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Education – Evaluation Policy and Procedures

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Course Weight

Teacher Candidates enrolled in the Concurrent BEd for the academic year FW 2014-15 and/or prior require a minimum of 30 credits (five full university courses) 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.

Grade Requirements

a. Concurrent Candidates

In order to remain coregistered in the Faculty of Education or to graduate, candidates must maintain a competent 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.

• Candidates who fail to maintain a C+ overall average or a 5.00 grade point average in the Faculty of coregistration 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 in the junior/intermediate or intermediate/senior division are expected to achieve a minimum grade of C+ in each course that is required to fulfill the requirements for a teaching subject. 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 1) or in a school/classroom (Years 2 and 3) 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 1) or in a school/classroom (Years 2 and/or 3) 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 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 gather evidence of achievements and progress. Thus, while the professional staff of the Faculty bears the ultimate and final responsibility for evaluation, each teacher candidate is also expected to play an important role in self-evaluation.

Grading Scheme

Grade Scales

All undergraduate courses in the Faculty of Education are graded with the common nine-point grading scheme approved by Senate. Please note that Faculty of Education students must achieve a minimum grade of C+ in any course taken for education credit. For further information on the Faculty of Education evaluation policy, please see Grade Requirements above.

Grade		Point Value
A+	9	Exceptional
A	8	Excellent
B+	7	Very Good
B	6	Good
C+	5	Competent
C	4	Fairly Competent
D+	3	Passing
D	2	Barely Passing
E	1	Marginally Failing
F	0	Failing

Practicum Seminar

Practicum seminars are evaluated on a pass/fail basis.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of work as one’s own which originates from some other, unacknowledged source. In examinations, term papers and other graded assignments, verbatim or almost verbatim presentation of someone else’s work without attribution constitutes plagiarism. This is deemed to include the presentation, without acknowledgement, of someone else’s argument in the candidate’s own work as if it were one’s own.

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

Cheating

Cheating is defined as the giving or receiving or utilizing, or attempt at giving or receiving or utilizing, unauthorized information or assistance during or before an examination; or the presentation of a single work to more than one course without the permission of the instructors involved.

In all cases of suspected breaches of academic honesty, the course director must consult with the candidate. Minor or major penalties may be applied should the instructor believe that grounds exist for official action. The candidate has the right to appeal any allegation of plagiarism or cheating.

If candidates are uncertain whether a course of action might constitute cheating or plagiarism, they should consult the instructor concerned in advance.

Academic Honesty

For information on academic honesty, please consult the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty in the University Policies and Regulations section of this publication.

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, BEd Student Services, 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, BEd Student Services 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 (pre-service) 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. Program changes may result in delays in graduation.

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 for rare and unforeseen circumstances.

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 the Faculty of Education's BEd Student Services or online at http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/exams/deferred/index.htm. 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.

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 Faculty of Education, BEd Student Services.

University Policies and Procedures

Disruptive and/or Harassing Behaviour by Students in Academic Situations

Students and instructors are expected to maintain a professional relationship characterized by courtesy and mutual respect and to refrain from actions disruptive to such a relationship. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the instructor to maintain an appropriate academic atmosphere in the classroom and the responsibility of the student to cooperate in that endeavour. Further, the instructor is the best person to decide, in the first instance, whether such an atmosphere is present in the class.

Religious Practices and the Pre-Service Practicum

The Faculty of Education at York University is enhanced by serving a diverse population. In accordance with the laws of Ontario and Ministry regulations that recognize and support religious differences, it is essential for our teacher candidates to be able to observe their own religious traditions and practices, both within the Faculty and during school placements. Course directors, administrators, site coordinators and mentor teachers should be sensitive to individual needs and discuss with their teacher candidates how these needs can best be accommodated within the practicum. Teacher candidates are encouraged to initiate discussion about their religious traditions, obligations and practices early in the school year so that necessary arrangements can be made. Course directors will support candidates by making this policy known to host schools and teacher candidates early in the school year.

Sexual Harassment, York University

York is both an institution of learning and a workplace. As such, this University does not condone sexual harassment or any other exploitation of power. In fact, the University views sexual harassment to be a serious offence and it will impose disciplinary measures in the case of such an offence. This is in keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code (1981) which affirms the right of individuals to study and work in environments free from sexual harassment. York University seeks to prevent its students and employees from being sexually harassed.

In consultation with principals or relevant school board administrators, school board policies may be invoked if sexual harassment occurs in field placements.