Education Program
Appeal, Dismissal, and Suspension
Admission Process-Appeal
The Teacher Education Committee has the responsibility for conducting due process hearings for students who wish to appeal a decision or policy regarding teacher education admission. If an appeal is wanted, the student must write a letter to the chair of the Teacher Education Committee requesting a hearing. Additional information concerning the process for appealing may be obtained from the office of the Dean of the College of Education and Psychology. A student may appear before the Teacher Education Committee to have the application considered.
Denial of Admission or Dismissal from the Teacher Education Program
The obligation for maintaining academic integrity, professional standards and ethics, and legal responsibilities should be considered fundamental in the preparation of future educators. East Central University's Teacher Education Program assumes this obligation to parents, public schools, and the State of Oklahoma. In this respect, the Teacher Education Program will attempt to screen and deny admission or dismiss from the program those students deemed unsuitable teacher education candidates. This is an attempt to protect public school students from unacceptable teacher education candidates. In addition, this good faith effort will preserve the credibility and effectiveness of the Teacher Education Program in maintaining its relationship with public schools and demonstrate the program's efforts to provide teacher candidates who are suited to teach public school students. East Central University maintains the obligation to deny admission to or dismiss from the Teacher Education Program at any time, any student whose personal conduct is deemed detrimental to:
The welfare of students in the public schools;
The Teacher Education Program's effective working relationship with the public schools;
The student's future success in the program;
The student's fitness to teach;
The Teacher Education Program's role in training future educators; or
The profession of teaching. Behavior that may constitute grounds for denial to or dismissal from the Teacher Education Program includes, but is not limited to, conduct that may result in felony conviction.
A student who is denied admission or who is being considered for dismissal from the Teacher Education Program for personal conduct shall be so notified in writing by the Dean of the College of Education and Psychology. Such notice shall include a statement of:
The proposed action;
The reason(s) for the proposed action;
The evidence supporting the alleged personal conduct in question; and
The opportunity to appeal the proposed action to the Teacher Education Committee.
The student who is denied admission to or dismissed from the Teacher Education Program who wishes to appeal this decision must request, in writing, a hearing within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of written notice of the proposed action. A hearing date will be set and the student will be notified of the day, date, time, and location of the hearing by the chair of the Teacher Education Committee. The hearing will be conducted by the Teacher Education Committee with the chair of the Committee presiding. The student will be afforded those rights available under an administrative hearing. The chair of the Teacher Education Committee shall render in writing, the findings of fact and the decision of the Teacher Education Committee. This written decision will be completed within a reasonable period of time. The Dean of the College of Education and Psychology will decide if the student will be allowed to attend classes, including field experiences and student teaching, during the pendency of the hearing.
Suspension from the Teacher Education Program
A student shall be suspended immediately when there is reasonable belief that grounds exist for such suspension from the Teacher Education Program. In addition, if there is a reasonable belief, the immediate suspension of a student is necessary because it is to be considered in the best interests of the Teacher Education Program, the public schools, or public school students; then the Dean of the College of Education and Psychology (or in the absence of the Dean, the Chair of the Education Department or designee) may suspend the student immediately from the Teacher Education Program, including field experiences or student teaching. When circumstances arise indicating there is an immediate need to suspend, the student will be notified verbally or in a delivered message from the Dean. The process for dismissal of a student from the Teacher Education Program will be initiated, if necessary, within five calendar days following suspension of the student. To the extent possible, students reinstated after the initiation of the suspension from the Teacher Education Program policy, will be restored to their previous position and status without action detrimental to their studies, progress and evaluation of their work.