SUU Teacher Education Student Review

Becoming a professional educator is a fulfilling but challenging process. Part of the reason teacher education can be challenging for students is the fact that it requires development in several important, interrelated areas. These areas include:

1. Academic Performance. Students must demonstrate success in learning across their college courses, especially in their major courses. The SUU Teacher Education Program requires a minimum 3.0 GPA. Additionally, students must earn a grade of C or better in all major courses.
2. Teaching Performance. Students must demonstrate increasing competence in classroom teaching and working with younger learners. Observation, tutoring, and teaching experiences are required in courses throughout the SUU Teacher Preparation Program. The demonstration of teaching competence culminates in student teaching, during which students must demonstrate their ability to meet Utah’s competencies for professional educators.
3. Professional Educator Dispositions. Dispositions are core attitudes and behaviors. The dispositions of professional educators are those attitudes and behaviors that are required or sought by the profession. Professional educator dispositions are stated and/or reflected in state and district standards, ethics documents, and/or policies. The Student Disposition Self-Assessment provides example attitudes and behaviors that constitute professional educator dispositions.

Although teaching performance is a central focus of all teacher preparation programs, professional educators are responsible for being effective learners who think and act in ways consistent with the expectations for professional educators. Therefore, students must consistently demonstrate their ability to succeed in the college classroom, to teach and work with young people effectively, and to engage in thinking and behavior consistent with the expectations for professional educators.

What is the Student Review?

Student review is a process conducted by the Department of Teacher Education undergraduate faculty. During student review, the undergraduate faculty evaluates students at three points during the program:

1. Program Admission. Students will be directed to apply for admission to the SUU Teacher Preparation Program during the semester they complete EDUC 2100; art, English, and music secondary education students will be directed to apply for program admission during the semester they complete EDUC 2400. Note that Program Admission is a separate process from admission to the university.
2. Block Admissions. Students will be evaluated the semester they submit their application for the SUU Block program. The Block program is a cluster of practicum-rich courses taken in the Fall or Spring semester before student teaching.
3. Student Teaching. Students will be evaluated when they apply for admission to student teaching.

During the student review, undergraduate faculty check students’ progress in academics, teaching performance, and professional educator dispositions. The check includes a transcript review to assess students’ GPA and progress in general education and major courses. In addition, faculty discuss students’ performance in the college classroom and in practicum settings. Students who have met the admission requirements for the part of the program they are attempting to enter will receive written notification of their admission.

When students do not meet the program, Block, or student teaching admissions requirements, the Department of Teacher Education will alert students in writing. At this time, the department may also seek to create an intervention plan to help students meet requirements and get back on track towards program, Block, or student teaching admissions. More information on intervention plans and potential outcomes can be found on the Department of Teacher Education website.