Make an appointment with the Dean for Teacher Education to discuss your options.

•  Use Calvin's support systems to improve your grades, including free tutoring and study groups offered by Student Academic Services, the Rhetoric Center to help with paper writing and editing, counseling from the Broene Center , and conferences with your instructors, who are eager to help you succeed.

How to calculate your GPA

2. State of Michigan Basic Skills Tests

State law prohibits Calvin College from placing anyone in a student teaching placement if Calvin does not have proof that the student has passed all of the parts of the Basic Skills test. If you have not taken and passed the test (and therefore are not eligible to take EDUC 302-303, you should immediately register for the next test and send a letter stating that you are enrolled to the Teacher Certification Coordinator. You will not be allowed to take any additional 300-level education courses until you have passed this test. Practice questions are available on-line at www.mttc.nesinc.com and in the Reserve Reading Room of Calvin's library.

3. Completion of EDUC 102 and 202

If you have not completed these courses by the time that you are ready to take EDUC 302-303, you must ask Dean for Teacher Education for permission to take them along with your first 300-level education courses. This is not an ideal situation, and will make for a very busy semester, but further progress in the program will not be possible unless you do this.

4. Permission to Student Teach

The requirements for permission to student teach are listed in this book (see Table of Contents for page numbers). If you have been denied permission to student teach because you did not meet department requirements, you should contact your advisor in that department. If you believe that you have a situation that warrants an appeal, your first appeal is to the department that denied you permission, and your advisor from that department will work with you to prepare the appeal. If your appeal is denied by the department and you believe you have a good case, your next level of appeal is to the Teacher Education Program Appeals Committee, and you should contact the Education Department for instructions on how to proceed.