Teacher Education Advisory Council

College of Education

March 6, 2000

Members Present: C. Bryan, R. Carlson, J. Darrell, G. Dmitriyev, L. Gilpin, B. Graham, B. Little, R. Martin, S. Ratan, J. Robbins, K. Ruebel, K. Sheppard, J. Schomber (Chair), G. Watson (for S. Taylor), D. Zigo, B. Wray (ex-officio), M. Egger (ex-officio)

Dr. Schomber called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.

I. STEP Grant Proposal (Standards-Based Teacher Education Project)

Dr. Schomber reviewed the discussions that led to the STEP grant being submitted on behalf of TEAC. During the first year of the grant, the social studies disciplines will be the focus of grant activities. At the conclusion of the first year, TEAC can determine whether to continue the grant. Dr. Schomber noted that TEAC is to "charge a task force made up of key faculty and P-12 teachers who serve on the program's Program Action Team, or PAT, and other TEAC members interested in participating." Since this action and other reports and actions will need to come before TEAC, Dr. Schomber suggested that TEAC could authorize the Executive Committee to be the executive body to handle actions regarding the STEP grant. Reports could be posted on the TEAC web site, and if action is needed by the full TEAC, the Executive Committee could forward those items to TEAC. Dr. Little motioned (Dr. Carlton seconded) that the TEAC Executive Committee serve as administrative agent for TEAC for the STEP project. In discussion, it was noted that the structure for the task force is set out in the grant but the exact number of members is not determined. The grant's first year concludes on August 31, 2000, and summer stipends from the grant can be used for faculty who agree to serve on the task force. Little's motion passed with all members voting in favor.

II. Admission Requirements into Educator Preparation Programs 2001

Dr. Schomber presented information regarding the Fall 1999 GSU Admissions Index [Index of 1085 w/SAT minimum of V-480 and M-440] and the Fall 2001 University System Freshman Index for GSU [Index of 2040 w/SAT minimums of V-430 and M-400; no CPC deficiencies].

She reported that the Academic Advisory Committee on Educator Preparation (AACEP), a System-level committee, approved unanimously on February 11, 2000, a two-part recommendation regarding students being admitted into undergraduate educator preparation programs within the University system of Georgia. Georgia Southern has implemented the requirements recommended for Fall 2000--cumulative GPA of 2.5 on all attempted hours in the System core curriculum in areas A-F; passing score on the Regents' Test; and passing score on PRAXIS I. For Fall 2001, the AACEP recommendation includes the following:

(1) Freshmen admitted who preference [sic] teacher preparation as a major must meet or exceed the institution's or System's average freshmen index.

(2) Transfer students who preference [sic] teacher preparation must meet or exceed the institution's or System's average qualification of all incoming transfer students.

(3) Graduate students must meet or exceed the institution's or System average qualifications of all incoming graduate students.

(4) Receiving institutions may establish higher admission requirements.

Students admitted to the teacher preparation program (typically in the middle of the sophomore or the beginning of the junior year) must have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA in all college courses attempted. In all institutions students in teacher preparation programs must earn a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in the System core curriculum or the first two years of the general education curriculum.

In TEAC discussion, it was noted that an institution can choose to use the System's admission index as their minimum or they may set their institution's admission index at a point higher than the System's. At GSU the group that sets the admission index includes both administrators and faculty.

III. Other Business/Announcements

PRAXIS II Update - Faculty from Early Childhood Education, Art, and Family and Consumer Sciences have taken or are scheduled to take the PRAXIS II exam in their area. Funds are still available to reimburse faculty--one per program area--who take the PRAXIS II exam. Preapproval requests are available from Ms. Egger.

M.Ed. Comprehensive Exam Process and Procedures - The revised policy (approved 2/24/00) and the revised procedures (2/00) for the M.Ed. Comprehensive Exam are available on the TEAC web site. The revised policy gives programs flexibility in the exam format. Any program that chooses to modify their current exam's format for use in 2000-01 must have their plan on file with the COE Dean's office before Fall 2000.

Subcommittees - TEAC subcommittees have not yet been activated. Additional members are needed for: PRAXIS, TEAC Bylaws, and NCATE/PSC Review.

A fourth subcommittee will be organized to examine GSU issues related to the AACEP recommendations regarding Admission Requirements into Educator Preparation Programs for 2001. All Interested members are asked to let Dr. Schomber know of their interest in serving on any of these subcommittees.

Field Experience Hours - The TEAC Executive Committee will be examining the distribution of field experience hours among courses in the P-12 program areas. They will report to TEAC on this effort at a future meeting.

IV. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:08 p.m.

Submitted by Mary Egger
Approved 3/21/00