POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR RECOMMENDING THAT A STUDENT WITHDRAW FROM ANY REQUIRED FIELD EXPERIENCES

To withdraw from a required field experience is an important matter with serious consequences. It recognizes that the student, field supervisor(s), and university supervisor(s) 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 schools, centers or agencies who elects 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 principal, 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 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 experience under the category of Without Prejudice for reasons including but not limited to medical (physical or psychological) problems 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. However, placements are dependent on the availability of suitable sites, field supervisors, and departmental resources.

Probationary

The university supervisor may recommend that a student withdraw from a field experience under the category of Probationary Withdrawal a) when the university supervisor identifies deficiencies that impede the student from meeting expectations outlined in the Pre-Clinical Program Handbook, Student Teaching Program Handbook, or other documents related to particular programs and/or b) when a student violates rules and responsibilities as outlined in the UW-Whitewater Pre-Clinical Program Handbook, Student Teacher Program Handbook, or other documents related to particular programs, or University of Wisconsin-Whitewater document(s), or University of Wisconsin System document(s). Under the category of Probationary Withdrawal 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, physicians, psychologists, and psychiatrists. 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. However, placements are dependent on the availability of suitable sites, field supervisors, and departmental resources.

Terminal

The university supervisor may recommend that the student withdraw from a field experience under the category of Terminal Withdrawal. A Terminal Withdrawal prohibits future placement of the student in any field experience required by University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Education & Professional Studies programs. For example, under the category of Terminal Withdrawal a student who withdraws from directed teaching in one major (e.g., Elementary/Middle School) is prohibited from completing a field experience including but not limited to directed teaching, in another major (e.g., Learning Disabilities). The final decision to recommend Terminal Withdrawal does not require a preceding withdrawal under the category of Without Prejudice or Probationary.

Procedures

• The university supervisor initiates the procedure to recommend that a studentwithdraw from a field experience. This action follows 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 suitability of a career in a specific field; deficiencies in necessary knowledge, skills or dispositions; absences; irresponsible, unprofessional, or unethical behavior; and violation of rules and responsibilities outlined in the UW-Whitewater Pre-Clinical Program Handbook, Student Teaching Program Handbook, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater documents, or University of Wisconsin System documents.
• The university supervisor is required to meet with the student regarding therecommendation to withdraw from the field experience. Other members of the professional staff may be present at this meeting, as determined by the university supervisor and the student.
• After reaching the decision to recommend that a student withdraw from a field experience, the university supervisor is required to complete and submit to the director 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) specific requirements to be completed and verified under the category of Probationary Withdrawal, and signatures of the university supervisor and student.
• The decision to approve or not approve a student's request to withdraw from a field experience under the category of Without Prejudice or Probationary is made by the Director of Field Experience, in consultation with the student's university supervisor and other professional staff. The decision to approve or not approve a student's request to withdraw from a field experience under the category of Terminal is made by a Board of Review, as described below.
• The student is responsible to withdraw formally from the applicable course(s)associated with the field experience. If a student fails to withdraw from the applicable course(s), the grade of "I" (Incomplete) will become a grade of "NC" (No Credit) or "F," following standard university policy.
• The Director of Field Experience may petition that the applicable course listing and the designation of "W" ("Withdrawal") be permanently removed from the student's records, under the withdrawal category of Without Prejudice, but not the withdrawal categories of Probationary or Terminal.
• The Director of Field Experiences will send written notice to the field supervisor(s) and the principal or director of the placement sites informing them that the student's field experience placement has been terminated.
• After withdrawing from a field experience, the student is subject to any newrequirements or prerequisites associated with that experience as determined by the department, the College of Education & Professional Studies, or the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
• 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(s). To pursue this option, the student must contact the Associate Dean for Student Life.
• It may be possible for a student who has withdrawn from some field experiences 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.

Board of Review

• The Board of Review (hereafter "Board") will consist of at least five members of the College of Education & Professional Studies Advisory Council for Field Experiences, excluding the Director of Field Experiences, the university supervisor, and the appropriate program coordinator if they are members of the Advisory Council for Field Experiences.
• One member of the Board will serve as chairperson for the Board.
• A hearing will be scheduled. The student, the university supervisor, Director of Field Experiences and the members of the Advisory Council for Field Experiences serving on the Board will be informed of the meeting in writing, including date, time, and location. The student will be informed by certified mail.
• Guidelines for the hearing include the following:
  • The chairperson for the Board will preside.
  • The Director of Field Experiences will review the procedures of the Hearing to the satisfaction of the Board. Following this, the Director of Field Experiences will be excused from the Hearing but remain available to answer questions during the remainder of the Hearing.
  • The university supervisor will be given opportunity to provide information and documents directly related to the circumstances surrounding the recommendation for withdrawal, and to answer questions asked by the Board. The university supervisor may invite other persons to present information (e.g., program coordinator). Following this, the university supervisor will be excused from the Hearing but remain available to answer questions during the remainder of the Hearing.
  • The student will be given opportunity to provide information and documents directly related to the circumstances surrounding the recommendation for withdrawal, and to answer questions asked by the Board. The student may invite other persons to present information (e.g., cooperating teacher). Following this, the student will be excused from the Hearing but remain available to answer questions during the remainder of the Hearing.
• The Board may seek additional information from the Director of FieldExperiences, the university supervisor, the student, or others (e.g., program coordinator, cooperating teacher) before rendering a decision. In this case, the Director of Field Experiences will be responsible to facilitate the Board in obtaining this additional information.
• If the Board is satisfied with the information available, they will vote on the terminal withdrawal recommendation. The vote will be by a show of hands. A simple majority will prevail.
• 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 appropriate program coordinator, the appropriate department chairperson, and the Assistant Dean of the College of Education & Professional Studies for placement in the student's College of Education & Professional Studies file.
• The decision of the Board of Review on the request for terminal withdrawal is final within the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater