Education

Felician University offers nationally accredited and state approved undergraduate dual licensure programs leading to Initial Teacher Certification and an endorsement in Teacher of Students with Disabilities: Early Childhood Education & Special Education (PreK-3/TOSD), Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6 & TOSD), Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6 & TOSD)/Subject Matter Specialization (5-8), and Secondary Education & Special Education (K-12 & TOSD).

Our clinically rich School of Education programs are designed to develop personal, intellectual, and professional qualities that are essential for excellent, caring, highly competent teachers. Throughout their experience at Felician, our students are immersed in a culture that exemplifies our Franciscan values of Respect for Human Dignity, Solidarity with the Poor, Justice and Peace, Compassion, and Transformation. In addition to being excellent teachers, our graduates reflect our Franciscan values and our mission in their personal and professional lives and they are prepared to teach and inspire all children with all learning styles.

School of Education Mission Statement

The School of Education at Felician University, in accordance with the Franciscan tradition, fosters competent, caring, and compassionate educators to serve a diverse population by promoting a collaborative spirit, encouraging self-reflection, and emphasizing life-long learning.

The School of Education strives to prepare teachers who:

• Know and understand the New Jersey Professional Teaching Standards and New Jersey Student Learning Standards;
• Value and are committed to the tenets of these standards; and
• Actively engage in applying the intent of the standards within their learning communities.

Programs

Felician University offers state approved programs in School of Education:

• Early Childhood Education & Teacher of Students with Disabilities (PreK-3 & TOSD)
• Elementary Education & Teacher of Students with Disabilities (K-6 & TOSD)
• Elementary Education & Teacher of Students with Disabilities (K-6 & TOSD) and Subject Matter Specialization Endorsement (5-8) in the following content areas: Art, Mathematics, and Science
• Teacher of Mathematics & Teacher of Students with Disabilities (K-12 &TOSD)
• Teacher of Art & Teacher of Students with Disabilities (K-12 & TOSD)
• Teacher of Biology & Teacher of Students with Disabilities (K-12 & TOSD)

Candidates can complete Teacher Certification through traditional, cohort or working adult programming. All candidates, regardless of track, will complete the professional sequence of coursework approved by the NJDOE. All candidates, regardless of track, are expected to adhere to Degree requirements, admission policies, dismissal policies, field experience policies and testing as outlined below. Course modality or program availability may be limited based on program location or cohort.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Education must:

1. Satisfy all University entrance requirements (as well as all SoE Program Admission Requirements listed below).
2. Complete a program of at least 120 semester hours which includes the approved NJDOE professional sequence of courses in:
   • Early Childhood Education/Special Education Elementary Education/Special Education
   • Elementary Education/Special Education/Subject Matter Specialization (Middle School)
   • Secondary Education/Special Education
   • in addition to their approved Arts and Sciences co-major
3. Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA throughout the program. A minimum grade of “C” is required in all academic courses. Courses graded “D” or “F” must be repeated.
4. Receive a grade of “B” or better in the education professional sequence of coursework beginning with EDU 290 (for all education programs)

* Please remember that program requirements are subject to change according to the guidelines and code changes set forth by the State of New Jersey’s Department of Education.

School of Education Program Admissions Policy

(For all undergraduate School of Education Programs)

1. Satisfy all University entrance requirements.
2. Meet the minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. This applies to all transfer students within Felician University (internal) and credited institution/s of higher education (external). CGPA must be in place prior to entering EDU 290.
3. Off-Campus Community College Felician University cohort candidates must have an earned Associates Degree or equivalent. A grade of “C” or better in general education college-level courses is required for teacher education transfer credit. A grade of “B” or better in education and professional related course is required for teacher education program transfer credit.
4. As per NJ State DOE requirements, all candidates must show proof of passing the Praxis CORE examination or satisfying the SAT/ACT waiver prior to the completion of EDU 290 for formal admission to the School of Education. Candidates will not be permitted to continue into the professional sequence of coursework without providing this evidence. *This requirement is subject to change as it is governed by the NJDOE licensure code.

Dismissal and Probationary Policies

If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 but above 2.75, he/she will be placed on probation for one semester. If a student does not obtain a 3.0 GPA in the succeeding semester, the student will be dismissed from the program. A student who is dismissed from the program may apply for readmission after the student obtains a cumulative GPA of 3.0. The student must contact either the Dean or Associate Dean to declare his/her intent to be considered. A student who is readmitted to the program must maintain a minimum 3.0 cum GPA for each subsequent semester after readmission. Candidates who are “readmitted” will be held to the licensure requirements at the time of their readmission.

Dismissal Policy Without Probation

If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, he/she will be put on probation. Candidates admitted to the School of Education Teacher Certification track as Freshman or Transfers who do not establish a 3.0 in their first semester at the university will be dismissed from the program. The student will not be given probationary status. A student who wishes to reapply to the teacher education program must meet all of the requirements above.

School of Education Program Policies

1. Students must complete ANY developmental coursework by the time they complete 30 college level credits. Students who transfer in more than 30 credits and who are in need of remedial work must complete developmental coursework within one year. Students cannot take any 300 level course or above until all developmental coursework is completed.
2. Students must successfully complete all required course-embedded/non course embedded field work and demonstrate appropriate professional dispositions. Students who do not successfully complete all required field work or demonstrate inappropriate professional dispositions will not be permitted to move onto the next semester of the professional sequence.
3. All candidates must successfully take and pass the required Praxis II licensure exams associated to their program of study prior to the beginning of the year-long student teaching experience (EDU 400/401). Candidates may apply for a Dean’s Appeal to begin EDU 400/401 under a contract. No candidate will be permitted to enter EDU 403/404 without successfully passing all required Praxis II licensure exams required by the NJDOE. Candidates may wish to secure a Praxis II Dean’s Appeal request utilizing the NJDOE approved Slide Scale (http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/gpa.htm) if they possess a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average and are within the range provided by the NJDOE. This appeal will allow a candidate to enter into EDU 403/404 with the expectation that the candidate will continue to take the Praxis II test and satisfy the identified passing score. This appeal can NOT be utilized for candidates with less than a 3.0 CGPA. A formal email to the Associate Dean requesting the use of the Slide Scale must be sent the semester prior to EDU 400/401 and must have the most current Praxis II scores, most recent unofficial/official transcripts to demonstrate GPA and a statement requesting the use of the Dean’s Appeal for the Praxis II Slide Scale. *This appeal is contingent on the NJDOE policy at the time of the request.
4. All candidates must successfully complete an approved NJ DOE exit measure. Candidates who do not successfully complete this requirement will NOT be recommended for licensure upon completion of their student internship experience.
5. All students must complete the year-long student internship (2 consecutive semesters) preferably Fall through Spring (September-May). EDU 403/404 must be completed during a student’s last semester and all other graduation requirements should be satisfied before entering that semester.
6. Students wishing to complete clinical experiences in Catholic schools will be required to attend the Archdiocesan Protecting God’s Children program offered on campus.
7. All School of Education students, beginning the first semester of attendance, are required to be fingerprinted and apply for a criminal background check through the NJ Department of Education.
8. All School of Education students must submit an annual negative TB (PPD) test to the Center for Health. If the student has a positive TB test, they must complete an annual TB Symptom Assessment form. Both forms can be found at Center for Health - Felician University of New Jersey. Results can be brought to the Center for Health, mailed, or faxed to (201) 559-3579.
9. Transfer students only (second semester sophomores and first semester juniors) are required to take EDU 290 (Transition into Teaching). Bachelor of Arts in Education for Working Adult (BWA) and all education cohort major students are required to register for EDU 290, Transition into Teaching. Registration for this course is at the discretion of the Dean of the School and/or the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs.
10. Complete a minimum of 20 field hours of supervised contact with children in a special education environment by the end of EDU 290.
11. All candidates entering the School of Education Teacher Certification tracks must meet all admission criteria listed above prior to the completion of EDU 290.
12. To complete the program the following is required: Clinical Practice I and Clinical Practice II (w/minimal grade of B); passing Praxis II exams; submit, complete an approved NJ DOE exit measure; and a minimum cumulative CGPA of 3.0.
13. Maximum Allowable Credits during EDU403/404 The maximum number of credits during the Clinical Practice II semester cannot exceed 15. Exceptions to the above policy will be made at the discretion of the Dean of the School of Education.
14. Students must adhere to all guidelines and policies stated in the Felician Student Handbook and in the Clinical Experience Handbooks (all levels and all programs). Students must adhere to all policies and procedures that are enacted after the publication of the catalog.
15. Areas of study open to Education majors are Art, Biology, Mathematics, Science and Psychology (Psychology for the PreK-3 and K-6 degree programs only). Students may choose any of these disciplines and plan courses in consultation with an assigned faculty advisor.
16. PRAXIS scores must be submitted to the Office of Field Placement. Please select Felician University to receive your scores (code 2321). Be sure to utilize your SSN and the correct code number provided.
17. Every upper-level teacher education student must have evidence of his/her Criminal Background Check and New Jersey State Department of Education Applicant Authorization and Certification form (Substitute Teaching Certificate) in order to register for courses beyond EDU 290. A copy of the form must be submitted to the Office of Field Placement to be placed in the student’s folder.

Transfer Policy for Internal and External Students

1. EDU 290 Transition into Teaching is for the transfer student whose classification level is second semester sophomore or first semester junior. Effective 9/1/15, students in this course are required to take the Praxis CORE examination and show proof of passing.
2. Satisfy all University transfer requirements.
3. All transfer students entering the program must meet the minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
4. Effective 9/1/15, all candidates are required to successfully pass the Praxis CORE examination prior to the completion of EDU 290.
5. A grade of “C” or better in general college-level courses is required for program transfer credit. A grade of “B’ or better in education and professional related courses is required for School of Education program transfer credit.
6. University-level courses related to the program cannot have been completed more than 10 years prior to admission to the program and must meet the same Student Learning Outcomes/Objectives as current course offerings to be counted (including required field experiences).
7. Transferring of college credits will be done on an individual basis.
8. The number of college credits successfully earned will determine the student’s Field Experience and Seminar course.
9. All School of Education students beginning the first semester of attendance are required to be fingerprinted and apply for a criminal background check through the NJ Department of Education prior to formal acceptance to the School of Education program.
10. EDU 290 Transition into Teaching is for all traditional, cohort & Off-Campus Felician Teacher Education Cohort students.

Clinical Experience Policies and Guidelines

The following courses in the Professional Sequence include early field experience requirements and the culminating Clinical Practice I and the capstone Clinical Practice Seminar and Internship: EDU 302, The Integrated Curriculum: Social Studies & ELA; EDU 312, The Integrated Curriculum: ELA & the Content Areas; EDU 304/314, Inquiry Based Learning & the Clinical Experience; EDU 400, Clinical Practice I; EDU 401, Clinical Practice I Seminar; EDU 403, Clinical Practice II Seminar; and EDU 404, Clinical Practice II -the Clinical Internship.

Removal from any EDU course due to Student Performance for Academic and Non Academic Reasons in the Clinical Experience Setting:

A committee comprised of the Director of Internships and Assessment, SoE Associate Dean, the cooperating teacher, university supervisor and seminar instructor will decide if the student should be removed from his/her placement for academic performance, professional or disciplinary reasons. The Committee reserves the right to review each student’s situation on a case-by-case basis and apply the following policy accordingly.

Upon the recommendation of the Committee, the Dean of the School of Education, with the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, reserves the right to dismiss a student from the School of Education at any time for behavior which is deemed unethical, unprofessional or not up to academic standards. The student in question has the right to appeal the decision.

If removed by Felician University for academic reasons, the student will receive a grade of incomplete (“INC”) for that semester. This option is for one time. The Director of Field Placement, in consultation with the Dean of the School and/or Associate Dean, will place the student in another setting for the next succeeding semester in a different school/district.

If the student rejects the second placement, the student will receive a grade of “F” for the EDU course with field requirement and will not have another request for placement made.

If the student experiences difficulty in the first placement but asks to remain at the first placement and subsequently fails any of the next courses/field experiences in the professional sequence, no second attempt will be permitted.

If the student is removed for something other than academic reasons, the student will receive a grade of “F” and will be dismissed from the program. The student may appeal the decision following the guidelines in the Felician University catalog.

When the student is in another setting, he/she must attempt to remediate all deficiencies cited during their previous experience by the end of that semester. In this second setting, the student will implement a written action plan created by the Committee. During the second attempt, the student will be required to attain specific performance benchmarks at three-week intervals, which will be evaluated by the cooperating teacher, supervisor, and seminar instructor.

A different supervisor will be assigned for the second attempt. The student will be required to pay the cooperating teacher’s stipend for Clinical Practice I and/or II.

At any point during the second attempt in any professional sequence course/field experience the student may be removed from the placement for deficiencies noted by members of the Committee. The student will receive a grade of “F” and will be dismissed from the program.

If the student fails his/her second attempt, Felician University will not find another placement and will issue a grade of “F” on the student’s transcript.

If the Director of Internships and Assessment and the supervisor determine that the placement is unsatisfactory, the student may be removed from that setting. The Office of Field Placement will obtain a suitable placement and the appropriate number of days or weeks will be added to the new assignment.

All students are required to complete the Clinical Competency Inventory (CCI) during their Clinical Internships. The CCI will be done by the intern, cooperating teacher and university supervisor during the 4th and 8th observation during EDU 403/404. Candidates must achieve a cumulative average of 3.0 or better (Proficient) by the University supervisor on the 7th observation to successfully pass the student internship. Candidates who do not achieve a 3.0 (Proficient Score) will be required to repeat EDU 403/404 for another semester. Candidates who are unable to meet the Proficient requirement after one semester extension will be removed from the program and a grade of “F” will be given for EDU 404.

Withdrawal from any Professional Sequence course with embedded or attached field experiences:

• If a student withdraws from any professional sequence course with embedded or attached field experiences after the add/drop period has expired, the Office of Field Placement will not obtain another field placement for the student. This student will receive a grade of “F” on his/her transcript and will be dismissed from the program. Exceptions to this procedure would be determined by the Committee.

Dismissal for other than Academic Reasons:

• If a student is removed for other than academic reasons, the student will receive a grade of “F” and will be dismissed from the program. The student may appeal the decision following the guidelines in the Felician University catalog.

Internship Education Program

Parochial, private and public-school systems are used for clinical experience in the following counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Passaic, Sussex, Morris, and Warren. The Office of Field Placement provides and secures all pre-service and student teaching placements. School of Education students are not permitted to secure and/or pursue their own clinical experience and/or Clinical Practice II assignment. The student may not contact school personnel, i.e. superintendent of schools, principal, cooperating teacher, school board member, etc. for a placement. This contact includes an in-person meeting, telephone, written, or email communication. If a student secures a placement via personal contact or communication, the placement will not be accommodated, or the assignment will be terminated. The School of Education student will be placed in appropriate field experiences in accordance to the course sequence being taken.

Field Experience/Seminar Policies and Requirements

All School of Education students are required to:

1. Submit the required Personal Data Form (PDF) one semester prior to the requested field placement. Candidates in EDU 290 should be submitting their PDFs for the next two semesters. PDFs received after that timeline will not be guaranteed a field placement and may be removed from the corresponding coursework causing a delay in completing their degree on time. Due to the challenges with securing appropriate placements, students who meet this time request will be placed first.
2. Submit the required Clinical Experience Attendance Form at the end of the semester. The cooperating teacher’s (CT) signature is required for each student-attended clinical experience day.
3. Submit, at the end of the current semester, the required cooperating teacher Field Evaluation Form. The CT signature is required on the Clinical Experience Evaluation Form and the Clinical Experience Attendance Form.
4. Submit all required clinical experience documentations during posted timelines during the current semester. A student who fails to submit all or one of the required documentations will receive a grade of “Incomplete.” The “Incomplete” grade will remain until all the required documentation has been properly completed and submitted by the student. An incomplete grade must be reconciled within the proper time frame in accordance with Felician policy. Please note, candidates cannot continue in the professional sequence of courses with any outstanding incompletes or grades below a “B.”
5. Students are required to complete all field hours as determined by each professional sequence course for the duration as expected/required. EDU 400/401 requires a minimum of 2 days per week and EDU 403/404 require 5 days per week (full time) for a minimum of 15 weeks.
6. Athletes must consult and get approval from the Associate Dean regarding the timing of the year-long internship due to scheduling of sport. Based on season, candidates may need to adjust the semesters to accommodate the required field experiences.
7. Attend seminar class during the entire semester for all levels.
8. Meet with their seminar professor for a mid-term and final conference for all levels.
9. Achieve a grade of “B” or better in all clinical experiences. If a student does not achieve a grade of “B” or better on the first attempt, he/she will need to repeat the entire course, both the clinical experience and seminar components. The student will not be permitted to register for the subsequent level clinical experience course until he/she has repeated and successfully achieved a grade of “B” or better in the repeated clinical experience course. The repeating of a clinical experience course will impact the student’s status in the School of Education Program by requiring an additional semester in order to complete the repeated clinical experience course. As stated in the Felician University Catalog: “The Repeat grade becomes the official grade. The original grade and repeat grade appear on the academic transcript.” A student who does not achieve a grade of “B” or better after the repeat of the clinical experience/seminar course will be dismissed from the School of Education program.
10. Complete all make-up field absences by the end of the current semester. Candidates who do not satisfy the field hours within the semester will need to repeat the course/field experience. A candidate may submit an appeal regarding this decision due to extenuating circumstances to the Associate Dean.

Field Experience/Seminar Attendance Policies

For Seminar:

1. Any unexcused absence will result in an F for the attendance portion of the seminar grade.
2. A student who is absent more than 20% of the required class time during the semester may be withdrawn from the course (Seminar and Clinical Experience).

For Field:

1. One excused absence is permitted which must be made up in collaboration with the cooperating teacher and seminar professor. More than one field absence results in an “F” for the attendance portion of the field grade. A student who is absent more than 20% of the required number of clinical experience days during the semester may be withdrawn from the course (seminar and clinical experience).
2. No clinical experience is to be made-up at the expense of scheduled course time, as is policy for all School of Education students.

* Extenuating circumstances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Dean of the School.

School of Education Student Athlete

Student athletes are not permitted to miss scheduled class time or field due to practices and/or scrimmages.
All full or half day absences from the clinical experience must be made up before the end of the current semester. This must meet the approval of the Cooperating Teacher (CT), school principal and university supervisor.
Student athletes must provide the Clinical Practice and Seminar professor with their game schedule. The University supervisor/seminar professor and the student athlete will review the schedule for away and home games that may conflict with field and seminar class. Make up possibilities will be discussed between the University supervisor and the student. Final decisions regarding a candidate’s ability to remain in the field course/experience will be at the discretion of the Associate Dean.
Student athletes are not permitted to leave their clinical experience for home games without the approval of their college supervisor/seminar professor. Education student athletes are placed in field assignments close to the University. The proximity of the clinical experience to the University will dictate the field placement departure time.
No clinical experience is to be made up at the expense of scheduled course time, as is policy for all School of Education students.
Student athletes must notify their Cooperating Teacher and University supervisor/seminar professor in advance of away games. Notification the day of an away game is unprofessional. The Associate Dean can remove an athlete from a course/experience if the school experience is compromised because of scheduling.

Clinical Experience Procedures

The Office of Field Placement provides and secures all pre-service and student teaching field placements/ assignments. School of Education students are required to complete and submit a Personal Data Form (PDF) to the Office of Field Placement. A current PDF is submitted the semester prior in advance and should be updated if a situation arises requiring them to be updated between time of submission and field experience. The clinical experience placements and settings are varied and complement the student’s academic level and program.

1. All teacher education students must have field experience in an urban and special education setting (if possible).
2. Field experience cannot be waived.
3. Toddler and day-care experience cannot be accepted in lieu of the field experience.
4. A student who is employed in an accredited educational site may request a change of class setting within the employment site for one field course. An appropriate grade-level setting will be obtained for the student by the Office of Field Experiences of the School of Education. Location and program suitability will be reviewed before approval is granted. The school must be an accredited educational site. Day-care and toddler employment sites cannot qualify for a change of class setting.

* Extenuating circumstances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Dean of the School of Education.

Clinical Practice I & II Placement Policy for School of Education Programs

A candidate will not be assigned to a school; /town/district if the following criteria apply:

1. A candidate has or currently resides in a requested school/town/district and has family members currently employed for said district.
2. A candidate has been or is currently employed in a requested school/town/district.*
3. A candidate has been or is currently an aide/assistant, board member (or related to one) or a PTA/PTO executive member in a requested school/town/district.**
4. A candidate has children attending a school in a requested school/town/district.
5. A candidate has a relative attending/ employed in a requested school/town/district.
6. A candidate has any other affiliation with any of the requested schools/towns/districts.
7. A candidate who fails to indicate any of the above information on the Clinical Practice Application Form/Clinical Practice I & II Request for Placement Form which is processed by the Office of Field Experiences may be removed from this placement.

* A candidate working in a private school that does not require certification will have their situation reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

** A candidate who has been an aide or a paraprofessional may complete CP I and II in their school of employment with the approval of the Dean and/or Associate Dean.