Transition Points

The first gateway occurs once the student has declared a major in liberal studies (P-6 licensure), notifies the registrar’s office of intent to earn a teaching license at the secondary level (6-12 licensure) in English, Family & Consumer Sciences, History & Social Sciences, Biology, or Chemistry, and contacts the TEP secondary education coordinator. Candidates who plan to earn P-12 licensure in Health & Physical Education, Music, Spanish, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts notify the registrar of this plan, notify their advisor in the designated discipline, and contact the secondary education coordinator. Please note that applying to TEP is the first step to becoming a teacher. TEP Pre-admission candidates may enroll in up to four education courses while completing all requirements for admission (Gateway 2).

POSSIBLE EDUCATION COURSES: EDUC 140: Introduction to Teaching; EDUC 200: Educational Psychology; EDUC 215: Diversity in the Classroom; and EDUC 316 Strategies for Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary Classroom (elementary candidates only).

REQUIRED PROGRAM CONTENT: Before applying to the Teacher Education Program, the candidate must pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA).

The following requirements must be met prior to admission to the TEP and maintained throughout the program:

1. Maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or better;
2. Pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment;
3. Apply to the Teacher Education Program;

NOTE: Candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree and are seeking to fulfill requirements for certification and licensure must adhere to the same requirements as degree seeking candidates.

PROBABLE EDUCATION COURSES: (For P-6-Liberal Studies Candidates) EDUC 330: Early Literacy, EDUC 332 Intermediate Literacy, EDUC 371E: Classroom Management, Elementary; (For 6-12 Candidates) EDUC 334: Literacy in the Content Area and EDUC 372: Classroom Management, Secondary; (For P-12 Designated Disciplines Candidates) EDUC 334: Literacy in the Content Area, and EDUC 372: Classroom Management, Secondary

REQUIRED PROGRAM CONTENT: Complete application for student teaching; complete background check

ADMISSION PROCESS

As mentioned, admission to the TEP does not imply admission to student teaching. Student teaching applications are available online and must be submitted by December 1 for Fall candidates and March 1 for Spring candidates of the academic year prior to student teaching. Further, candidates must:

1. Have maintained the requirements set forth for admission to the Program;
2. Have continued to advance in knowledge, skills, and dispositions in General Education, the content area major, and TEP courses and experiences;
3. Have completed all professional education courses with a grade of “C” or higher;
4. Complete the Student Teaching Application, which includes a plan to have taken the PRAXIS Content Area Knowledge Assessment and Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE, elementary only) prior the start of student teaching;
5. Obtain approval from the department of the candidate’s content major;
6. Have demonstrated dispositions of personal and professional behaviors that support student learning and/or the performance of other professional responsibilities as measured by field experience evaluations by classroom clinical faculty and BC TEP supervisors.

PROBABLE EDUCATION COURSES:

P-6-Liberal Studies Candidates: EDUC 380X: Practicum in Current Teaching Techniques; EDUC 406: Curriculum & Instruction in Elementary Classroom; EDUC 451: Seminar in Educational Practices, Elementary; EDUC 470: Professional Student Teaching or EDUC 465: Professional Student Teaching for Dual ESL Endorsement

6-12 Candidates: EDUC 380X: Practicum in Current Teaching Techniques; EDUC 412: Curriculum & Instruction in Secondary Classroom; EDUC 452: Seminar in Educational Practices, Secondary; EDUC 470: Professional Student Teaching

For P-12 Designated Disciplines Candidates: EDUC 380X: Practicum in Current Teaching Techniques; EDUC 452: Seminar in Educational Practices, Secondary; EDUC 470: Professional Student Teaching

REQUIRED PROGRAM CONTENT: Complete required modules; Achieve certification in CPR/AED/First Aid from American Heart Association or the American Red Cross; P-6 candidates must also complete the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) Test (after completion of EDUC 332)

If you have fulfilled all College and TEP requirements, Bridgewater College will recommend you for licensure to the Commonwealth of Virginia; however, the actual awarding of licensure is granted by the Virginia Department of Education. In order to be considered a program completer and receive Bridgewater College’s recommendation for licensure, a candidate must:

1. All professional EDUC courses with a grade of “C” or higher;
2. All field experiences and the EDUC 380X Practicum with a grade of “C” or higher and student teaching with a grade of “S;”
3. Master Core Skills (if applicable) of the general education requirement with a grade of “C” or higher in each course;
4. Pass all required assessments: VCLA, RVE (P-6 licensure only), and PRAXIS Content Area knowledge assessment;
5. Child Abuse modules as required by VDOE;
6. Dyslexia modules as required by VDOE;
7. In-person CPR, First Aid, and AED training;
8. Requirements for the B.S. or B.A. degree;
9. Maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher;
10. All required paperwork for licensure processing

The Director of the Teacher Education Program (TEP) has the primary responsibility of investigating allegations and enforcing formal disciplinary sanctions for the TEP. Informally, faculty, staff or outside field supervisors can deliver a warning (written and/or verbal). The College’s grievance policy outlines the decision appeals process.

Warning (Verbal and/or Written)

Every faculty, staff, College supervisor, and cooperating teacher can institute a warning for violations of policies that are not considered egregious. A warning can precede further sanctions including dismissal from the program. A verbal and/or written warning, however, is not required before further sanctions can be imposed. Not every situation will warrant a warning first before more significant disciplinary sanctions can occur. Likewise, not every faculty, staff, college supervisor or cooperating teacher consistently applies warnings for given circumstances. Understand that any violation of policy can immediately result in disciplinary sanctions, including dismissal from the program.

Procedures for Warning

1. In the event of one or more disciplinary issues, faculty (one or more) will meet with the candidate to review the situation.
2. The faculty may consult with other relevant faculty, school administrator, or classroom teacher to gather further information.
3. A verbal warning may be extended to the candidate without further pending action. If the faculty feel as if a written warning is warranted, the document is to be signed by the candidate and provided to the Director of Teacher Education for placement in the candidate’s records.
4. This process is an informal disciplinary category and follow-up occurs only with continued infraction.

Improvement Plan

Improvement Plan indicates that the candidate has failed to meet the academic or behavior standards necessary for the teaching profession but has not reached the level of more formalized probation or program dismissal. This status indicates that the student is nearing the point of program probation and/or dismissal and is using this step to attempt to remedy the deficient issue(s). Candidates with an Improvement Plan must have the status removed prior to their admission to student teaching.  If an Improvement Plan is required during student teaching, the problem must be resolved before the student teaching placement is concluded or the ability to graduate will be impacted.  The individual program faculty can design an Improvement Plan but a copy must be filed with the Director of the Teacher Education Program.

Procedures for Improvement Plan

1. In the event of one or more disciplinary issues, faculty (one or more) will meet with the candidate to review the situation.
2. The faculty may consult with other relevant faculty, school administrator, or classroom teacher to gather further information.
3. The faculty member will then create an Improvement Plan with the candidate and submit the plan to the Director of TEP.
4. A copy of the Improvement Plan will be placed in the candidate’s TEP file.
5. The Director of TEP and/or designee will conduct tracking, including resolution, removal, and/or elevation of the Improvement Plan to a more formalized level of discipline.

Probation

Status of probation will require a written plan for remediation.  In some instances, the remediation will include outlined steps of improvement. In other circumstances, time and consistent positive action may be the only solution for full program reinstatement.  While candidates on probation are still Teacher Education candidates, any other sanction delivered while the candidate is on probation will result in immediate dismissal from the Teacher Education Program (TEP).  Candidates on probation must have the status removed prior to their admission to student teaching.  If probation is required during student teaching, the problem must be resolved before the student teaching placement is concluded or the ability to graduate will be impacted. The director of TEP will investigate allegations and enforce probation status.

Procedures for Probation

1. Egregious and/or repeated violations of program policy, behaviors and/or infractions of any requirements for admissions will result in referral to the Director of Teacher Education Program (TEP) for investigation.
2. The Director of TEP may consult with other relevant faculty, program coordinator, school administrator, or classroom teacher to gather further information.
3. The Director of TEP will interview the candidate to gather further information.
4. The Director of TEP, in consultation with the relevant program coordinator will determine that the candidate’s actions and/or behaviors warrant probation status.
5. The Director of TEP and relevant program coordinator will meet with the candidate and provide documentation outlining the criteria for probation and resolution.
6. The candidate, Director of TEP, and program coordinator will all sign the probation letter, giving the candidate a copy and placing an electronic copy in the candidate’s file.
7. The Director of TEP and/or designee will conduct tracking, including resolution, removal, and/or elevation of probation to program dismissal.

Dismissal

The TEP may dismiss a candidate from the program for failure to meet, satisfy, or demonstrate satisfactory performance in one or more of the following areas:

• The candidate fails to maintain the requirements set forth for admission to the TEP;
• The candidate lacks the ability to communicate and work effectively with peers, school personnel, and/or P-12 candidates;
• The candidate’s behavior jeopardizes the education, safety, or well-being of the candidates as determined by school personnel, BC TEP education administrators, or other BC faculty;
• The candidate fails to meet the requirements of other disciplinary sanctions
• The candidate fails to meet the legal requirements and professional expectations as set forth by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Teacher Licensure Regulations.

Candidates dismissed from the program may apply for re-acceptance into the program, provided that all program requirements have been met. Final acceptance into the program will be based upon completion of all admission criteria. The status of dismissal from the TEP is different than dismissal from the College. While dismissal from the College dictates dismissal from the TEP, dismissal from the TEP does not necessarily imply dismissal from the College. The director of TEP will investigate allegations and enforce program dismissal.

Procedures for Probation

1. Egregious and/or repeated violations of program policy, behaviors, violation of the terms of probation, and/or infractions of any requirements for admissions will result in referral to the Director of Teacher Education Program (TEP) for investigation.
2. The Director of TEP may consult with other relevant faculty, TEP coordinator, school administrator, or classroom teacher to gather further information.
3. The Director of TEP will interview the candidate to gather further information.
4. The Director of TEP, in consultation with the relevant program coordinator will determine that the candidate’s actions and/or behaviors warrant dismissal from the TEP program.
5. The Director of TEP and relevant program coordinator will meet with the candidate and provide documentation outlining the reason for program dismissal.
6. The candidate, Director of TEP, and program coordinator will all sign the dismissal letter, giving the candidate a copy and placing an electronic copy in the candidate’s file.

Appeal

A candidate who is on probation or dismissed from the Bridgewater College Teacher Education Program may appeal the decision following the College’s Grievance Process.