GENERAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES

Academic Misconduct

"The Board of Regents, administrators, faculty, academic staff and students of the University of Wisconsin System believe that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental to the mission of higher education and of the University of Wisconsin System. The University has a responsibility to promote academic honesty and integrity and to develop procedures to deal effectively with instances of academic misconduct. Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others’ academic endeavors. Students who violate these standards must be confronted and must accept the consequences of their actions" (UWS Chapter 14, Wisconsin Administrative Code).

Attendance, Notification of Absence

Students are under the same obligation for regular attendance as school and agency personnel. Personal illness or family emergencies are the usual reasons for approved absences. Special requests for absences must be discussed with and approved by the cooperating teacher and by the university supervisor. Such requests must be limited in number and mutually agreeable arrangements regarding student’s responsibilities must be made between the cooperating teacher and the student in advance whenever possible.

Excessive absence can result in a recommendation for withdrawal from the experience or a grade of "Incomplete." Absence is dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Field Experiences in consultation with the university supervisor and cooperating teacher.

Students are required to notify their cooperating teachers (and sometimes principals) and their university supervisor of all absences. Students are also required to inform their university supervisor when they will be absent from their assigned school due to school-sponsored activities, e.g., field trips, to prevent university supervisors from making unnecessary trips to observe students.

Background Checks

Background checks may be required of students placed in schools, centers, licensed day care settings, and other agencies.   Most background checks are conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.   In some cases (and especially in the case of relocating to Wisconsin from another state), a background check by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation may also be required.   Students are required to pay for the cost of all background checks.

Information resulting from a background check may result in terminating the placement.   Failure to authorize a background check may result in an inability to locate a suitable placement for a student.

For a fee, students can conduct a Wisconsin Department of Justice background check on themselves. For additional information, contact the Office of Field Experiences.

Blood borne Pathogens

Early in their assignment, students should discuss with their cooperating teachers the policies and procedures in their assigned school and school district regarding blood borne pathogens (e.g., Hepatitis B, HIV).

Dress and Personal Hygiene

Student must dress appropriately and be neat and well-groomed at all times. Students should note local norms to determine what is considered appropriate, in consultation with their cooperating teacher, and to exercise good judgment in these matters.

Liability and Insurance

A Memorandum to College of Education & Professional Studies Students from Vay Rodman, Director of the Office of Risk Management and Safety, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

It is of great importance that you are aware of the insuring position of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with respect to your participation in College of Education & Professional Studies field experiences as required for your program of study.

1. Professional Liability Coverage

Professional liability coverage is provided by the State of Wisconsin under provisions of S.S. 165.25(6) and 895.46(1). This coverage protects students against claims from third parties for personal injury or property damage caused by negligent acts while performing within the scope of duties in a pre-clinical experience assignment under the following conditions:

A. The program is sanctioned by the Dean of the College of Education & Professional Studies.

B. Liability protection is extended only for the time specified by the agreement between the placement site and the College of Education & Professional Studies. By statute, the university liability coverage is excess to any collectable insurance.

C. The program provides credit and is a requirement for your graduation or is otherwise approved by the College of Education & Professional Studies.

D. You are a registered student in good standing.

E. You were acting within the scope of the program at the time of the incident. "Scope of the program" includes classroom teaching and other typical teaching assignments and professional activities, including student supervision, school-sponsored field trips, and meetings (e.g., faculty, department, grade level, school board, union).

"Scope of the program" does not include activities for which you are paid (e.g., coaching, taking tickets at a school event, chaperoning). If you are paid for an activity, liability is the responsibility of the employer.

F. You report any incident which may result in a claim or legal action to an administrator at the placement site and the Director of Field Experiences or Dean of the College of Education & Professional Studies. The Director of Field Experiences or the Dean of the College will advise the Campus Risk Manager.

G. Should the incident result in a claim or legal action naming you or UWW staff, you must cooperate fully and follow instructions given to you by the Campus Risk Manager or UW System legal staff. If a legal action, legal representation will be assigned by the State of Wisconsin Attorney General.

2. Health and Accident Insurance

Health and Accident Insurance is not provided for you by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater or the placement site. Be sure that your personal health insurance is in effect and will cover you when you are on location at the affiliate.

3. Workers' Compensation Insurance

Workers' Compensation Insurance is not available for you as you are not an employee of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Should you become ill or injured as the result of the field training program, there is no coverage by the University for costs of medical treatment. Again, be sure that you have personal health and accident insurance.

4. Transportation Liability

Your vehicle insurance coverage is primary when driving your own vehicle. There is no state coverage when driving to and from your field experience assignment or using your vehicle for your field experience assignment for any reason. Note: It is not advisable that you transport anyone in your vehicle, such as students on field trips, etc., during your student teaching assignment.

5. Withdrawal from Field Experiences

Students who have withdrawn from the course(s) required for their field experience are no longer authorized to return to their placement site(s) as a UW-Whitewater student until such time as they re-enroll in the appropriate course(s).

 

6. Additional Requirements

There may be other requirements by the placement site or the Department of Public Instruction. Examples include:

• Negative TB test results on file in the Office of Field Experiences.
• Approved means of identification.
• Background check.

NOTE: Should you have any questions regarding these matters, contact the Director of Risk Management and Safety at 262-472-1856 or the Director of Field Experiences at 262-472-1123.

Military Duty

Students who are called to active military duty during their field experience assignment are required to contact the Director of Field Experiences as soon as they receive their orders to discuss their options.

Reasonable Modifications

Students who have any special needs which may require reasonable modification, are required to contact the Director of Field Experiences immediately. In addition, they should meet with their cooperating teacher and university supervisor prior to the starting date of the assignment to discuss any reasonable modifications to meet the requirements of the experience.

Religious Observances

Students requesting absence from a field experience assignment because of religious observance should notify the cooperating teacher and university supervisor within the first two weeks of the starting date of the assignment. Strategies for making up missed work, if deemed necessary, should be formulated.

Self-Credentialing, Written Statements of Reference

Effective September 1, 2000, the Office of Career Services has implemented a new "self-credentialing" policy. The major impact of this change is that the Office of Career Services will no longer collect, store, and disseminate statements of reference for education majors. It is the obligation of students to retain copies of final statements of reference written by university supervisors and cooperating teachers that may be required as part of application for teaching positions.

To meet Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction requirements, the Office of Field Experiences is required to retain for five years documents related to required field experiences, including those submitted by university supervisors and cooperating teachers. After five years, these documents are destroyed.

Suspected Child Abuse and Child Neglect

Early in their assignment, students should discuss with their cooperating teacher the policies and procedures that apply to suspected child abuse and child neglect (physical, sexual, or emotional). Under Wisconsin Statutes 48.981, teachers are required to follow certain reporting procedures regarding suspected child abuse or child neglect, and their failure to do so is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.

Transportation

Students are responsible for arranging transportation to and from sites for all pre-clinical field experience assignments except, in some cases, for the Pre-Professional Block field experience. As part of enrollment in Observation and Participation (439-210 or 489-210) students are assessed a transportation fee to cover the cost of transportation to and from school sites as arranged by the Director of Field Experience.

Work Stoppage or Strikes

When a work stoppage occurs in a cooperating school system where students are assigned, it is the policy of the College of Education & Professional Studies that students be declared non-participants. Students will not report to the school but will remain on a standby basis during the period of time when schools are closed or during the period of time when schools are declared open without resolution of conflicting issues between the board of education and the local teachers’ association. Arrangements may be made by the Director of Field Experiences to provide experiences in a different location on a standby basis until the stoppage in the assigned school is terminated.