COUNCIL FOR EDUCATOR PREPARATION
Minutes for April 8, 2024
Via Teams at 3:15 p.m.
The eighth meeting of the Council for Educator Preparation for the 2023-2024 academic year was held Monday, April 8, 2024 via Teams at 3:15 p.m.
Members present: Kim Anderson, Susannah Berry, Bethann Cole, Holly Fales (Chair), Tara Ferguson (Art Grad student rep), Tara Ferguson (G student rep), Alana Freeman, Dean Andre Green, Jennifer Gallagher, CJ Korenek (LCSN Rep), Adelyn Lowry (Elementary UG student rep), Rhea Miles, Jeff Pizzutilla, Robbie Quinn, Sarah Sconyers, Dawn Shelton, Nicole Tripp, Cynthia Wagoner, Christy Walcott and Kevin White. Absent were Rob Benson, Phyllis Broughton, Tim Dameron, Maureen Grady, Laura Levi-Altstaedter, Bethany McKissick, Lisanne Shaffer-Dickerson, Rita Soulen and Jennifer Williams.
Approval of Minutes March 11, 2024 Meeting
A motion was made by Susannah Berry and seconded by Kevin White to approve the minutes from March 11, 2024. The minutes were approved.
Announcements
Holly Fales shared the following announcements with the group:
- The Latham Clinical Teacher Conference will be held April 9. Catrina Davis in the Academic Success Center will be sending notices of this event and asking for proposals for breakout sessions that offer resources, tips, and tools that can be easily applied and utilized for PK-12 teachers. The Clinical Teacher of the Year will be announced.
- The PIRATE program for high school future teachers will be held June 12-14. It is a recruitment initiative designed to create a pipeline of high school students who are interested in becoming teachers. It is a free two-day overnight program that will offer rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors an opportunity to learn about teacher education programs at ECU. Participants will interact with current ECU teacher education students and faculty and staff. Participants will learn about college life at ECU, explore the field of education through engaging and innovative activities and make meaningful relationships with peers.
Standing Update from Office of Clinical Experiences & Alternative Licensure
Dr. Nicole Tripp, Lead Coordinator, gave the following report.
- Internship applications for fall 2024/spring 2025 have been shared with the following rounds for submission: Round 1 April 1, Round 2 May 8, and Round 3 July 1st by 5 p.m.
- Recruitment and intake is still continuing in the Residency Program.
Standing Update from the Office of Assessment, Data Management and Digital Learning
Sarah Sconyers, Director reported the following:
- CAEP Annual Report
OADD is continuing to work with Advanced Program coordinators to validate key assessments for CAEP, this was part of the phase-in plan for advanced programs.
- Canvas and Taskstream
Reminder that Canvas assignments must be created for any items being collected and evaluated in Taskstream for this term. Data will be pulled the Monday after Spring commencement.
- Exit surveys are currently live for the COE exit surveys, so please encourage folks in your areas if those are relevant to you to participate. We do want to get some good response rates so that we can really use that data for program improvement, but also for things like your accreditation.
Old Business:
Upper Division Admission Recommendations-Policy Committee
Dr. Fales kept this under old business because we were to have the Policy Committee come back to us with the Upper Division Admission Recommendations that were referred to them. Dr. White did not have anything else to add. They did not make any changes to the verbiage, so the report from the committee would be a motion and a second. The Policy Committee voted to accept the Upper Division (UD) recommendations. We will be voting on these five (5) recommendations separately today by Poll Voting.
- Recommendation 1: No longer require candidates to demonstrate computer competencies.
- Recommendation 2: Interviews will not be required for all candidates. Candidates that have a 2.8 or lower GPA would be identified as needing additional support and will be required to meet with program faculty for a “Candidate Success Meeting”. This is to help the student maintain the required 2.7 GPA to progress to Upper Level courses.
- Recommendation 3: Essays will not be required for admittance to UD.
- Recommendation 4: Early Experience courses will still be required for UD.
Students must complete the Early Experience course with a C or better to be admitted to UD. Program areas can allow an Early Experience course substitution for Associate in Teacher Preparation transfer candidates that have scored a C or better in EDU 250 as outlined by program specific transfer degree plans.
- Recommendation 5: UD Applications moves to SONIA (procedural change).
All five Upper Division recommendations were approved by majority vote.
Timeline: All current Upper Division procedures will remain in effect until July 1, 2024. New requirements would go into effect in Fall 2024 if the recommendations are adopted.
*Minimum admission test scores and GPA requirements are set forth by the state of North Carolina and cannot be waived by the EPP. See § 115C-269.15. Minimum admissions requirements for educator preparation programs, item (b). https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2017/Bills/Senate/PDF/S599v7.pdf
Note: Disclosure of criminal background, student code of conduct and unprofessional ratings would still be addressed by OCE. This may require an additional candidate meeting with OCE depending on the situation. This process will not change.
There will be significant changes to the Welcome to Teacher Education handbook next year.
Dr. Fales will begin drafting current changes and send out as some changes will go into effect as of July 1. She will make sure that our advising center and the advisors that are outside of the College of Education are notified as well to make sure that these changes are in effect. She will try to get the Welcome to Teacher Ed Handbook for the upcoming year out early so that we can know that those changes are in there.
Dr. Fales recognized and thanked members of the Council for working on this and for the thoughtful discussions and feedback.
Susannah Berry reported on the NCACTE Student Teacher of the Year award. An email was sent to departments regarding nominations due by May 1. After being reviewed the name will be given to Holly Fales prior to May 24 deadline submission date. The winner is announced in the spring and recognized at NCATE and Fall Convocation. ECU has had a good track record in the past.
Standing Committees
Admission and Retention: Susannah Berry, chair—No report.
Curriculum: Rita Soulen, Chair – No report.
Evaluation & Planning: Jenni Gallagher and Cynthia Wagoner, Co-Chairs –no report
- Policy: Kevin White and Nicole Tripp, Co-Chairs—No additional report after UD recommendations.
With no further business, Rhea Miles moved to adjourn and Sarah Sconyers seconded. The meeting adjourned at 3:48 p.m. There is a placeholder for a meeting on May 13, 2024, but likely this meeting will not be necessary and any pertinent updates will be sent via email. Dr. Fales will notify the Council if there needs to be a meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Sherry S. Tripp