As a School preparing future educators, we have specific expectations for the professional dispositions and behaviors exhibited by our teaching candidates both in and out of the classroom. In addition to consistently meeting our academic standards, we require all of our teaching candidates to meet the professional standards outlined below in order to be admitted to the School of Education and to remain in good standing. We believe that these standards are essential to good teaching, and work to promote them in ourselves as well as our candidates. The professional standards are as follows:
Once admitted to the School of Education, the applicant is considered a candidate for teacher certification and is, therefore, subsequently referred to as a candidate. To remain in good standing and progress through a School of Education program, a candidate must maintain a QPA of at least 2.50, must earn a grade of C or higher in each education course, and must meet the disposition and performance expectations of the School.
Once admitted, teacher candidates must continue to demonstrate success in each of the essential aspects of the teacher preparation program:
While successful teachers merge theoretical understandings and skills of practice in their classrooms daily, candidates preparing to be teachers must sometimes demonstrate their knowledge and skills separately. It is possible to be successful in coursework and not in fieldwork, or the reverse, or to be successful in both but not demonstrate the dispositions required to teach. Since teachers must be strong in knowledge, skills, and dispositions, candidates who are permitted to continue in the program must demonstrate their abilities in educational theory and practice as well as their content knowledge in the liberal arts and their certification area(s). In student teaching, the components of content knowledge, educational theory, practice, and appropriate dispositions are combined. Successful completion of student teaching and passing scores on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) are required before a candidate is eligible for certification.
Success in fieldwork observation is defined as:
Success in student teaching is defined as:
Success with the NYSTCE is defined by the scores established by New York State:
Candidates are expected to attend every session of every course. Any absences can affect a grade. It is imperative to speak to the instructor if there are any questions about attendance or extenuating circumstances.
Effective Fall 2024, every candidate is required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.50. Candidates who earn below a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 will be placed on academic probation in danger of dismissal and must meet with an academic advisor. In addition, candidates who earn below a "C" in an education course will be required to repeat the course and earn a "C" or higher. Given the urgency of repeating a course, a plan of studies will be determined.
Academic probation is valid for one semester only; candidates who fail to raise their GPA to minimum standards after completing the probation semester will be dismissed from the program. A candidate with a cumulative grade point average below 2.50 is considered academically deficient whether or not they receive written notification of this status.
A candidate who is dismissed for academic reasons may appeal the dismissal within 30 calendar days from the date of the dismissal letter. Candidates may not register for or attend classes while an appeal is pending. The Dean is responsible for deciding the merits of an appeal. The appeal must be in writing and addressed to Dean Tresmaine Grimes. The appeal should indicate in sufficient detail that (1) the candidate’s poor academic performance is due to unusual or non-recurring events, (2) there will be no recurrence of these events, and (3) the candidate has taken or will take appropriate action to ensure that his or her cumulative grade point average will reach the minimum 2.50 in no more than one semester. A candidate may submit additional written evidence or include any other information which may be helpful to the Dean in reaching a determination. The Dean of the School will consider the letter of appeal, any supporting evidence supplied by the candidate, and the candidate’s past academic record in reaching his decision. If the appeal is accepted by the Dean, the candidate will be placed on probation. All decisions made by the Dean are final.
A letter grade is awarded as a measure of candidate performance only by the faculty member assigned to a particular course and section. The spectrum of letter grades ranges from A through C and F; in addition, certain plus and minus refinements to the letter grades are available to allow faculty greater flexibility in the measurement of candidate performance. Specific grading policies are established by the instructor in a given course. Each letter grade translates into a numerical equivalent or quality points as cited below:
SOE Grading Scale
Incomplete
Used at the discretion of the instructor, the grade of Incomplete can be given only in the case of an emergency. “I” becomes a failure and a grade of “F” is assigned to the course unless removed within six weeks after the conclusion of the semester; candidates with an "F" grade will not be allowed to progress further in the program. If, however, in the judgment of the instructor of the course, deficiencies are so extensive that they cannot be made up within the allotted time period of six weeks, a grade of “F” will be assigned immediately at the end of the semester.
P Pass
Assigned to certain designated courses, candidates receive credits, when applicable, but no quality points are assigned.
As a general principle, the instructor has sole authority to establish standards of performance and to exercise judgments on the quality of candidate performance, but in a manner that reflects reasonable and generally acceptable academic requirements. Grades assigned in this fashion are final except as the instructor may wish to review them. No faculty member, administrator, or another individual may substitute his or her judgment of the candidate’s performance for the reasonable judgment of the instructor. Candidates who believe that a final grade received in a course was not determined in a manner consistent with the principle described above may challenge that grade by first arranging, within a reasonable period of time (approximately 10 school days from the time that the candidate knew or should have known of the final course grade), to meet informally with the instructor to establish a clear understanding of the method by which the grade was determined. Every effort should be made to resolve the matter at the level of the instructor and the candidate. Candidates who have difficulty arranging a meeting with the instructor should consult the department chair. If, after the meeting with the instructor, the candidate wishes to continue the grade challenge, the candidate may appeal in writing (with copies to the instructor) within two weeks to the chair of the department. The statement should clearly state the basis for questioning the grade received in the course. It should be noted that if the chair is the instructor, the appeal is to the dean of the school. The chair’s decision to have a grade reviewed or not is final. If the chair decides that the method by which the candidate’s grade was determined was not proper, the chair will apprise the instructor of the basis for questioning the grade and request that the instructor reviews the grade. If the instructor, for any reason, does not review the grade, the chair will request that at least one other faculty member qualified to teach the course in question review the grade. In the process of such a review, the faculty member is authorized to assign a grade change and may, if necessary, require additional examination of the candidate’s performance as a basis for the grade change.
Candidates may, at any point in this appeal process, solicit the advice and assistance of an individual faculty or staff member. This individual’s authority in these matters is limited to mediating the relationship between the candidate and the instructor and/or chair. Change of grades or withdrawals is not permitted once a degree has been awarded.
Grades earned in courses that are repeated are averaged in the same manner as that described under the heading “Graduate Grading System” and all grades remain on the transcript. A candidate may request, however, on a one-time basis, that the repeat passing grade for a course in which the grade of F (or I-F) was originally received be the only grade for the course averaged in the calculation of the QPA. However, both grades (the original F and the repeat grade) will be shown on the transcript. Transcripts will be footnoted to indicate that the QPA has been recomputed. Candidates wishing to apply for re-computation of their QPA must file a written request with the Office of the Registrar (Specific Departments may not allow repeat grades.)
Advising
The School of Education Office of Student Success assists candidates in achieving their educational and professional goals by providing group and individualized academic advisement. A candidate seeking information and advice about program and degree options, course schedules, transfer credits, teacher certification requirements, or academic concerns is encouraged to contact their campus advisor:
New York City
161 William St, 11th floor
(212) 346-1512
Pleasantville
Buchsbaum House
(914) 773-3571
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