Pittsburg State University

Council For Teacher Education Authorization

The Council for Teacher Education is the academic council of the University authorized to ensure that all professional education programs of Pittsburg State University are unified and coordinated to carry out the responsibilities of establishing and implementing policies and procedures which affect teacher education and teacher candidates campus-wide. Faculty Senate By-Law VII states that the Council is not a legislative body, but rather “serves to provide communication linkages and cooperation between the campus-wide teacher education units, the unit for Teacher Education (the College of Education), school practitioners, professional organizations/associations, the State Department of Education and education students.” All actions of the Council are to be considered recommendations to the Dean of the College of Education, who serves as the Teacher Education Unit Head. An annual report is provided to the Faculty Senate by the Dean.

The College of Education Constitution lists the Council for Teacher Education among those councils advisory to the Dean; in particular, the Council advises the Dean as he/she carries out the role of Teacher Education Unit Head. The Dean “is recognized as having responsibility for administrative leadership and for implementing adopted policies, standards, and requirements for teacher education, both undergraduate and graduate.” (Senate By-Law VII Teacher Education)

Membership

Both the Senate Constitution (By-Law VII) and the College of Education Constitution state that the membership of the council “shall consist of teaching faculty selected from the Faculty for Teacher Education unless otherwise designated to represent the various constituencies involved in and concerned with Teacher Education at Pittsburg State University.

The Senate Constitution and the College of Education Constitution define the Faculty for Teacher Education as those person who 1) teach one or more courses in professional education, 2) provide professional services to education students such as advising, supervising student teaching or practicum experiences, 3) who administer some portion of the professional education unit, or 4) are designated by their department chairs as eligible for teacher education faculty status. The Faculty for Teacher Education includes both faculty in the College of Education and faculty in the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Technology, and other schools involved in teacher education. Each academic year, the Dean prepares a list of the membership of the Faculty for Teacher Education and distributes it to all members. Should changes in membership occur during the course of an academic year, the Dean is to be notified by department chairpersons.

Members of the Council for Teacher Education are selected from Faculty for Teacher Education by departments that house teacher education programs. Each teacher education program is represented on the Council. A voting representative is selected from each of the following areas:

1. Art
2. Biology
3. Chemistry
4. Communications (Speech/Drama)
5. English
6. Modern Languages and Literatures Department (Foreign Languages)
7. Family and Consumer Sciences
8. Mathematics
9. Music
10. Physics (Physics, Earth, and Space Sciences)
11. History/Government (Social Science Department)
12. Technology Education
13. Elementary Education/Early Childhood/Reading Specialist/ESOL
14. Special Education
15. Physical Education
16. Psychology/ School Counselor/School Psychology
17. Educational Leadership
18. Library Media

General education programs as well as specialty and professional studies are represented through the selection process. If no member of the Graduate Council is on the CTE, one is appointed by the Dean.

Public schools are represented on the Council by:

1. A superintendent selected from the Superintendents’ Forum; and
2. Two public school teachers nominated by Council members.

Students are represented on the Council by three teacher candidates (i.e., students who have been admitted to the teacher education program or pursuing a graduate education program):

1. One recommended by the Kansas National Education Association Student Programs;
2. One recommended by the Student Senate; and
3. One recommended by Council members.

Recommendations are made to the Dean who verifies the appointments of the council.

The Dean of the College of Education serves as the Chair of the Council. An at-large member (without vote, but with full decision privileges) may be appointed by the Dean to interact with Council for a specified period of time determined by the needs of the Council to address a particular project, program and/or issue.

Purpose

The Council may initiate discussion of matters of policy, regulations and procedures or may respond to matters for discussion referred from the College of Education Faculty. In all matters, the council reports to the Dean of the College of Education.

Objectives for the Council are to:

• Recruit talented teacher candidates, focusing particularly on the recruitment of candidates from minority populations.
• Monitor enrollment patterns.
• Assure consistent and accurate advising for teacher candidates.
• Collaborate in the design, delivery and evaluation of curriculum for teacher education students.
• Review all changes in approved teacher education programs and approve new programs to be submitted to the State Department of Education.
• Plan and provide faculty development activities for cooperating personnel and teacher education faculty.
• Harmonize long-range plans prior to the submission of long range planning documents to university planners.
• Conduct follow-up studies to obtain feedback from students, cooperating teachers, school administrators and faculty.
• Review NCATE, KSDE, and professional standards and recommend initiatives to ensure full compliance.
• Discuss national trends and issues impacting on teacher education.
• Work with school personnel to establish a Professional Development Schools(s).

Meetings

The Council holds regularly scheduled meetings in September, November, January, March, and April, on a day and time to be determined annually by Council members. Other meetings may be called by the Dean or upon the written request of five or more Council members to the Dean.

Council Action

Because the Council serves a networking function, Council votes on matters of policies and procedures are taken at least one month following the presentation of the discussion item to the full Council. This permits time for discussion among representatives and other Faculty for Teacher Education served by the representatives.

All formal actions of the Council are considered recommendations to the Dean. Notices of Council actions are transmitted promptly by the Dean to the Vice President for Academic Affairs or to the College of Education Faculty, as appropriate. Responsibility for informing the Council of the disposition of each Council matter rests with the Dean.

Sub-Committees

Sub-committees of the Council for Teacher Education are:

• Secondary Teacher Education Coordinating Committee . Members of the

Committee are Methods/Techniques 479 instructors and university field supervisors. Its primary purpose is to coordinate content and delivery of those professional courses taught outside the College of Education with those taught in the College of Education;

• The Committee on Admission to and Retention in Teacher Education, a committee advisory to the Office of Teacher Education. The primary purpose of the Committee is to hear student petitions regarding matters of admission, continuance in and retention in teacher education programs. Members of the committee are the Assistant Director of Teacher Education, who serves as chair, and three Council members appointed by the Dean, with one member appointed from outside the College of Education faculty.

Approved 09/91

Revised 04/93

Revised 09/04