Teacher Education Referrals & Student Appeal Process

The Teacher Education Referral process will include:

•  Identifying concerns 
•  Suggesting supports 
•  Implementing action plan(s) designed to alleviate these concerns 

A screen capture of what the actual TER document looks like is provided below: 

In certain instances, the TER may also serve to identify students who should contemplate changing their majors. If a student receives three TERs, a formal review of the teacher candidate’s performance and possible suspension from the program will occur. 

Faculty will complete this form as completely and specifically as possible and should involve the student by reviewing the information below about the concern.

Students will review the TER form and action plan, then acknowledge receipt of the electronic notification of the submitted referral (TER). 

Accessing Teacher Education Referrals

Students will be able to access their teacher ed referrals and former NoCs by clicking the "Teacher Education Referral" link in the Teacher Education pagelet on the MyUNIverse portal. Email notifications for Teacher Ed Referrals will provide steps to access the new system. Students can access the teacher education referral system directly on- or off-campus:

Both active and historical TERs (including past NoCs) have been ported to the Teacher Education Referral System. This Teacher Education Referral System also hosts the Student Teaching Regional Requests, and Background Check systems. 

Student Appeals Process

Rights to Appeal

As a teacher education major, you have the right of appeal in such matters as denial of admission to various levels of the Teacher Education program, your student teaching semester assignment, the decision to temporarily drop you from the program because of an unresolved Teacher Education Referral (TER) or the process by which you have been suspended from the program. Appeal processes for grievances related to individual course grades or other conflicts between an individual student and an individual faculty member are presented in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Statement. For appeals related to the Teacher Education Program, please see the information below.

Appeals Procedures for the Teacher Education Program

Entry to the Teacher Education Program

Admission to the Teacher Education Program is a privilege, not a right. There is no constitutional or accepted legal theory guaranteeing your right to admission regardless of your qualifications. Currently, any student who meets the admission requirements in full will be admitted to the Teacher Education Program, unless that student has an unresolved Teacher Education Referral (TER). Any student who is denied admission because of a TER can appeal that decision.

Academic Probation in the Teacher Education Program

If your required GPAs drop below 2.50, you will be automatically suspended from the Teacher Education Program. In this case, you will not be allowed to register for or take courses that require full admission to the program until you have achieved the required 2.5 GPA. In extraordinary situations, students can appeal to be allowed to continue for a maximum of one semester in the program even when they no longer meet the required GPAs. To request an appeal form, contact the CATS Office via teachereducation@uni.edu. Please note that such appeals are only granted when circumstances beyond a student’s control fully justify granting the appeal.

Suspension from the Teacher Education Program

If you are suspended from the Teacher Education Program for reasons other than an insufficient GPA, you may appeal this suspension. Suspensions for reasons other than GPA are due to multiple and/or serious Teacher Education Referrals or extreme behaviors that threaten the safety of others.

To appeal a suspension due to non-GPA-related causes, you must submit a written request to the appropriate Teacher Education Senate through the Associate Dean of Teacher Education, asking that the suspension decision be reviewed by the Senate. Your appeal must be received by the Teacher Education Senate within 15 class days of the date of the suspension notification. A decision on your suspension will be made by the appropriate Teacher Education Senate (or 3 or more Senators if after the end of the spring semester), within 15 class days of receipt of your appeal. 

Should the Senate’s decision be unsatisfactory, you have 15 class days to appeal to the Teacher Education Executive Council. This Council will render a final and binding decision regarding your appeal within 15 class days. Suspensions from the Teacher Education Program due to factors other than grades or GPAs are for a minimum of one year. Only the most extreme circumstances would warrant consideration for re-admission before one calendar year has elapsed and is determined by the appropriate Teacher Education Senate. At the time of suspension, students are informed of the conditions and procedures for re-admission to the program.

Suspension from the Teacher Education Program

If you have multiple unresolved Teacher Education Referrals indicating significant deficiencies in meeting the standards for the Teacher Education Program, you will be considered for suspension from the Program. Suspension from the Program is determined by the Teacher Candidate Professional Review Committee and is for a minimum of one calendar year. Only the most extreme circumstances would warrant consideration for re-admission before one calendar year has elapsed and is determined by the appropriate Teacher Education Senate. At the time of suspension, students are informed of the conditions and procedures for re-admission to the program.

Emergency Suspension

Any student may be suspended by a Teacher Education Program Coordinator for extreme, unforeseen circumstances such as endangerment of students, disruption of schools or classes, felonious behaviors, or serious ethical violations. Such suspensions will be referred to the Teacher Education Executive Council for review and may become permanent.

Readmission to the Teacher Education Program

If you are suspended from the program and wish to be readmitted, contact the Associate Dean of Teacher Education for information about how to proceed. The decision to re-admit students on a probationary status will be made by the Teacher Candidate Professional Review Committee. Conditions for probationary readmission are determined on a case-by-case basis by the committee and in accordance with conditions determined at the time of suspension. Upon successful completion of the probationary period, the Teacher Candidate Professional Review Committee determines conditions for full readmission and may recommend such to the appropriate Teacher Education Senate and/or the Teacher Education Executive Council which makes the final decision.

Suspension for a second time is considered permanent. Only the most extreme circumstances would warrant consideration for re-admission a second time. Reconsideration is determined by the Teacher Education Executive Council.

Teacher Candidate Professional Review Committee Handbook

Procedures regarding Teacher Education Referrals and student appeals within the Teacher Education Program are outlined in this handbook: TCPRC Handbook