Academic Eligibility and Prerequisites for Full Practicum or Clinical Experience
Students must meet the following prerequisites to gain approval to register for and to begin the full practicum experience:
- Grade point average of B or better (3.0 or above) for graduate students
- Grade point average of 2.5 or better for undergraduate students
- Satisfactory completion of required pre-practica or waiver from the Director of Practicum Experiences & Teacher Induction
- Recommendation for full practica by the pre-practicum field supervisor(s)
- Completion of 80% of the course work related to required Education courses, including methods courses in the content area and courses required for Initial Licensure
- Students may NOT Register for or begin a Practicum if there are any outstanding INCOMPLETED COURSE REQUIREMENTS appearing on the Academic Record from previous semesters.
Appealing a Grade for a Practicum Experience
All grade appeals must be made in writing to the Associate Director of
Practicum Experiences & Teacher Induction within one week after the grade has been given.
The Associate Director will contact the student to make an appointment to hear the
request after the written appeal is received. If the appeal is not resolved
with the Associate Director, the student may appeal to the Director. If the appeal is not resolved with the Director, the student may appeal to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Student Services.
Attendance (pre & full and spring break)
Students are expected to be punctual for all practicum assignments. The
University calendar
is followed for pre-practicum assignments; the school calendar is followed for
full practica and for clinical experiences. Occasionally, the Practicum Office
requires students to attend class sessions or meetings on campus. These are
scheduled and announced in advance of each semester and so should be planned
for ahead of time.
Students completing full practicum student teaching in the spring are not permitted to take the BC spring break. These students will benefit from the two greater Boston area school breaks which are normally scheduled for one week in February and an additional week in April, and should plan their travel plans accordingly. Special requests for approval of spring break must be presented in writing to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Student Services.
Car Pooling & Parking Permits
Parking permits for students in the Lynch School will be awarded to undergraduate
campus residents only each semester by the Associate Director of Practicum Experiences
& Teacher Induction. Eligibility for parking stickers is based on the student's
need to fulfill academic field requirements of pre-practicum, practicum or extended
practicum, and is restricted to undergraduate campus residents. Students should
complete a parking application
and return it to the Practicum Office.
Although a willingness to car pool is not a requirement for obtaining a parking permit, preference will be given to students who are so willing. A list of students who receive parking permits through the Practicum Office will be listed in a "Drivers To School Sites" notebook available in the office. The list is provided to Lynch School student teachers for their convenience only. Boston College has no control over and makes no representation as to the driving or vehicles of listed students. No inference that the students listed herein are acting as agents or employees of Boston College should be drawn from the listing or the issuance of parking permits.
Code of Ethics
All full practicum students are required to read and use the Code
of Ethics for Teaching written by the National
Education Association.
Dress Code
Students are expected to dress appropriately and in keeping with
generally accepted policy of the placement school community.
Employment during Student Teaching
Graduate students may be contract teachers completing the requirements
for a licensure area. Students must be working in the field in which they
are seeking licensure.
Housing & Early Access and Extensions
Student teachers who require either early access or extensions to
campus residences to fulfill their student teaching requirements should
contact the Practicum Office for assistance in making these arrangements.
Immunization
Many schools require immunization to student teach. It is the student's
responsibility to handle this well in advance so the practicum experience
will not be delayed.
Making Up Missed Days
Students who miss practicum experience days for any reason are required
to make them up. Clinical faculty and graduate supervisors may make recommendations
to the Directors regarding individual students.
Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse
In the event student teachers suspect child abuse, or are aware of child
abuse by anyone in the school or community, they should report the complaint
immediately to the building principal, the clinical supervisor, and the
Director.
Parking Permits
Parking permits are approved by the Associate Director for students
in practicum experiences. Each semester students must first apply in the Practicum Office. The application for Parking Permit is available on line. A list of students approved for parking
permits is sent to University Student Services. Students then confirm their approved status on line with Student Services. Fees for parking permits are posted to the student's account each semester. Permits are issued for one semester. Although carpooling
is not a requirement, pre
ference
is given to students who agree to carpool. Parking permits are restricted to undergraduate students who live on campus.
Placement Policy
Every effort is made to place students in schools that require no
more than one hour commuting time. In some cases, however, traveling
by public transportation may require more time.
With the exception of students participating in the International/Out-of-State Program, students' requests for out-of-state placement will not be approved.
Reporting Absence
Student teachers unable to attend a practicum assignment because of illness
or some other factor beyond the student's control are required to notify the
cooperating teacher as far in advance as possible. The University supervisor
and the Practicum Office
(617.552.4206) must also be contacted.
Sexual Harassment
Student teachers with questions or concerns related to possible sexual
harassment at the placement site should contact the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Student Services and the Practicum Director immediately.
Strikes, Work to Rule, Work Stoppages
If a work stoppage or strike takes place during student teaching, the student teacher should not report to the school site. "Work to rule" is a condition for cooperating teachers working in a district. If a student has any questions about teaching in a work to rule district, contact the Director for advice.
Substitute Teaching
Student teachers may substitute during the full practicum IN THEIR
OWN cooperating teacher's classroom after the mid-term and with full permission
of the cooperating teacher and building principal. Students must submit a written request to substitute teach to the Associate Director.
In emergencies, student teachers may substitute outside their classroom (without pay) for ONE day with the full approval of the school principal and Director of Professional Practicum Experiences.
Substitute teaching for payment must be approved by the Associate Director for ALL situations.
Transportation
Student teachers are required to find their own transportation to the schools.
Most schools are on public transportation routes. Car pools are available. Students
accepting rides in carpools need to read the guidelines and policies printed
on the booklet in the office. Directions
to all schools are available online.
Videotaping
Videotaping required for completion of any Lynch School related activities
must be done with the full permission of the school and must follow school
guidelines for taping, i.e., permission slips, etc. If there is a problem
in meeting requirements due to school policies see the Associate Director for advice.
Waiver of Practicum Experiences
Undergraduate students are not waived from practicum experiences. Graduate
students who have completed an undergraduate practicum program at BC may
be waived from the one required graduate pre-practicum with the approval of the Associate Director.
No practicum requirement can be waived without the approval of the Director of Professional Practicum Experiences. Each case will be reviewed individually.