Professional Conduct Policy: MSU Teacher Preparation Program
Revised and approved by the Teacher Preparation Committee on December 17, 2010.
In this time of transition from being a student to being a professional teacher, it is important that you begin to see yourself as a lifelong learner rather than a student fulfilling university requirements. Both your school-based experiences and your university coursework are vital and integral components of your professional preparation. Because the way you conduct yourself in these settings reflects on you as a professional, we want to be clear about your responsibilities with regard to professional and ethical conduct. Failure to comply with these (and other university policies governing student conduct) will result in a review of your progress by your team and specific recommendations regarding your continued participation in the teacher certification program.
Attendance and Punctuality
You are expected to be present and on time for your professional commitments. If you must be absent from any one of your professional responsibilities due to illness or an emergency, you must inform the people who are affected by your absence. That is, for your field placement you must notify your collaborating teacher, your field partner(s) if you have one, your MSU liaison, and if appropriate, your subject-matter field instructor. For your on-campus courses, you must notify your course instructor. Any absence during a semester from on-campus courses or pre-internship field placements is cause for concern and may affect your grade. Recurring absences or tardiness will put your recommendation for continuation in the program in jeopardy. During the internship, interns who are absent more than four days in a semester in their school placement may be required to make up the time. If you have difficulty meeting this expectation because of an emergency or any other reason, talk to your course instructor or Team coordinator in advance or as soon as possible. Informing the appropriate people about extenuating circumstances will allow us to work with you to make appropriate arrangements.
Academic Integrity
In instances of academic dishonesty, violation of professional standards or falsification of records, the University's policy on the Integrity of Scholarship and Grades will be enforced. This means that at the instructor’s discretion, a student may receive a penalty grade on an assignment and/or in the course, and a report must be filed which becomes part of the student’s academic record. Additional penalties are possible, depending on the nature of the infraction.
Moreover, teachers are the guardians of academic integrity in society. Teacher candidates are expected to meet the highest standards in this regard, and to uphold these standards among their students and colleagues. It is the standard practice of teachers to borrow ideas and materials from a variety of sources. Take care to properly attribute these sources and to refrain from representing another’s intellectual property as your own. Instructors and course syllabi provide additional guidelines for applying these principles to specific assignments and products.
Confidentiality
By both professional standards and the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, see http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html), teachers are expected to respect the privacy and dignity of the children and families with whom they work. Likewise, as part of your preparation to enter the teaching profession, we expect you to use discretion when discussing or otherwise representing your experiences in schools. Always take care to protect the identities of children, adults and institutions in all media formats, including your spoken word. Be judicious and thoughtful about the content of stories about the classroom you share, and the contexts in which you share those stories. For example, do not discuss classroom experiences in public settings like restaurants or hallways, or on social media sites such as Facebook. Ask your collaborating teacher if there are additional district or school requirements regarding confidentiality that you must observe.
Classroom Discussions
Your field experiences are an important part of your learning and you will be discussing them in your course meetings. Do not relate stories from classrooms or schools that include sensitive information about a child, adult, family or institution. When discussing classroom situations, do so carefully. Use a fictitious name for any student involved. Mask the name of a student on any written or visual work shared in class. When discussing teaching practice you have observed in the field, be mindful of maintaining a tone of professional courtesy.
Interviews and Artifacts
When collecting information by interview, clearly state, or give to the interviewee in writing, the purpose of the interview and the uses you will make of the material. Obtain written permission for these uses. Ask your instructor for an example if you are unsure how to word this statement. Use pseudonyms and screen or mask identifying information when reporting interviews with children or adults, or when sharing artifacts of student work.
Photographs, Audio and Video
Occasionally there are circumstances which require that a student's whereabouts be kept secret and photographs and recordings are not allowed. Most schools and districts require written permission from parents/guardians for taking any photographs, audio or video recordings. Before taking photographs or making audio or video recordings, your instructor can help you draft a release form for collecting these media, which you must then review with the classroom teacher and revise further as needed.
Portfolios
Your professional portfolio is a significantly more public representation of your work in schools than most other course assignments. Confidentiality considerations and releases for this use deserve special attention. Use pseudonyms and screen or mask names and personal identifying information. Always secure and maintain records of explicit written permission for any artifacts, photographs or recordings you include in print or electronic portfolios.
Dress and Deportment in Schools
When you are in school, you are expected to dress appropriately. You will be viewed and judged as another adult by students, parents, teachers and other people in the building. Be polite and considerate of other adults in the building including the principal, custodians, secretary, and paraprofessionals.
Alcohol and Illegal Drugs
The University Drug and Alcohol Policy will be enforced, which prohibits the possession or use of illegal drugs and alcoholic beverages in classes and field placements. Students are expected to be free of the influence of such substances in classes and field placements.
Professional Communication
Professional education can be an intensely personal and challenging process. In your classes and field placements, you are expected to give and accept constructive feedback appropriately and to react appropriately in stressful situations. You are also expected to take an active role in your learning and contribute to the learning of your fellow students. If you have concerns, problems, or questions about any aspect of your coursework or fieldwork, you should first address them to the instructor or team person who is most directly involved. This applies to situations at the university as well as in the field. If the situation is not resolved at that level, you should request assistance from the Team coordinator or faculty leader. See the Teacher Preparation Program’s Procedures for Handling Disputes for more information.
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