Appreciating and preparing for diversity is a core component of our conceptual model.  We are aware that even many seasoned teachers in our area may not have had significant experience in working with diverse populations in the classroom.  Therefore, we are including as a program requirement that each candidate document a field experience of at least 40 hours in a culturally or ethnically diverse classroom.  Requirements include:

• a letter of documentation from the principal stating school diversity characteristics (ethnic breakdown, free and reduced lunch percentages, special needs categories, and other information relevant to the issue of diversity)

• a letter of verification from the classroom teacher

• a journal or other evidences of reflection 

• This program requirement must be completed prior to the approval of the candidate’s action research project. 

• To facilitate the field experience for current classroom teachers, arrangements may be made with the Director of Field Experiences for a summer school assignment in selected Fort Wayne schools.

These field experiences are reinforced by the intentional inclusion of diversity issues in courses such as the current issues series (ED 611, 621,631, and 641) and ED 525 Differentiated Instruction

• Each candidate accepted into the program will be assigned a faculty advisor, whose responsibility it will be to monitor candidate progress.

• The program will include a yearly review of all candidates currently in the program by the graduate teaching faculty.

• Candidates not maintaining academic standards or not making regular progress toward the completion of the program will meet with his/her faculty advisor to devise remediation plan.

• Candidates on remediation plans will meet with the faculty advisor at the end of each semester to discuss progress.  Failure to achieve adequate academic standards after two consecutive semesters on a remediation plan may result in dismissal.

Candidates may be dismissed from the program for the following:

• Violation of applicable college policies

• Failure to maintain a 3.0 GPA

• Failure to satisfactorily complete a field-based research project

• Conviction of any criminal offense which would preclude a teaching career

Candidates who are dismissed or facing dismissal may appeal their case to the Teacher Education Committee (TEC).  Beyond this the candidate would follow institutional guidelines for academic appeal as described in the Huntington University Student Handbook and Academic Catalog.

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