Julia Tutwiler College of Education

JAN MILLER, DEAN

General Information

Purposes

The College of Education has as its primary objectives the training of competent teachers for school systems in Alabama, the promotion of improved instructional programs in elementary and secondary schools within the University service area, and the provision of certain services to the other colleges within the University. The College of Education offers teacher certification and non-teaching programs.

The College offers programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels for the preparation of school personnel in early childhood, elementary, high school, and pre-school through grade twelve education. It also provides the professional education courses necessary to meet teacher certification requirements for students who are preparing to teach at the high school levels in Biology, Chemistry, History, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. Pre-school through grade twelve programs provide preparation for teaching physical education or special education. A program is also offered in elementary education (K-6) which includes certification in early childhood education (P-3). Non-teaching programs in athletic training, physical education, early childhood development are also offered. Information concerning graduate programs can be found in the Graduate Catalogue.

The College also offers in-service education to teachers in the UWA service area. These in-service programs provide technical skill training for teachers and opportunities for the study of curriculum improvement. The College offers research capabilities to the school systems in the service area attempting to overcome the learning deficiencies of children.

Standards for effective teacher training programs are maintained by cooperating with the Alabama State Department of Education, the Alabama Education Study Commission, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, and the Interstate Certification Project. The Julia Tutwiler College of Education at the University of West Alabama is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 2010 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20036, (202) 466-7496. This accreditation covers initial teacher preparation programs and advanced educator preparation programs. The University of West Alabama's Athletic Training is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).  The program has been placed on Probation as of February 19, 2016 by the CAATE, 6850 Austin Center Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731-3101.

Organization

The College of Education is organized under the Dean into the following units:

1. Department of Curriculum and Instruction
2. Department of Instructional Leadership and Support
3. Department of Physical Education and Athletic Training

Policies of the Julia Tutwiler College of Education

The following policies should be observed carefully by those students enrolled in the Teacher Education Program:

1. In the event a student does not complete the requirements for the undergraduate degree within a period of six years from the date of admission to the University, the College of Education reserves the right to modify the student's program in such a way as to bring it into harmony with current degree requirements, to re-evaluate credits transferred from other institutions, and to require further work in some areas in which the courses are over ten years old. Courses over nine years old may not be used in the teaching field or professional education for certification without approval of the Dean.
2. The Teacher Education Program and the Teacher Certification Program are governed by the Alabama State Department of Education, and the College of Education reserves the right to change requirements in these programs at any time when such changes are mandated by the State Department of Education.
3. All correspondence work must be approved by the Dean of the Julia Tutwiler College of Education.
4. A transfer student must earn at least 25 percent of credit hours in residence at UWA and must demonstrate proficiency in teaching to receive a teaching degree. Normally, this takes at least one academic year. Also, a transfer student must earn at least twelve hours of credit in each of his/her single teaching field(s) and eighteen hours of credit in each comprehensive teaching field at this institution. Proficiency in teaching methods will be determined by the appropriate Department.
5. When students enroll in the College of Education, they are assigned advisors who are responsible for providing general guidance as students plan their work toward graduation. Each student, however, is responsible for determining his/her own status in regard to meeting the particular requirements for graduation in the chosen area of study. Exceptions to the requirements stated in the catalogue must be approved in writing by the student's advisor, the chairperson(s) of all departments involved, and the Dean of the Julia Tutwiler College of Education. A record of the exception is placed in the student's folder in the Office of the Dean and the official record folder in the Office of the Registrar.
6. Students must take and pass the Praxis II Examinations by the last day of the semester prior to the semester in which the internship is to be completed.  Only official Praxis II score reports from ETS may be accepted. 
7. Students will be removed from their education major after three (3) failed attempts of the Praxis II examination.  After the first failed attempt, students must seek advisement and remediation.
8. Each graduating senior should file placement credentials prior to, or during, the internship semester. Placement materials may be obtained in the office of the Director of Career Services.
9. Residence Requirement: A candidate for a degree in the College of Education must be officially registered in the College for at least two full semesters, one of which must be the semester immediately preceding completion of degree requirements.
10. The student should be within 12-18 semester hours of completing all course work and must be unconditionally admitted to the program by the beginning of the semester prior to registering for the internship.
11. Students who are not enrolled for at least two consecutive semesters may be required to follow the catalogue that is in effect at the time of their return.
12. Remedial courses may not be used to meet approved program requirements.  Additional information is provided in the Teacher Certification Chapter of the Alabama Administrative Code.
13. Transferred courses and/or credits used to meet approved program requirements in professional studies, instructional support, or other approved program requirements (courses other than general studies and Arts and Sciences type courses used to meet academic major requirements) must have been completed at a regionally accredited institution that prepares teachers on the same degree level of certification.

The Teacher Education Program

The Teacher Education Program is built upon a conceptual framework, The Empowered Practitioner, which encompasses the mission, vision, goals, and learning outcomes for the college. The preparation of professional personnel in the Julia Tutwiler College of Education involves the collaboration of the entire University. At the undergraduate level, all programs for the preparation of teachers are built on a liberal arts foundation. The basic curriculum, oriented to general education, is common to all degree programs in the College of Education. In addition, each prospective early childhood, elementary, high school, and pre-school through grade twelve teacher follows a prescribed pattern of courses in areas of academic specialization. Each prospective teacher should be well educated, have a mastery of subject matter, and be capable of understanding and working closely with other people.

The following policies should be observed carefully by those students who plan to enroll in the Teacher Education Program:

1. ADMISSION TO THE NON-TEACHING PROGRAMS
   Admission to and retention in the non-teaching programs are consistent with the general policies for admission and retention for UWA.
    
2. ADMISSION TO THE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM
   Admission to the University and to the College of Education does not constitute acceptance into the Teacher Education Program. Every student who wishes to prepare for teaching is required to submit a written application for admission to the Teacher Education Program. This application should be completed in ED 300, Introduction to Teaching and Learning. This procedure should be followed even though the student has not completed all required courses in general education. A student may be admitted to the Teacher Education Program under the following provisions:
   
   General policies:
   1. Applicants must be in good academic and disciplinary standing.
   2. Students seeking certification must submit an application to the Teacher Education Program after completion of 45-60 semester hours but no later than two semesters prior to expected enrollment in the internship.
   3. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English.
   4. Applicants must have already completed and passed all required basic curriculum courses.
   5. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 quality-point ratio on all courses in general education, in the teaching field(s), in professional studies, and a 3.0 on overall college work. (No grade less than a "C" will be accepted.)
   6. A passing score on the Basic Skills Assessment portion of the Alabama Educator Certification Testing Program is required.
   7. Three UWA faculty interviews/recommendations designed to provide further information on the applicant's dispositions, interests, and aptitudes, consistent with the requirements for successful teaching, must be on file.
   8. A transfer student is eligible to apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program during the first semester of residence. Such a student must achieve a 3.0 quality-point ratio on a course load of at least twelve semester hours attempted during the first semester of residence, in addition to having a 3.0 quality-point ratio on transferred credit with no grade less than a "C".
   9. Fingerprint Clearance. A successful background clearance through ABI and FBI is required for admission to teacher education and for participating in clinical experiences in schools. Fingerprinting is completed in ED 300 .
   10. All the requirements listed above must be met before a student is allowed to register for designated TEP courses, including the internship.
        

NOTE: Students who fail to meet any of the above requirements upon initial application may retake tests and submit new scores, take additional work to improve their grade-point averages, or present other evidence to satisfy any or all of the requirements. IN NO CASE CAN THE REQUIREMENTS AS STATED ABOVE BE WAIVED.

A candidate whose suitability determination precludes admission to a State-approved teacher education program has the right to due process procedures in accordance with rules from the Teacher Certification Chapter of the Alabama Administrative Code, Revocation and Suspension of Certificates and Unsuitability Determinations.

Unconditional admission is granted upon the completion of all requirements specified under the General Policies above, in addition to completion of all requirements in general education.

3. RETENTION IN THE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM
   Students may be dismissed from the program for:
   1. Being placed on academic probation or failing to maintain at least a 3.0 quality-point average on all courses.
   2. Demonstrating evidence of either inability or lack of initiative in attaining proficiencies and competencies necessary to teaching.
   3. Failing to maintain at least a 3.0 quality-point average on all courses in the teaching field(s). No grade below "C" in the teaching field(s) may be used to meet certification requirements.
   4. Failing to maintain a quality-point average in professional education of at least 3.0. No grade below "C" in professional studies may be used to meet certification requirements.
   5. Failing to maintain a quality-point average in professional education of at least 3.0. No grade below "C" in any coursework may be used to meet certification requirements.
   6. Being subject to University disciplinary action.
   7. Giving evidence of academic, social, emotional, or physical problems which, in the judgment of the Teacher Education Screening Committee, may create problems in teaching or in the teaching profession.

NOTE: Students dropped from the Teacher Education Program may apply for readmission to the program through the Teacher Education Screening Committee when the deficiencies are removed. Students who are dropped twice from the program are ineligible to reapply.

Internship

The Teacher Candidate Internship Program at The University of West Alabama is the culmination of professional preparation for prospective teachers during which their professional knowledge and competencies are put into practice for further development and refinement in actual teaching situations. This phase of training is considered to be one of the most important learning experiences provided for the prospective teacher. The Teacher Candidates can expect to spend approximately 15 weeks in an accredited Partnership School System.

Through the guidance of local school officials, the cooperating teacher, and the college supervisor, teacher candidate interns progressively assume a share of the responsibility for the learning process in the classroom and are given the opportunity of developing their individual capabilities to the fullest extent possible. It gives them opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in practical situations, to synthesize what has been learned in courses in professional education, and to reflect upon their experiences in a public school setting.

The Partnership School for teacher candidate interns should consist of an orientation, a gradual induction into full teaching responsibility and opportunities to explore those experiences of professional teachers outside of their teaching responsibilities. Freedom to relate principles and theories consistent with the conceptual framework, The Empowered Practitioner, is crucial to internship and field experiences. The process skills of collaboration, application, inquiry, and reflection are practiced under the guidance of the cooperating teacher and the college supervisor. Continuous evaluation of the growth and development of the intern by the college supervisor and the cooperating teacher in addition to the constant reflection upon experiences by the intern will lead to a successful induction in to the world of practice. A Partnership School site containing these elements should provide the most effective setting for initiation into the profession.

Under no circumstances will the internship requirement be waived regardless of current or prior teaching experience.

Internship Requirements for Undergraduates

General Requirements for Admission to the Internship:

* With approval of the Dean of the College of Education, students with a GPA of 3.40 or higher may register for up to four semester hours in addition to the internship. No course work may be taken during the normal of operational hours of the P-12 school.

NOTE: For candidates who are seeking certification in two or more distinct teaching fields, an additional internship(s) shall be required (e.g., physical education and biology).

Teacher Certification

The teacher training programs have been approved by the Alabama State Board of Education (SBE), the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC), and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Students who have completed these programs and who have met the specific requirements of the Alabama State Board of Education are eligible to receive an Alabama Professional Certificate. It is the student's responsibility to make application for the certificate with the University Certification Officer in the office of the Dean of the Julia Tutwiler College of Education.

Other Requirements for Certification

Applicants for certification will be required to obtain a background clearance through a fingerprint review conducted by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) unless they hold or have held a professional educator or day trade certificate which was issued on the basis of an application submitted prior to July 1, 1997. Effective July 1, 1999, as required by the Alabama Child Protection Act of 1999, a criminal history background check through a fingerprint review conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shall also be required for an applicant who has never held Alabama professional certification or career technical certification. Individuals who obtain background clearances through the ABI/FBI will not be required to obtain another background clearance for additional certification as long as they hold a valid Alabama certificate. Individuals who obtain background clearance for the issuance of an Alabama certificate and allow their certificates to lapse for more than 90 days (holding no Alabama certificate for that 90-day period) will be required to obtain another background clearance for the issuance of any certificate. An applicant whose certificate has been revoked or suspended in another state must have that certificate reinstated by the originating state before any action will be taken on an application for Alabama certification.

High School Certification (6-12)

• Click here to view the High School Certification 6-12  

Middle School Certification

• Click here to view the Middle School Certification  

Athletic Training Curriculum Admission Requirements

Admission to the University and to the College of Education does not constitute acceptance into the Athletic Training Program. Every student who wishes to prepare for athletic training certification is required to submit a written application for admission into the Athletic Training Program. This application should be filed with the Athletic Training Program Director no later than April 1 of the first year of enrollment at UWA. The Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training consists of two components: (1) the pre-professional program (usually freshman year or first year for transfer students) and (2) the professional program (sophomore through senior years). All students must complete the course of study for the pre-professional and professional programs as described in the University General Catalogue. The pre-professional program must be completed by all students and validated by the Athletic Training Program Director before students are considered eligible for admission to the professional program. All students must make formal application to the professional program (usually in the spring semester of the freshman year or first year for transfer students) and meet all admission requirements. Completion of the pre-professional program does not guarantee acceptance into the eligibility criteria for the professional program in athletic training.

Costs:

The following is a list of additional expenditures beyond those of tuition, room, board, fees, etc., for which students enrolled in the athletic training program are responsible.

1. Purchase of authorized athletic training uniforms. $70 annually
2. Assumption of all costs and arrangements for travel to and from clinical facilities for clinical experiences. (variable depending location and frequency, but all clinical sites are within 60 miles)
3. Verification of a negative drug screen according to guidelines established by the clinical agencies utilized by the athletic training program. $30
4. Negative criminal background check conducted according to guidelines established by the clinical agencies utilized by the athletic training program. $52
5. Annual recertification of American Red Cross Professional Rescuer/AED First Aid and CPR or American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers certification or Emergency Medical Technician equivalency. $27 biennially
6. Initiate the Hepatitis B vaccination series while enrolled in AH 101  or provide documentation of completed series or complete the necessary waiver.$80 per injection for maximum of three.
7. Annual fees for online clinical proficiency tracking software. $80 annually
8. Annual fees for professional liability insurance policy. $30 annually

Policies:

Admission to the Professional Program:

To be eligible for admission to this program, in addition to meeting all requirements for admission to the University, applicants must:

1. Have a minimum quality-point ratio of 2.5 in all hours attempted in general studies curriculum requirements completed prior to application deadline.
2. Have a minimum quality-point ratio of 3.0 in all hours attempted in the athletic training major requirements completed prior to application deadline.
3. Submit complete application materials including recommendation forms from three faculty members to the Athletic Training Program Director by April 1 (July 1 for transfer students meeting the requirements listed below). (Usually this should be submitted during the freshman or first year in the pre-professional program. All course requirements do not have to be completed prior to filing application).
4. Hold current American National Red Cross Professional Rescuer/AED First Aid and CPR or American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers certification or Emergency Medical Technician equivalency.
5. Successfully complete the Athletic Training Practicum courses AH 101  and AH 102 . (Exception: Students meeting the transfer criteria listed below may be admitted without previously completing these courses but will have to successfully complete these courses or approved substitute courses as part of their curriculum).
6. Interview with the Athletic Training Curriculum Selection Committee.
    

Students enrolled in clinical athletic training education courses must meet the following requirements established by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education and clinical agencies utilized by the athletic training program for clinical and field experiences.

1. Completion of the Pre-enrollment Physical Examination.
2. Student must present proof of immunization for MMR and DTP vaccines; failure to comply with this requirement will result in an incomplete grade for the designated course until the requirement is met. An incomplete grade will result in the inability to advance in the program.
3. Student must complete annual OSHA training and submit verification of OSHA training to be kept in the athletic training student portfolio.
4. Completion and submission of an acknowledgment of the Technical Standards for Admission form.
5. Completion and submission of a Confidentiality Statement for Athletic Training Students.
    

Transfer Students (Both to UWA and from within the University):

Students with previous documented clinical experience in athletic training who transfer to UWA with approximately 30 credit hours or more and meet the following requirements in addition to the above admission requirements may be eligible for admission to the athletic training professional program upon enrollment in the first semester at UWA. This policy also applies to UWA students who desire to transfer from another major to the athletic training major.

1. Documentation of previous clinical experience supervised by a BOC certified athletic trainer or a state credentialed athletic trainer, if any. A minimum of at least 120 hours is recommended and preferred, but not required.
2. If previous documented clinical experience in athletic training is submitted, one of the three recommendation forms must be from the student's primary supervising athletic trainer from the previous institution. The remaining two recommendation forms must be from the faculty of the student's previous institution.
    

Progression Requirements:

In order to progress in the athletic training professional program, students must:

1. Achieve a minimum grade of "C" in each athletic training major course attempted. For any athletic training major course in which the student earns less than a "C" the entire course must be repeated.
2. Maintain a cumulative quality-point ratio of 3.0 in all hours attempted in the athletic training major requirements.
3. Maintain a cumulative quality-point ratio of 2.5 in all hours attempted in general studies course requirements.
4. Maintain good standing with the University according to UWA student policies and procedures.
5. Maintain current American National Red Cross Professional Rescuer/AED First Aid and CPR or American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers certification or Emergency Medical Technician equivalent.
    

NOTE: Failure to maintain any of the above progression requirements results in academic probation and/or suspension from the athletic training professional program. In addition to academic probation or suspension, the student's enrollment in the athletic training professional program may be terminated at any time if, in the judgment of the athletic training faculty, the student demonstrates academic, social, or emotional behaviors or physical problems inappropriate to the practice of athletic training. Students whose health status and/or clinical performance jeopardizes the patients assigned to his/her care may also be dismissed from the athletic training professional program. Students suspended from the athletic training professional program, may apply for re-admission to the program through the Athletic Training Curriculum Selection Committee when the deficiencies are removed. Students suspended twice from the program are ineligible to re-apply.

Definitions:

Unconditional Acceptance: A student may be accepted to the athletic training professional program after completing all admission requirements without deficiencies as stated in the UWA Athletic Training Curriculum Admission Requirements.

Conditional Acceptance: Students applying to the athletic training curriculum with a GPA in the range of 2.25-2.49 for all general course work and/or 2.75-2.99 for all athletic training course work may be accepted into the program conditionally if all other application requirements have been met. Students accepted conditionally will be placed on a probationary status for one academic year. Failure to correct deficiencies after one academic year will lead to suspension from the Athletic Training Program.

Probation: Deficiencies in admission or progression requirements may result in the student being placed on probationary status. Probationary status is generally one academic year in length except when a student has clearly corrected any and all deficiencies. A student on probation may be limited in the total number of clinical hours allowed per week. Generally, students will not be given primary responsibility for a varsity sport during their probationary period. Students failing to correct all deficiencies at the end of one academic year from the date of probation will be suspended from the athletic training professional program.

Suspension: Students suspended from the athletic training professional program will not be assigned clinical experiences or responsibilities within athletic training. Students will not be allowed to take any professional level athletic training courses other than to repeat courses in which they have earned less than a "C."

Technical Standards for Admission:
The Athletic Training Program at the University of West Alabama is a rigorous and intense program that places specific requirements and demands on the students enrolled in the program. An objective of this program is to prepare graduates to enter a variety of employment settings and to render care to a wide spectrum of individuals engaged in physical activity. The technical standards set forth by the Athletic Training Program establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of an athletic trainer, as well as meet the expectations of the program's accrediting agency (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education [CAATE]). The following abilities and expectations must be met by all students admitted to the Athletic Training Program. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be admitted into the program.

Compliance with the program's technical standards does not guarantee a student's eligibility for the BOC certification exam.

Candidates for selection to the Athletic Training Program must demonstrate:

1. the mental capacity to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts and problem solve to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgments and to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm;
2. sufficient postural and neuromuscular control, sensory function, and coordination to perform appropriate physical examinations using accepted techniques; and accurately, safely and efficiently use equipment and materials during the assessment and treatment of patients;
3. the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds; this includes, but is not limited to, the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgments and treatment information effectively. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice;
4. the ability to record the physical examination results and a treatment plan clearly and accurately;
5. the capacity to maintain composure and continue to function well during periods of high stress;
6. the perseverance, diligence and commitment to complete the athletic training education program as outlined and sequenced;
7. flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations;
8. affective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality patient care.
    

Candidates for selection to the athletic training program will be required to verify they understand and meet these technical standards or that they believe that, with certain accommodations, they can meet the standards.

The UWA Student Success Center, Foust Hall 7, (205) 652-3651 or the Office of Student Affairs, Webb Hall 323, (205) 652-3851 will evaluate a student who states he/she could meet the program's technical standards with accommodation and confirm that the stated condition qualifies as a disability under applicable laws.

If a student states he/she can meet the technical standards with accommodation, then the University will determine whether it agrees that the student can meet the technical standards with reasonable accommodation; this includes a review as to whether the accommodations requested are reasonable, taking into account whether accommodation would jeopardize clinician/patient safety, or the educational process of the student or the institution, including all coursework, clinical experiences and internships deemed essential to graduation.