Professional Education Policies

The Professional Education Unit at The University of Southern Mississippi includes professional education faculty, academic programs, and administrative offices associated with professional education. Licensure programs are housed in the College of Education and Human Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Professional Education Council (PEC) is the official governance body for the Unit. The Unit head, the Dean of CoEHS, has the responsibility and authority to provide direction and leadership to the PEC. The purpose of PEC is to ensure that professional education programs are quality programs that comply with the standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE). Membership on the PEC includes faculty representatives from each department housing educator preparation programs, representative from Educational Field Experiences (EFE), and members of the CoEHS Dean’s Office administrative staff. The PEC recommends actions regarding the development, administration, evaluation, and revision of educator preparation courses and programs.

All policies of The University of Southern Mississippi's Professional Education Unit can be found below. PEC is responsible for developing and revising Unit policies and procedures to reflect changes in University requirements, accreditation standards, and applicable federal, state, and authoritative sources. In the event of a conflict between another Unit-created document (paper or electronic) and the updated policies and procedures, the policies and procedures listed on this website will prevail. 

Governance and Organization Policies and Procedures

• Conceptual Framework
• PEC Bylaws
• USM Professional Education Unit Code of Ethics and Conduct
• EPP Data Flowchart
• EPP Assessment System Flowchart
• Unit Organizational Structure
• Unit Advisory Board and EFE Advisory Board

Professional Education Faculty Policies and Procedures

• Professional Education Faculty Policies and Procedures Manual
• Course Syllabi Policy - Approved
  
  • Approved Template in Word
  • Applicable Standards: For all SPA standards, click here. For non-SPA accrediting body standards, see your department. For other standards, see here: NBPTS Certificate Standards; InTASC; ISTE; Mississippi Curriculum Frameworks; and AASL. 

Admissions Policies and Procedures

• Admissions Requirements for Gold Card Policy (Undergraduate, Traditional, Initial Licensure Programs) and Shorter Description for University Bulletin
• Admissions Requirements for Alternate Route Policy
• Background Check Policy

Student Policies and Procedures

• Student Grievance and Appeal Policy
• Exception Policy

Assessment Policies and Procedures

• Tk20 Subscription Policy
• Tk20 and SOAR Grade Alignment Policy
• Transition Point Chart for Undergraduate, Traditional, Initial Teacher Licensure Preparation Programs
• Transition Point Chart for Alternate Route, Initial Teacher Licensure Programs
• Transition Point Chart for Graduate Programs
• Professional Dispositions Policy for Initial-Traditional Route Programs, Educational Leadership Programs, and School Counseling

• Diversity Policy 
  • Diversity Resources:
    • Coming Soon
• Technology Competency Policy
  • Technology Resources:
    • Coming Soon

Educational Field Experiences Policies and Procedures

• Student Teaching Policy
  • Student Teaching Application on Tk20
  • Teacher Candidate Authorization to Release Information Form
  • Teacher Candidate Exit Survey on Tk20
  • Licensure Requirements for Student Teaching
• Cooperating Teacher Handbook F2018
• University Supervisor Handbook F2018
• Secondary and K-12 Practicum Log Policy

• Professional Liability Insurance Policy
  • Some providers: Mississippi Professional Educators and Mississippi Association of Educators

• Placement Procedures Policy
  • Practicum Placement Form
  • Quality Learning Time (QLT) Form