Appendix E 

POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR RECOMMENDATION OF WITHDRAW FROM ANY REQUIRED FIELD EXPERIENCE

Withdrawing from a required field experience is an important matter with serious consequences. It recognizes that the student, field supervisor, and university supervisor have explored and implemented all appropriate courses of action, but without success.

Terms:

Student refers to the UW-Whitewater student who is enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate course that requires a field experience in a school, center, or agency.

Field experience refers to any required experience in a school, center, or agency, including internships. Field experiences include but are not limited to Observation and Participation, Field Study, Alternate Directed Teaching, Directed Teaching, Undergraduate or Graduate Internship, Graduate Practicum and Inservice Practicum, and Internship (counselor education).

Field supervisor refers to any individual employed in a school, center or agency who agrees to provide field experiences that are required as part of professional preparation.

University supervisor refers to any individual assigned by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to supervise a student during a required field experience.

Professional staff refers to field supervisors, school principals, center or agency directors, other school, center or agency personnel, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater supervisors, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Director of Field Experiences, and other relevant University of Wisconsin personnel, including program coordinators and department chairpersons.

Note: Only students can withdraw from courses in which they have enrolled. University personnel are not authorized to withdraw students from courses.

Withdrawal categories:

Without Prejudice

The university supervisor may recommend that a student withdraw from a field experiences under the category of Without Prejudice for reasons including but not limited to medical situations, traumatic events, and the decision not to pursue a career in the field associated with the field experience. Under this category, students may re-apply for placement during a future semester. Future placements are dependent on the availability of suitable sites, field supervisors, and departmental resources and meeting all new prerequisites and other requirements.

Probationary

The university supervisor may recommend that a student withdraw from a field experience under the category of Probationary when the university supervisor identifies significant deficiencies in expectations or standards outlined in the Wisconsin Teacher Standards, the standards of relevant professional organizations, the Pre-Clinical Program Handbook, the Student Teaching Program Handbook, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater documents, or University of Wisconsin System documents. Under the category of Probationary the university supervisor may identify specific requirements to be completed and verified by the student before another assignment is made, including but not limited to satisfactory completion of university courses, paid or voluntary experiences, and meeting(s) with appropriate professional persons, including career counselors. These requirements must be specified in writing and appended to the Recommendation for Withdrawal form. Under this category, students may re-apply for placement during a future semester. Future placements are dependent on the availability of suitable sites, field supervisors, and departmental resources and meeting all new prerequisites and other requirements.

Terminal

The university supervisor may recommend that the student withdraw from a field experience under the category of Terminal. The category of Terminal is appropriate when the university supervisor identifies deficiencies in expectations or standards outlined in the Wisconsin Teacher Standards, the standards of relevant professional organizations, the Pre-Clinical Program Handbook, the Student Teaching Program Handbook, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater documents, or University of Wisconsin System documents that are so severe that they make successful completion of required field experiences highly unlikely. A Withdrawal under the category of Terminal prohibits future placement of the student in any field experience required by University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Education & Professional Studies programs. For example, a student who withdraws from a required field experience in one major is prohibited from enrolling in a field experience in that major or in another other College of Education & Professional Studies major. The recommendation of withdrawal under the category of Terminal does not require a preceding withdrawal under the category of Without Prejudice or Probationary.

Procedures for recommendation of withdrawal from any field experience under any category

1. The university supervisor initiates the procedure to recommend that a student withdraw from a field experience , following reasonable attempts to remedy issues or situations that endanger the student’s prospect of successfully completing the field experience . The university supervisor’s decision to initiate the procedure may be based on the request of the student and/or a recommendation of the professional staff . Situations that warrant withdrawal from field experiences include but are not limited to personal circumstances; a change of mind regarding the career goals; deficiencies in necessary knowledge, skills or dispositions; absences; irresponsible, unprofessional, or unethical behavior; and violation of rules and responsibilities outlined in the UW-WhitewaterPre-Clinical Program Handbook,Student Teaching Program Handbook, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater documents, or University of Wisconsin System documents.

2. The university supervisor is required to meet with the student regarding the recommendation to withdraw from the field experience . Other members of the professional staff may be present at this meeting, as determined by the university supervisor.

3. The university supervisor may also choose or be required to request a review of the matter by the department of the student’s major.

4. After reaching the decision to recommend that a student withdraw from a field experience, the university supervisor is required to complete and submit to Office of Field Experiences a Recommendation for Withdrawal form . Copies of the completed form are placed in the student's file in the Office of Field Experiences and distributed to the student, the university supervisor, the program coordinator, and the department chairperson . Information provided on this form includes: a) the withdrawal category, b) the reason(s) that withdrawal is recommended, c) other relevant document(s), d) Steps to be taken and verified under the withdrawal category of Without Prejudice or Probationary, and signatures of the university supervisor and student.

5. The decision to approve or not approve a request for withdrawal under the category of Without Prejudice or Probationary is made by the Director of the Office of Field Experience, in consultation with the student’s university supervisor, the student, and other professional staff . The request for withdrawal under the category of Terminal requires a review by the Board of Review, as described below.

6. The student is responsible to withdraw formally from the applicable course associated with the field experience . Withdrawal from the course under the category of Without Prejudice or Probationary , requested by student and approved by university supervisor, is evidence that the student has been informed about and agrees to “Steps to be Completed” prior to any future placement. If a student fails to withdraw from the applicable course, the grade for the course will become a grade of “NC” (No Credit) or “F,” following standard university policy.

7. The Director of the Office of Field Experiences will send written notice in a timely fashion to the field supervisor(s) and the administrator of the placement sites informing them that the student’s field experience placement has been terminated.

8. After withdrawing from a field experience under the categories of Without Prejudice or Probationary, prior to another placement, the student must meet new prerequisites or other requirements as determined by the department, the College of Education & Professional Studies, the University, or the State of Wisconsin. This may include a review of pertinent information and documents by the chairperson or a committee of the student’s major.

9. In the case of withdrawal under the category of Without Prejudice for medical reasons, the student may be able to recover a prorated portion of the cost of tuition for the applicable course . To pursue this option, the student must contact the Assistant Dean for Student Life.

10. It may be possible for a student who has withdrawn from a required field experience to graduate from UW-Whitewater without certification by special permission of the Dean of the College of Education & Professional Studies. Students who desire to graduate without licensure must meet all graduation requirements.

1. A Board of Review Hearing (hereafter "Hearing") will consist of at least five members of the College of Education & Professional Studies Advisory Council for Field Experiences, excluding the Director of the Office of Field Experiences, the university supervisor, and any program or placement coordinator appearing before the Board coordinator if a member of the Advisory Council for Field Experiences.

2. The Hearing will be scheduled to avoid conflict with the student’s academic schedule and to maximize the number of members of the Advisory Council for Field Experiences who are able to serve on the Board of Review . The student, the university supervisor, the program or placement coordinator, the chairperson of the student’s major, Director of the Office of Field Experiences and the members of the Advisory Council for Field Experiences serving on the Board of Review will be informed of the date, time, and location of the Hearing in writing . The student will be informed by certified mail.

3. Guidelines for the Hearing include the following:

a) The Director of the Office of Field Experiences will preside over the Hearing.

b) The Director of the Office of Field Experiences will review the procedures of the Hearing to the satisfaction of the Board and the student . Following this, the student will be excused from the Hearing but remain available during the remainder of the Hearing to appear before the Board (Section d below), if he or she so desires, and to answer questions asked by the Board.

c) The university supervisor will be given the opportunity to provide information and documents related to the circumstances surrounding the recommendation for withdrawal under the category of Terminal, and to answer questions asked by the Board . This information may include any review of the matter by the department chair or a department committee of the student’s major. The university supervisor may invite other persons to present information. Following this, the university supervisor will be excused from the Hearing but remain available during the remainder of the Hearing to answer questions asked by the Board.

d) The student will be given opportunity to provide information and documents directly related to the circumstances surrounding the recommendation for withdrawal under the category of Terminal, and to answer questions posed by the Board . The student may present relevant documents and invite other persons to present information . The student must be present if any other person is invited by the student to address the Board. Following this, the student will be excused from the Hearing but remain available during the remainder of the hearing to answer questions asked by the Board.

e) The Board may seek additional information from the Director of the Office of Field Experiences, the university supervisor, the student, or others deemed necessary before rendering a decision . The Director of the Office of Field Experiences will be responsible for obtaining this additional information. Delays in obtaining the additional information may require a re-convening of the Board at a future date.

f) If the Board is satisfied with the information available, the Presider of the meeting will entertain a motion to “Support the recommendation of [name of university supervisor] for the withdrawal of [name of student] from [name of course(s)] under the category of Terminal.” Following a second for the motion, discussion, and a call for the question, a vote will be conducted . A simple majority is required to indicate support of the recommendation; a tied vote indicates that the recommendation is not supported.

• The decision rendered by the Board will be communicated to the student by certified mail . A copy of the letter will be placed in the student's file in the Office of Field Experiences and copies will be distributed to the university supervisor, the placement or program coordinator, the department chairperson for the student’s major, and the Assistant Dean of the College of Education & Professional Studies for placement in the student's College of Education & Professional Studies file.

5. The decision of the Board of Review on the recommendation of a university supervisor for the withdrawal of a student from a course under the category of Terminal is final.