Frequently asked questions for Advisors:

• When should a student apply for student teaching?
• Why do students have to apply for student teaching so far in advance?
• What should I do if one of my students has missed the student teaching application deadline?
• What requirements must a student meet to be eligible to student teach?
• What should I do if one of my students needs to postpone or cancel his/her student teaching after he/she has submitted the Student Teaching Application to the Office of Field Experiences?
• What can advisors do to help students progress toward student teaching?

Answers to the frequently asked questions:

• Q: When should a student apply for student teaching?
  If a student plans to student teach during the 2008-2009 academic year, he/she must visit the Office of Field Experiences to sign up for an Application Workshop. See this memo (DOC) or this memo (PDF) for details. The Office of Field Experiences registers students in September for October Student Teaching Application Workshops and in October for November Student Teaching Application Workshops.  Applications for student teaching are accepted during the months of October and November.  Upon successful electronic submission of a student teacher's application, an email will be sent to OFE, to the student, and to the student's advisor confirming that the application has been received.

• Q: Why do students have to apply for student teaching so far in advance?
  Agreeing to mentor a student teacher influences a potential cooperating teacher's (and his/her principal's) long-range planning. As a courtesy to the potential cooperating teachers, we try to request their assistance as far in advance as possible. In addition, other colleges and universities often seek placements for their student teachers in the same school corporations where we frequently place our students. Early requests are more likely to be honored. 

           Placement timeline for a Fall student teacher: (PDF)
           Placement timeline for a Spring student teacher: (PDF)

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• Q: What should I do if one of my students has missed the student teaching application deadline?
  Please contact Jim Gilligan, the Student Teaching Placement Coordinator. Under certain extenuating circumstances, late applications may be accepted. You may call him at 49-47990 or email him.

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• Q: What requirements must a student meet to be eligible to student teach?
  A student must pass through Gate C of the Teacher Education Program by 5:00 PM on the last business day before the week preceding the first week of classes of the student teaching semester.

  In order to pass through Gate C, a student must:
      - Be enrolled in the Teacher Education program
      - Earn passing scores on the Praxis I and Praxis II exams in his/her program area
      - Meet his/her program area's overall GPA and course content requirements
      - Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better in all professional education courses with no grade lower than a "C" and no grades of Incomplete ("I")
      - Complete required methods courses with no grade lower than a "C" 

             These requirements are described in greater detail on the website of The Office of Professional Preparation and Licensure.

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• Q: What should I do if one of my students needs to postpone or cancel his/her student teaching after he/she has submitted the Student Teaching Application to the Office of Field Experiences?
  Please contact Jim Gilligan, the Student Teaching Placement Coordinator, as soon as you learn of any changes in a student's student teaching status.. You may call him at 49-47990 or email him.

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• Q: What can advisors do to help students progress toward student teaching?
    - Monitor every student's GPAs frequently.
    - Be sure that each student takes and passes the required exams well in advance of the Gate C deadline.
    - Encourage the student to compose a well-written, effective student teaching application essay.

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For more information about student teaching, please see the Frequently Asked Questions page.