<Faculty of Education

Evaluation Policy and Procedures

Course Weight

A minimum of 30 credits (five full university courses) is required to complete the BEd pre-service degree. A course which is allocated 6.00 credits (ED/xxxx 6.00) is the equivalent of a standard full-year course. Any course which is allocated 3.00 credits (ED/xxxx 3.00) is the equivalent of a half course. Any course which is allocated 1.50 credits (ED/xxxx 1.50) is the equivalent of a quarter course. Candidates are not allowed to enrol in more than the equivalent of 12 credits (two full university courses) in the Education Concurrent Program in any one year.

Grade Scales

Refer to Grades and Grading Schemes within the Academic Information section of this calendar.

Grade Requirements

a. Concurrent Candidates

In order to remain coregistered in the Faculty of Education or to graduate, candidates must maintain a superior standard of performance in both their academic Faculty and in the Faculty of Education. Teacher candidates will be ineligible to continue or to graduate if they fall into any one of the categories listed below:

• Failure to maintain Honours standing in the Faculty of coregistration or to maintain the cumulative grade point average necessary for such Honours standing; candidates who fall below the grade point average for Honours standing but who are declared eligible to continue will not be considered eligible to proceed in education.
• Candidates will be ineligible to continue in the BEd degree program if they receive less than a grade of C+ in any course taken for education credit.
• Candidates are expected to achieve a minimum of C+ in each course fulfilling the requirements for a teaching subject for junior/intermediate and intermediate/senior. Failure to do so may result in a suspension or involuntary withdrawal from the program or other appropriate recommendation at the discretion of the Faculty adviser and the associate dean (pre-service).
• Candidates are required to complete one practicum seminar during each of the three years of the program. These seminars, which consist of both seminars and placements in a school/community (year one) or in a school/classroom (years two and three) are evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis. Candidates who fail to achieve a Pass in a practicum seminar are ineligible to continue in the program.
• Practicum seminars are corequisite with appropriate courses.

b. Consecutive Candidates

In order to remain registered in the Consecutive Program and to graduate, candidates must maintain a superior standard of performance in their course work. Teacher candidates will be ineligible to maintain their registration status or to graduate if they receive less than a grade of C+ in any half or full education course.

• Candidates who fail to achieve a Pass in a practicum seminar are ineligible to continue in the program.
• Practicum seminars are corequisite with appropriate courses.
• Candidates in the part-time program are required to complete one practicum seminar during each of the three years of the program. These seminars, which consist of both seminars and placements in a school/community (year one) or in a school/classroom (years two and three) are evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis.

Evaluation Policies and Procedures

• All evaluation procedures and criteria will be clearly specified in the course outline and made known to the candidate.
• Information in a candidate's permanent file other than confidential letters of reference and other confidential admissions-assessment documents will be freely available to that candidate.
• Information in a candidate's file will be released outside the University only upon the written request of that candidate.
• Candidates will have the opportunity to assess their progress in each practicum/seminar course in consultation with instructors at least once in each term.

It is an important goal of the Faculty of Education that graduates be able to operate as independent problem solvers who have the capacity to evaluate their own performance and to muster evidence of achievements and progress. Thus, while the professional staff of the Faculty bear the ultimate and final responsibility for evaluation, each teacher candidate is also expected to play an important role in self-evaluation.

Withdrawals

Course Withdrawals: Candidates may withdraw from any education course without receiving a grade, if they do so by the published withdrawal dates. Candidates who withdraw from an education practicum seminar, or from any course in the Consecutive Program, however, should note that they will be required to re-apply for admission to the Faculty of Education if they wish to resume their education program. To withdraw from an education course, candidates must report their intent to the Faculty of Education, Office of Student Programs in accordance with the published withdrawal dates. Those who withdraw from a course after these dates are normally deemed to have failed it and receive a grade of F.

Program Withdrawals: Candidates who withdraw from the Faculty of Education, and who are registered in the Concurrent Program, may transfer their accumulated education credits to their academic Faculty subject to the rules and procedures of that Faculty. Any grades so transferred are then subject to the regulations governing maintenance of standing in their academic Faculty. Candidates must report their intention to withdraw both to the Faculty of Education, Office of Student Programs and their academic Faculty.

Faculty Legislation on Involuntary Withdrawal

A candidate may be required to withdraw from a course if:

a) the candidate fails to meet the requirements of a course, either through unsatisfactory seminar and/or practicum attendance/participation, or through unprofessional behaviour in fulfilling course requirements; or

b) the candidate's performance is judged to disrupt seriously the functioning of the host classroom and/or the well-being of the students in that classroom.

The decision to require the candidate to withdraw will be taken by the associate dean on the recommendation of the course director following a meeting with the candidate.

Candidates will have access to the usual appeal procedures in such instances.

Education Program and/or Subject Changes

Candidates are advised that a change in education program (movement among primary/junior, junior/intermediate and intermediate/senior programs) or in teaching subjects at the junior/intermediate and intermediate/senior levels may only be made with the approval of the associate dean. Considerations which may affect the approval of such a change include the year level completed in the education program, standing of the candidate and the adequacy of academic background for the proposed change, and matters having to do with enrolment limits and availability of the education courses which would be required for the candidate to complete the altered program.

Deferred Standing

Deferred standing may be granted with the support of the relevant course director, in cases where final grades cannot be assigned because all course requirements have not been completed. The grounds for granting deferred standing are illness or misfortune.

When granted, deferred standing is an interim measure pending completion of regular or alternative assignments.

The granting of a deferral may result in candidates missing June convocation for degree conferral. Deferred Standing Agreement forms may be obtained at Student Client Services or the Office of Student Programs, Faculty of Education or online at http://www.registrar.yorku.ca. Requests must be accompanied by a medical certificate and other written documentation. Deferred Standing Agreement forms should be completed in consultation with the course director prior to the submission of final grades.

Reappraisal

While all grades and evaluation decisions are carefully assessed, a candidate may request a reappraisal of a grade by making a formal request to the associate dean (pre-service) within three weeks of the release of final grade reports. The request must be in writing and should state clearly why the applicant believes that the grade should be re-evaluated. A reappraisal may result in a lower, higher or unchanged grade. Please note that before submitting a formal request for re-evaluation, candidates must first discuss the assigned grade with the course director. If the candidate is unable to reach the course director before the three-week deadline, a letter of intent to appeal the grade can be submitted to the associate dean's office pending contact with the course director.

Academic Dishonesty

For further information please consult the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty in the University Policies and Regulations section of this calendar.

Petitions Procedure

Students may petition on reasonable grounds and in writing any of the regulations of the Faculty of Education. Enquiries about procedures should be made to the Office of Student Programs.

Recently approved Senate policies on petitions and grade reappraisals are posted on the Web at http://www.yorku.ca/admin/univsec/sen_comm/sac/ index.htm. Students may contact the Registrar's Office or their Faculty for further information.

Expectations of Catholic School Boards

Many of the Catholic school boards in Ontario require that applicants for teaching positions have completed successfully a course in religious education methods. To help candidates meet this requirement, the Faculty of Education, in cooperation with the Catholic Office of Religious Education (CORE) offers an optional (ED/EDUC 3000 3.00*) credit course in Religious Education Methodology. Please consult the timetable and register for this course during the registration period. Priority enrolment in this course is given to education III candidates (Concurrent Program only).

The Catholic school boards prefer that all applicants for positions have had some experience in Catholic schools. Candidates wishing some practicum experience in Catholic schools should make their wishes known on the practicum request form. Every effort will be made to provide interested candidates with a Catholic school placement during at least one of their practica. Some Catholic school boards also prefer applicants to have had some university-level course work in the area of religious studies.

* Please note that ED/EDUC 3000 3.00 is a requirement for employment with the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Please check whether this is a requirement for other Catholic boards where employment is being sought.

Citizenship

Applicants to the Faculty of Education should note that, while there are no citizenship, permanent residency or other requirements for entrance to York University or to the Faculty of Education, the Ontario College of Teachers will grant the Certificate of Registration and the Certificate of Qualification only to individuals who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or otherwise entitled under Canadian regulations to obtain work as a teacher in Canada.