Clinical Practice Policies and Procedures

Removal of a Candidate from Clinical Practice

A candidate may be removed from Clinical Practice or possibly the Teacher Education Program for failure to exhibit sufficient knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Possible reasons for removal from Clinical Practice include, but are not limited to:

  1. A principal or superintendent has the right to request immediate termination of the candidate’s placement if the candidate is judged harmful or detrimental to the welfare of educational experiences of students and/or faculty. This includes, but not limited to, unprofessional behavior or violating school policy. In this situation, there is no option for an improvement plan. This could result in removal from the Teacher Education Program.
     
  2. A principal, cooperating teacher and/or college supervisor may request removal from clinical practice for reasons such as lack of collaboration, lack of cooperation, failure to create lesson plans in a timely manner, poor quality lesson plans, continuous ineffective teaching, not making sufficient progress, attendance/ tardiness, or lack of professionalism.

Normal steps in the removal clinical practice process:

  1. Stakeholder(s) (cooperating teacher, college supervisor, or administrator) notifies the Academic Coordinator or the Director of Education Services about concerns that may warrant removal from clinical practice placement.
  2. A meeting will be held to discuss the removal of the candidate from the Clinical Practice placement. The cooperating teacher(s), college supervisor(s), Academic Coordinator, and/or Director of Education Services may be in attendance. A Removal from Clinical Practice Form will be completed, and a copy will be given to the candidate once all signatures are collected.
  3. The Academic Coordinator will notify the candidate, by phone and in writing, and provide specific reasons for the removal along with the appeal process. See Appeal Process below.

Voluntary Removal from Clinical Practice

A candidate may remove themselves from Clinical Practice due to extenuating circumstances beyond the candidate’s control. The candidate may apply to complete Clinical Practice within two years. Candidates may also apply for a non-certified degree if all coursework outside of clinical practice has been completed. See withdrawal policy in the WSC General Catalog.

Applying to Return to Clinical Practice After Removal

If the candidate completed an educational studies or interdisciplinary degree without Clinical Practice and wants to return to complete Clinical Practice within one year, they will have to reapply for Clinical Practice and seek approval by the Professional Progress Committee (PPC).

Certification and course requirements change on a regular basis. The candidate will work with the Director of Education Services and the Registrar to review past coursework to determine a new plan of study.

  • If more than one year has passed, the candidate must reapply to WSC and possibly Teacher Education. They will be put on the current catalog which may require the candidate to retake coursework and/or take additional coursework.
  • If five years or more have passed, the candidate must reapply to WSC and the Teacher Education program. Candidate will be required to retake and take additional coursework that will include a practicum.

Process of Appeal Following Removal from Clinical Practice

A candidate who has been removed from clinical practice may request an appeal within 5 calendar days. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Director of Education Services. The Director will forward the appeal to the Professional Progress Committee (PPC) for a recommendation.

The PPC shall meet upon receiving an appeal. The candidate will be notified of the PPC meeting time and location and will have the opportunity to appear before the PPC prior to a recommendation being made.

The PPC shall take into consideration the nature and circumstances that contributed to the removal from clinical practice and other issues that may contribute to the candidate’s potential success as a teacher. The PPC will make a recommendation to the Dean within 7 working days of appeal receipt. The PPC may recommend to the Dean any of the following options:

  1. Approval of appeal without conditions
  2. Approval of appeal with conditions
  3. Denial of the appeal
  4. Recommendation of Removal from Teacher Education Program

The PPC could make recommendations regarding replacement location and the timeline for completion of the Clinical Practice experience. Some circumstances may allow for a new placement within the same semester as removal; however, others may warrant a placement in the following semester. If a student is removed from the Teacher Education Program, there will no further opportunities for clinical practice.

The Dean, in consultation with the Director of Education Services and the Academic Coordinator, shall consider the recommendations from the PPC and make the final decision.

The candidate will be informed in writing of the Dean’s decision. If the appeal is granted, with or without conditions, the candidate may have to reapply for Clinical Practice placement. If the decision includes conditions, the letter to the candidate will include a detailed explanation of what will be required to continue in Teacher Education.

If the candidate is not satisfied with the decision made by the Dean, the candidate has the right to appeal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA).

If the candidate is a member of the Student Education Association of Nebraska, the candidate may wish to contact the Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA) for assistance.

Clinical Practice Information