December 2023 Minutes

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COUNCIL FOR EDUCATOR PREPARATION

Minutes for December 11, 2023

Via Teams at 3:15 p.m.

The fourth meeting of the Council for Educator Preparation for the 2023-2024 academic year was held Monday, December 11, 2023 via Teams at 3:15 p.m.  

Members present:  Kim Anderson, Alice Arnold for Robbie Quinn, Rob Benson, Susannah Berry, Bethann Cole, Tim Dameron, Holly Fales (Chair), Tara Ferguson (Art Grad student rep), Alana Freeman, Dean Andre Green, Jennifer Gallagher, CJ Korenek (LCSN Rep), Laura Levi-Altstaedter, Adelyn Lowry (Elementary UG student rep), Bethany McKissick, Rhea Miles, Jeff Pizzutilla, Sarah Sconyers, Dawn Shelton, Rita Soulen, Nicole Tripp, Cynthia Wagoner, Christy Walcott, Kevin White, and Jennifer Williams.  Absent were, Phyllis Broughton, Maureen Grady, and Lisanne Shaffer-Dickerson.

Approval of Minutes November 13, 2023 Meeting

A motion was made by Bethann Cole and seconded by Jeff Pizzutilla to approve the minutes from November 13, 2023. The minutes were approved.

Announcements

Holly Fales shared the following announcements with the group:

  • December 4, 2023 is the mandatory Intern II licensure Seminar.
  • The LCSN Joint Advisory Board Meeting will be held February 7 in Harvey Hall.  Faculty are also invited.
  • The Education Career Fair will be held March 13 for Intern II candidates.  This is mandatory for interns and an opportunity to network with more than a hundred employers.
  • 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.

Standing Update from the Office of Assessment, Data Management and Digital Learning

Sarah Sconyers, Director reported the following:

  • Faculty with course assignments in Taskstream need to evaluate those in Taskstream this semester. 
  • Exist Surveys for UG and Grad level tentative graduates were sent out 11/29.  The survey closed 12/13/23.  Students received a link earlier via email through Qualtrics,
  • The Unit Assessment Report reviews performed for select program by the Institutional Assessment Review Committee were distributed by IPAR.  Program areas will need to review and make changes based on recommendations by December 15th.  If programs need to make changes to Unit Assessment Plans for the 2023-2024 reporting cycle, they should send any changes to Sarah Sconyers for review, by the end of January.

Standing Update from Office of Clinical Experiences & Alternative Licensure

Dr. Nicole Tripp, Lead Coordinator, gave the following report: 

Clinical Experiences 

  • The second round of Intern I applications are due January 8th before 5 p.m.
  • January 9th-virtual training for Spring university supervisors.  The OADD office is going to take the helm and provide important information for Taskstream and GoReact. University supervisors are highly encouraged to attend. We try to tape this session in case of conflicting schedules.  
  • As university supervisors are assigned to our candidates, they are added to the University Supervisor Training Canvas Course.  Canvas is the primary source of information for university supervisors each semester. CPAST refresher is also included and the Spring 24 US Memo is uploaded to the course.
  • Dr. Tripp will be sending out to program area contacts Intern and CT packets, but everything is also in the Canvas module for download. OCE is trying to reduce the number of emails to have a one stop shop in the Canvas module.
  • Addison Sortini in Alternative Licensure will be processing travel.
  • There are two approved supervision models right now for our candidates:
    • Hybrid supervision model for traditional, on-campus candidates that are placed within the Latham Clinical School Network districts.
      • Supervisors have the option to go to the initial visit, whether that’s face to face or virtual.
      • Observations 1 and 3, Virtual: Supervisors will use the GoReact platform to provide feedback on candidate videos for observation one and three.
      • Observations 2 and 4, In Person: University supervisors would go face to face on the 2nd and 4th trips. That’s when they do the mid-point CPAST observation and final CPAST observation 4.
    • Virtual Supervision Model for distance education students (Partnership Teach, select BK and FACS). All visits will be virtual via GoReact.
    • In all models Supervisors will still need to discuss all ratings with the Clinical Teacher and the CPAST should include a three-way post conference.
  • Dispositions were completed by the Clinical Teacher at the end of Internship I. University supervisors can see them once assigned and will need to review and provide sign off as they start the Intern II semester.
  • OCE is in process of sending out reminders to CTs and Interns for dispositions and final forms.
  • Early Release-There have been issues with Early Release denials due to Emerging ratings on the third observation. The current policy states that there should not be any emerging ratings of the third evaluation and we do not allow Supervisors to go back and change ratings. Program areas need to review the Early Release policy and we can discuss if changes need to be made to the existing policy.

Alternative Licensure Updates

  • We did begin recruitment for our fall 24 residency candidates and continuous recruitment for Birth-Kindergarten candidates.
  • Applications for fall intakes in the Residency Program began December 4.There are approximately 40 people in a GPA support class.

Old Business:

Professional License Inventory Survey

Dr. Fales sent a spreadsheet to Charlene Lee for all program areas in the same layout as the Qualtrics survey. There are some states that will not accept our education program and those were provided on the list, some could not be determined from the state website.

New Business—Updated Practica and Internship Dress Code

  • Nicole Tripp shared a draft of the updated candidate dress code. Faculty inquiries prompted the revision of the current practica and internship dress code policy.
  • Emphasis on aligning with school district dress codes rather than imposing more stringent requirements.
  • Inclusion of accommodations for religious practices or medical reasons.
  • Use of an acceptable/Not acceptable chart for clarity.
  • Specific mention of physical education dress standards for both male and female candidates.
  • Susannah Berry shared information about the Professionally Purple Closet in Rivers 143, recently opened by Human Development and Family Science. The closet provides access to professional clothing, scheduling opportunities, and employment assistance. Suggestion to include this resource along with the dress code guidelines.
  • Recommendations to include scrubs (SPED) or chef’s uniform (FACS) as acceptable attire.
  • Next Steps and Follow-Up
  • Program areas to provide feedback on the proposed dress code.
  • Consideration of additional feedback during future meetings.

Standing Committees

Curriculum: Rita Soulen, Chair provided the following update:

Literacy Stud, Eng, & Hist Educ – UG READ is proposing a new course in the Reading Concentration. READ 3550 will replace READ 5316 in the Reading Concentration Course sequence, which is a choice within the Elementary Education, BS Degree Program.

Library Science – GR

The Library Science Program is proposing to revise the titles and course descriptions for four library science courses: 

  • LIBS 6014 – Introduction to Reference to Reference and Information Sources & Services
  • LIBS 6822 – Genealogy for Librarians to Genealogy Resources in Libraries
  • LIBS 7160 – The Adult Reader to Responding to Reading in Libraries
  • LIBS 6989 – Early Internship to School Culture Observations and Educational Theory

Additionally, the Program is proposing to reduce the required observational hours for LIBS 6989 – Early Internship from 110 to 50. 

Evaluation & Planning:  Jenni Gallagher and Cynthia Wagoner, Co-Chairs

  • The committee is continuing work surveying programs on how to promote dispositions goals and provide support to students and tracking. 

Admission and Retention: Susannah Berry, Chair

  • The committee is continuing to review current Upper Division procedures and will present suggested changes at the January 8, 2024 meeting.  
  • Policy:  Kevin White and Nicole Tripp, Co-Chairs—No Report

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.  The next CEP meeting will be January 8, 2024. 

Future Meeting Dates:

  • February 12, 2024
  • March 11, 2024
  • April 8, 2024

Respectfully submitted,

Sherry S. Tripp

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