Policies

Children are not allowed in any College of Education classroom during an official class period. Children should be supervised at all times while in the building.

All students are expected to dress appropriately. Clothing with derogatory, offensive and/or lewd messages either in words or pictures should not be worn within the college.

All cell phones must be silenced or set to vibrate during class. If you make or accept a call or text message during class time, you must leave the classroom for the duration of the class. Unless specifically allowed for class or examination, the use of any electronic devices is prohibited.  Students are responsible for ensuring that all contact information is current within their program file within their department.

All College of Education students are required to obtain an official CSU email account. This email address will be considered the official form of communication within all correspondences.

All students are required to have access to an electronic device (laptop, tablet, Chromebook, iPad, computer, etc.).  We encourage you to bring this device to all class session so that you can fully experience the integration of technology into your education.

All students are required to purchase a copy of LiveText either from the CSU Bookstore or from www.livetext.com.

The College of Education considers plagiarism a violation of academic integrity and will address all violations of the policy. Plagiarism is a serious matter, subject to disciplinary action and/or dismissal from a program, the College of Education or the university. All instructors reserve the right to run any assignment through Turnitin.

A student is considered to be in good academic standing when they are making satisfactory progress toward the completion of a program within the College. Academic standing is monitored by each program and is reviewed at the end of each academic semester. A student is considered to be making good academic progress if all of the following conditions are met:

• The student's term and cumulative GPA are at or higher than the prescribed program GPA;
• The student has no more than two Incomplete (I) grades on their academic record; and
• The student satisfactorily completes all attempted courses within the semester for which they register.

An "attempted course" is defined as the registration for a course or courses with a continued registration status within the course or courses after the prescribed University add/drop date. Withdrawing from a course or courses after the prescribed University add/drop date or the receipt of an incomplete grade within the course will count as an attempt and will be used in the determination of a student's academic standing within their respective program. Failure to satisfy the requirement of an incomplete contract within the designated time period will result in the agreed upon default grade being noted on a student's record.

A student who does not meet the requirements for being in good academic standing may be placed on probation at the end of the term in which they fail to meet this standard. A student placed within probationary status will have an academic hold placed on his/her account and will not be able to register until he/she contacts their program for guidance. A student will be notified of his/her probationary status through the student's University email account. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all contact information is current within the university.

Students may be in probationary status for a period of no more than one academic school year. Students must be in good academic standing at the end of the prescribed probation period. Probationary status will be removed during any semester during this time period when a student achieves good academic standing status.

A student who does not meet the requirements for good academic standing may be limited in the ability to register within their program. A program may opt to limit a student's registration on the following grounds:

• The student's cumulative GPA has fallen below the program standard;
• The student's term GPA has fallen below the program standard;
• The student has registered for courses outside of the program requirements without program approval;
• Failure to pass required testing for credentialing or licensure;
• The student is unlikely to make satisfactory progress within the program within the prescribed maximum time limits for completion; and/or
• Student has received two (2) unsuccessful grades in professional education courses.

Limitations to a student's course enrollment can include, but are not limited to:

• A limitation placed on the number of credit hours attempted within a term;
• A limitation, restriction or exclusion placed on registration until deficiencies are addressed; and/or
• The implementation of a required GPA for the semester.

Any prescribed limitations are implemented at the discretion of the department, in accordance with programmatic requirements. In an attempt to ensure future academic success and provide the necessary guidance to a student who is not in good standing, a program may develop an academic plan for that student.

An academic plan can be developed and implemented to either address academic deficiencies or as a requirement for the continuation of financial aid under the University's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. Within the College of Education, all academic plans will be developed according to the requirements of programs and these requirements may be more stringent than those within SAP requirements. Students needing an academic plan should meet with their respective advisor to develop a formal plan. Any plans created outside of the College of Education will not be honored when considering acceptable academic standing, probationary status or program dismissal within any College of Education program.

The development of an academic plan is one of the most successful attempts at ensuring a student's future academic success within their program. This process requires a student to meet with either their program chair and/or program advisor to identify potential or actual barriers to future academic success and create an action plan for remedying identified deficiencies within a prescribed time period. The program representative and student will sign the plan and the student will receive a copy for future reference. Refusal to sign an academic plan does not negate its validity. A student is required to abide by all of the terms of the academic plan for continued residency within his/her programs. A student failing to abide by the terms of an academic plan may be dismissed from his/her program and/or the College of Education.

Students dismissed from a program within the College of Education will be notified of this action by certified mail and through their University email accounts. Failure to have an accurate address on file is not a reason for overturning a dismissal. Students are responsible for monitoring their academic progress. The College of Education and University are not responsible for any expense incurred by the student upon dismissal from the program.

Students requesting an appeal of a program dismissal decision should do so through a formal petition to the College of Education Admissions and Standards Committee.

Candidates must not have any unresolved violations of the Professional Code of Conduct in order to continue in their program past any of these checkpoints. The Professional Code of Conduct includes (but is not limited to) academic integrity, accountability, appropriate language, civility, cleanliness, fairness, honesty, justice, punctuality, reliability, professional ethics, nondiscriminatory behavior, respect, trustworthiness, and other aspects of professional behavior.

Candidates who are observed violating any aspect of the Professional Code of Conduct can be given the opportunity to correct their behavior after consulting with the party who has observed the violation, or with the party's or candidate's academic department. If the problem is not successfully resolved, a referral can be made by the party observing the violation, his or her academic department, or the candidate's academic department to the College's Admission and Standards Committee (ASC) for a final resolution.

Candidates who have a history of violating the Professional Code of Conduct (whether the violations are resolved or unresolved) can be referred to the Admission and Standards Committee at the discretion of a concerned member of the university community. The ASC will review the referral and render a decision regarding the candidate's status in the program, in accordance with standard ASC referral review procedures.

Admissions & Standards Petition Form

• Professional education courses completed more than five years before admission to Chicago State University in an education program, either as transfer credit or at Chicago State University, will not be accepted. Other restrictions on the time limit for completing course work may be included in individual program listings. Masters degree seeking student are allowed no more than two (2) C grades in their program. All professional education courses must be completed with a grade of B or better. Grades of D and F are not acceptable and need to be retaken for a higher grade. In professional education, the option of retaking courses for a higher grade is limited to two courses.
• A grade of C or above is required in all courses in an initial teacher preparation program, either as transfer credit or completed at Chicago State University, including all courses in general education; all required courses in the area of concentration and/or area of specialization (with the exception of the secondary teaching option in chemistry, which allows one grade of D); all required supportive courses; and all other courses in professional education; unless otherwise stated in the general requirements for each program.
• A grade of B or above is required in any student teaching courses.
• A maximum of two professional education courses can be repeated once for a higher grade. The higher grade will be included in calculating the grade point average. Students who earn an unacceptable grade in a third professional education course will be dropped from the program.
• Students who are dropped from a teacher education program are not eligible to pursue initial teacher certification in any undergraduate, graduate, or non-degree program at Chicago State University.
• Students are responsible for meeting the program requirements in effect at the time they are admitted into the College of Education, regardless of when they entered the university. The College of Education nor Chicago State University is responsible for changes implemented by ISBE or any other governing agency. Students are responsible for meeting any and all additional university requirements.
• The following courses are designed to develop technology skills among education personnel: PE/REC 2070, ED 4312/5312, T&ED 2120, & T&ED 4346/5346. Enrollees for these classes are expected to provide their own laptops (Either MAC or PC) for use in class. Instructors for these classes should be prepared to use both the MAC and PC platforms in every section of the course. Per the COE Laptop Policy, all students are required to have access to a laptop.
• A maximum of nine credit hours of professional education courses taken at a junior or community college can be transferred into a teacher preparation program (undergraduate).
• Professional education courses completed more than five years before admission to Chicago State University in an education program, either as transfer credit or at Chicago State University, will not be accepted. Other restrictions on the time limit for completing course work may be included in individual program listings.
• A CSU cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all courses completed at CSU in an undergraduate program is required for graduation. Other grade requirements may be listed under the general or specific requirements for each program.
• Courses taken in a teacher education program may be repeated for a higher grade no more than twice. The highest grade will be included in calculating the grade point average. Students who do not earn an acceptable grade in a required course after three attempts will be dropped from the program.
• A maximum of two professional education courses can be repeated for a higher grade. The higher grade will be included in calculating the grade point average. Students who earn an unacceptable grade in a third professional education course will be dropped from the program.
• Students who are dropped from a teacher education program are not eligible to pursue initial teacher certification in any undergraduate, graduate, or non-degree program at Chicago State University.

A grievable action is defined as capricious, arbitrary, unreasonable, false, malicious or professionally inappropriate sanction, evaluations or behavior.

In the case of alleged sexual harassment or discrimination, students should bypass the College of Education grievance process and consult the Chicago State University Department of Legal Affairs for guidance on filing a grievance. Grievances based on physical or mental ability should be initiated in the Office of Abilities Services.

Students who question the action or decision of a faculty, administrator or staff member (grade dispute, unprofessional behavior, etc.) must make a good-faith effort to resolve the issue within sixty (60) academic calendar days from the time the student became aware of or could reasonably be expected to have known of the action being grieved. Academic calendar days consist of days which the University is open (excluding weekends and designated University holidays). Issues initiated after this time will not be considered.

The only allowed exception to this timeline is during the summer semester. If (a) a portion of the sixty-day period of filing falls within the summer semester AND (b) the faculty or staff member is on hiatus during the summer semester and not in an official working status during the summer semester, the period from the last day of the Spring semester until the day before the first day of the Fall semester is excluded from the time period.

Students must complete a grievance form to begin the grievance process. Documents can be obtained within academic departments or the Dean’s Office. All parties are responsible for providing a functional U.S. mail address, email address or telephone number to receive notifications within the grievance process. Once contact information for correspondence is submitted, it becomes the responsibility of all parties to check that source for correspondences regarding the grievance process. Failure to check for correspondence or failure to notify the department of a change in contact information will not preclude the process of notification and the adherence to timelines. All parties are responsible for retaining copies of all written correspondences within the grievance process.

A grievance can be heard at both the department and college levels. Before a case can be heard by the College Grievance Committee, it must proceed through three prior levels of deliberation. These levels include the following:

• Level One: Conference between student and instructor/staff, when practical and if applicable;
• Level Two: Conference between student and department chairperson; and
• Level Three: Hearing before the Department Grievance Committee.

If circumstances prohibit individuals from beginning the grievance process at level one, a grievant is to begin his/her grievance at the next appropriate level. Examples of this include, but are not limited to faculty unavailability due to retirement or other non-affiliation actions or if the respondent is a chairperson. It is the student’s responsibility to make an appointment with the faculty or staff member involved to try to resolve the issue.

Once this procedure of due process has begun, the grievant must follow the steps within the departmental grievance procedure. Once the grievance process has begun, the grievant has the responsibility to keep all scheduled appointments and sessions within this process. As the grievant has the opportunity to agree on scheduled appointment dates within the grievance process, missed appointments (outside of verifiable emergencies) at any level within the grievance process will result in a grievance being withdrawn from the process and the grievant may not re-file the grievance at a later time.

a. Level One: Conference between student and instructor/staff

When a grading evaluation or other dispute occurs, students should attempt to discuss with the faculty or staff how the decision was made. This communication can occur in written format (e-mail or regular mail) but a face-to-face meeting is preferred. As far as possible, the student and the faculty or staff should attempt to resolve the grievance at this level. Many times, questions about grades or other decisions affecting the student can best be resolved through communication at this level. If a resolution is found, the grievance process concludes at this level and no further action is needed. If no satisfaction is obtained, either party may request that the matter be escalated to level two of the grievance process. Further, if the staff or faculty refuses to meet with the student to discuss the issue, the student has the right to request that the matter be escalated to level two of the grievance process.

b. Level Two: Conference between student and department chairperson

A request for a Level Two Conference with the department chair should be submitted to the department chair in writing within ten (10) academic calendars days after the date of the Level One conference. This request will occur in the form of a completed and signed grievance form. At minimum, a grievance must contain:

• Identification of individual against who the grievance is directed.
• The date of the alleged violation.
• The specifics of how the grievant believes a policy or right was violated.
• A brief summary of the evidence supporting the allegations and a brief summary of the argument.
• Information about attempts to resolve the grievance with the faculty or staff and information about the results of those attempts.
• The proposed resolution to the issue.

Upon receipt of a completed grievance form (obtained from the department), the department chair will send a copy of the grievance to the respondent, requesting a written response. During the grievance process, it is permissible to transmit correspondence related to a grievance by email. However hard copies of all documents must also be sent by U.S. or campus mail or delivered by hand. Upon submission, if it is determined that the grievance form is incomplete, the student will have ten (10) academic calendars days from the date of notice to modify the grievance form. If the form is not completed within this time period, the grievance will be dismissed and written notice of this action will be provided to the student within ten (10) academic calendars days.

The department chair will meet with the instructor and student for the purpose of clarification as the matter warrants, and in an attempt to arrive at a solution within ten (10) academic calendar days. At the request/discretion of the student or department chair, the person against whom the complaint is made may or may not be present at the initial discussion. If situations warrant, the student may request the presence of a student observer and the department chair may request the presence of another department chair or comparable level administrator observer at the Level Two session. Observers attend this session for observation purposes only. They should not be relatives of the grievant.

A written statement should be submitted to the grievant, respondent, college grievance officer and the office of the dean within ten (10) academic calendar days regarding the outcome of the meeting. If a resolution is found, the grievance process concludes at this level and no further action is needed. If no satisfaction is obtained, the matter may proceed to Level Three for a hearing before the departmental grievance committee.

c. Level Three: Hearing before the Department Grievance Committee

If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting with the department chair, the student should notify the department chair (in writing), within ten (10) academic calendar days of receipt of written notification of the outcome of the Level Two conference, of the desire to have a departmental hearing on the matter.

A grievance hearing will ordinarily be completed within thirty (30) academic calendars days after the department chair's receipt of the formal complaint. Should the grievance be brought at a time when this period extends into the summer semester, the hearing committee will attempt to proceed within the set timeline, but if this cannot be accomplished due to summer absences of any involved party, the chair will notify all parties that the process will be held in the beginning of the fall academic semester.

Once an agreed upon date is secured, the department chair shall convene a departmental grievance committee consisting of two faculty members from the department and one student from any program in the college. This committee will function as a standing departmental committee. The department chair shall appoint one of the selected faculty members to function as the hearing committee chair. The selected student must be representative of the same level (or higher) of the program. For example, a graduate student may only serve on the committee within the graduate studies department. One of the selected faculty members should be a content specialist on the presented issue, as applicable.

At this level of the grievance process, legal counsel or guests (outside of pertinent witnesses) are not allowed at the grievance committee hearing. The ordinary rights of the student and instructor or staff will apply, including the right to notice of the hearing; the decision reached; the right to be present at the hearing; and the right to present and inspect evidence. If either party fails to show to a scheduled hearing, the hearing will still occur and a decision will be rendered.

Hearings will only be rescheduled in the event of a verified emergency, which is determined by the department chair. Documentation may be requested. The initiating party has the option of requesting (in writing to the department chair) that their grievance be withdrawn from the process and may not re-file the grievance at a later time.

The hearing committee chair is responsible for conducting the hearing, including limiting questioning and testimony to relevant issues. The hearing committee shall make all decisions based on relevant evidence submitted as a part of the hearing. A recording or other official record shall be kept of all proceedings in which evidence is presented. Upon the conclusion of the hearing the hearing committee shall decide whether the evidence presented supports the request contained within the grievance. A two-thirds majority shall be considered a decision of the committee. The hearing committee shall forward a written report of its findings to the department chair, the office of the dean and the college grievance officer. Within ten (10) academic calendar days, following the hearing, the department chair should also forward findings and recommendations to the grievant and respondent.

The student may appeal the departmental grievance committee’s decision within ten (10) academic calendar days of notification of the decision by submitting a copy of the committee’s decision, a copy of the College Grievance Form, all pertinent evidence and a letter of dissent to the College of Education’s Office of the Dean. College-level hearings will be held within thirty (30) academic calendar days upon the receipt of all required documentation by the College of Education Grievance Officer. If it is determined that all required documentation has not been received, the student will have ten (10) academic calendars days from the date of notice to submit required documents. If documentation is not submitted within this time period, the grievance will be dismissed and notice of this action will be provided to the student within ten (10) academic calendar days.

At this level of the grievance process, legal counsel or guests (outside of pertinent witnesses) are not allowed at the grievance committee hearing. The ordinary rights of the grievant will apply, including the right to notice of the hearing; the decision reached; the right to be present at the hearing; and the right to present and inspect evidence. If either party fails to show to a scheduled hearing, the hearing will still occur and a decision will be rendered. Hearings will only be rescheduled in the event of a verified emergency, which is determined by the College of Education Grievance Officer. Documentation may be requested. The initiating party has the option of requesting (in writing to the College of Education Grievance Officer) that the grievance be withdrawn from the process and may not re-file the grievance at a later time.

Specific procedures for the hearing of each case shall be determined by the members of the committee deliberating that case. The composition of the College Grievance Committee shall be:

1. The College of Education Grievance Officer or an administrative representative designated by the Dean of the College of Education who shall chair the committee and convene the committee meetings.
2. Two faculty members or one faculty member and one administrator not from the department involved. Adjunct faculty members will be eligible to serve on the College Grievance Committee at the discretion of the Dean or his/her designated representative.
3. Two student representatives; one from the department involved and the other from another department or program within the college. The student representatives should not be enrolled in any classes of the grievant.
4. The faculty or staff member against whom the grievance is lodged should not be a member of the grievance committee.
5. The student who is filing the grievant should not be a member of the grievance committee.

The College of Education Grievance Officer or an administrative representative designated by the Dean of the College of Education is responsible for conducting the hearing, including limiting questioning and testimony to relevant issues. The hearing committee shall make all decisions based on relevant evidence submitted as a part of the hearing. A recording or other official record shall be kept of all proceedings in which evidence is presented. Upon the conclusion of the hearing the hearing committee shall decide whether the evidence presented supports the request contained within the grievance. A three-fifths majority shall be considered a decision of the committee.

The College Grievance Committee makes recommendations to the Dean of the College of Education within five (5) academic calendar days after the hearing. A decision will be rendered to all involved parties within fifteen (15) academic calendar days after the hearing. The decision rendered from the Dean of the College of Education is final and is not grievable.