COE Teacher Preparation Programs Field Policy* Fall 2024
*This COE policy is subject to change. Please be sure to keep abreast of updates to our UHM and COE policies.
UHM Campus Status: The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (UHM) will deploy a COVID-19-aware approach to providing a safe, high-quality education for new and returning students, faculty and support staff. Information can be found at the UHM COVID-19 Guidelines. Please adhere to these health guidelines. The College of Education (COE) and UHM policies are subject to change. Be sure to keep abreast of updates to our UHM and COE policies.
College of Education
Our COE teacher preparation programs are designated as hybrid programs by UHM. Per UHM requirements: “Students enrolled in hybrid programs are required to submit Health Clearances and will be assessed mandatory student fees, in accordance with Hawaiʻi Administrative Rule 11-157 and EP 6.208 Mandatory Student Fees, during terms when the student is enrolled in courses with hybrid or in-person components” (UHM Program Definition and Requirements). Please see the UHM Health Clearance Requirements for details.
We encourage our COE community to follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations and strongly encourage individuals to be up-to-date with COVID-19 immunizations; however, until further notice the COE is not requiring candidates in field or clinical placements to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or to submit a request for medical/religious accommodation.
Some field or clinical settings where field requirements are completed may have specific guidelines (e.g., provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or submit a request for medical/religious accommodation) for UHM candidates and faculty providing field supervision at their site. Therefore, in order to participate with our partner institutions, individuals will need to adhere to the guidelines that they have specified. The COE requires candidates in field or clinical placements to follow all partner institution COVID-19 policies, and the University of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Guidelines and Policies. Candidates and field supervisors should find out about the specific guidelines at their school site and follow those guidelines.
Requirements for Candidates in All Field Courses
Each program Chair, in collaboration with program faculty and schools, will decide upon requirements for candidates in field experience courses including student teaching or internship. Candidates will be given a syllabus reflecting the requirements for their field course. If the program requires, candidates will be expected to complete their field experience face-to-face in a Hawai‘i public, charter, or private school with their mentor teacher and PK-12 students. Candidates must follow all school guidelines and UHM COVID-19 Guidelines. These may include:
- Maintain social distancing from students, staff, and faculty in the schools, as appropriate.
- Wear a face mask in classroom environments and/or in situations where there may be individuals who are immunocompromised.
- Wash hands frequently and/or use hand sanitizer.
- Sanitize your work space and materials frequently.
- Stay at home if you feel sick.
In-person observations of teaching performance will be conducted by University Supervisors; in-person observations may be supplemented by virtual observations at the discretion of the program Chair. In addition to supervisor observations of teaching, candidates may be required to provide videos of their teaching and/or participate in synchronous virtual demonstrations of their teaching. Candidates may be assigned to engage with technologies such as Zoom, Teaching Channel, Atlas, and/or GoReact as part of their field experience course or student teaching/internship requirement.
Requirements for Candidates in Student Teaching/Internship Courses
For the fall 2024 semester and thereafter, all candidates shall complete their supervised clinical experience in student teaching or internship in a Hawai‘i public, charter, or private school at the appropriate grade level(s) and in the subject(s) for which they are seeking licensure. Candidates must be prepared to travel to the UHM campus or a practicum field site as required. All candidates will be provided with a syllabus that specifies field requirements, and the UH supervisor will clarify expectations. The UH supervisor will discuss with both the candidate and appropriate school personnel (e.g., mentor teacher, principal) program requirements and expectations of the candidate as specified on the field syllabus. School personnel are encouraged to contact their COE liaisons with questions and concerns.
Candidates who are student teaching will be assigned a mentor teacher as appropriate in a PK-12 classroom setting with whom they will work, as is standard practice. The student teaching requirements and placement for each candidate will be approved by the program Chair in consultation with program faculty. Candidates will be expected to fulfill requirements by working face-to-face (in-person) in schools with their mentor teachers and PK-12 students, following all Hawai‘i public, charter, or private school guidelines and UHM requirements. Teacher candidates completing student teaching will follow the work expectations of their mentor teacher and the university supervisor, to include face-to-face instruction of PK-12 students.
For candidates who are emergency hires or working at schools (on-the job, OJT), the requirements of that position may or may not fulfill the requirements of the field course; therefore, the appropriateness of a COE field placement must be verified and approved by COE program faculty (e.g., program Chair, Field Coordinator). OJT candidates must complete an internship in a Hawai‘i public, charter, or private school at the appropriate grade level(s) and in the subject(s) for which they are seeking licensure. OJT candidates will be performing the expectations for their hired position, as determined by the school principal. In addition, the candidate is responsible to meet all COE program requirements, which include both course and field requirements.
Any exceptions to the above policy must be approved by the program Chair in consultation with the Interim Associate Dean.
