Internship Program
Attendance/Withdrawals
 

Attendance Interns are expected to follow the same schedule as their Cooperating Teachers/ACI's.  Should interns have an excused absence, it is absolutely mandatory that they notify as early as possible both the Cooperating Teacher and the University Supervisor by 7 a.m. if possible.  If the intern cannot reach the Cooperating Teacher and/or University Supervisor, the intern must notify the school office and/or the Office of Teacher Education Services as early as possible and request that the message be given to the Cooperating Teacher and/or University Supervisor.  Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in removal from the internship and require the internship to be repeated in its entirety.

Interns are expected to report to their school by 7:30 a.m. and remain until 3:30 p.m. each day.  Any violation of this policy without the University Supervisor’s knowledge and approval will be handled as an unexcused absence and result in the same penalties.

There is a no absence policy for all internships.  However, any excused absences in excess of two days must be made up by the end of the semester.  Generally, there are no days built into the semester schedule during which absences may be made up, so excused absences will most likely delay completion of the internship, graduation and certification.  If for valid reasons, interns are absent for five days, they must obtain permission from the Dean of the College of Education after consultation with the Director of TES, to continue the internship.  If permission is granted, the intern will be required to make up the absence(s).  If permission is not granted, the entire internship must be repeated if it is the first attempt.

 Excused absences might include medically verified personal illness, medically verified illness of intern’s child, emergencies of a serious nature and previously arranged University activities approved by the Director of Teacher Education Services.

Any unexcused absence from a seminar or from the school assignment will result in an automatic letter grade reduction for the internship.  A second unexcused absence will result in removal from the internship and the internship will have to be repeated in its entirety providing it is the first attempt.

Interns and Cooperating Teachers will be notified at the beginning of the semester or as soon as possible of seminar dates. Seminar dates may include holidays when public schools are not in session.  It is the interns' responsibility to make note of dates and attend all seminars and be on time.  Interns are also expected to attend faculty meetings, PTO/PTA meetings, professional development meetings, and club meetings that are sponsored by the Cooperating Teacher.

Since it is impossible to list all reasons an intern might be absent, please call the Office of Teacher Education Services, or the University supervisor if you have any questions regarding absences.  Medical appointments not of emergency status should be scheduled after school hours.

 Interruption of Internship

Effective January 2002, internships will be completed in their entirety within one semester, unless the University incomplete policy applies.  No waivers for interruption will be granted for employment, travel opportunities, illness, pregnancy or other health or personal reasons.  Any absences in excess of four days will require medical documentation and may result in withdrawal from the internship.  Permission to remain in the internship may be granted only by the Dean of the College of Education after consultation with the Director of TES.

Occasionally candidates in secondary education are employed by local superintendents by way of provisional licensure granted upon her/his request by the Alabama State Department of Education.  It has been the policy of the College of Education to cooperate with superintendents and candidates in this way; however, effective January 2002, any candidate who has begun the internship and is offered a teaching position will be required to complete the placement or withdraw from the internship.  Placement will not be changed to accommodate employment opportunities.  Only students with a conferred undergraduate degree, who are employed prior to the start of the internship, and who have been granted provisional licensure will be allowed to complete the internship in their school of employment.  The employing school district must provide for the University prior to the first day of the internship, verification of employment, evidence that licensure has been requested from the State Department of Education, and information regarding a qualified teacher-of-record (three years of successful experience and a master’s degree at the appropriate grade level and in the appropriate teaching field).

Withdrawals

If it becomes necessary for an intern to withdraw from the internship, it is the responsibility of the intern to resign by letter to the Cooperating Teacher, the University Supervisor, and the Director of Teacher Education Services.  Standard University procedures for withdrawal should also be followed.

When an intern's progress is unsatisfactory, as determined by the Cooperating Teacher and the University Supervisor, the intern may be withdrawn from the internship by the Director of Teacher Education Services.  When removal of an intern is requested by the school, the intern will be removed after a conference with the principal.  The student may or may not be allowed to repeat the internship, depending on the circumstances surrounding the removal/withdrawal.  If a second attempt is approved it is the intern’s responsibility to complete an application within one week of the removal or withdrawal to be placed the following semester.