Advising Information & Resources
Welcome
As you progress though your degree at California University of Pennsylvania there are many people and places where you can find information to help make your academic decisions. This webpage hopes to provide you with a connection to many university resources. When you are ready contact me and we can have a conversation about your academic plans.
Disclaimer
The information on this website should not be considered official policy or procedure. Policies can change and interpretations can vary. This website is intended as a helpful way to direct you to information about various teacher education policies. Please consult with your academic advisor, course instructor and authoritative documents for official policy.
Office Hours/Schedule an Appointment
All faculty in the Elementary and Early Childhood Department are ready to help with your advising needs. You can schedule an appointment during office hours through this website (Use your Cal U email userid and password). Make sure that if you sign-up you keep your appointment or call far enough in advance that another student could use your time slot. You can also contact me by phone or email.
University Support
Your intellectual development during your academic career may be influenced by physical, emotional, and life events outside of class. Listed below are some support services to help you deal with these unique circumstances. When life events affect your academic performance there are people and resources that can support you through the tough times. Listed below are some of those support services. Please contact someone...you are not alone!
California U Public Safety - 724-938-4299
Office for Students with Disabilities - 724-938-5781
Student Health Center - 724-938-4232
Counseling & Psychological Services - 724-938-4056
Sexual & Domestic Abuse Crisis Phone - 724-938-4325
Social Equity Office - 724-938-4014
Office of Student Succes - 724-938-1523
Teacher Education Program Handbook
Many questions about the processes and procedures about your teacher education program can be found in the Teacher Education Program Handbook. Please consult this book first for answers to your questions.
Forms and Documents
Many of the forms you need such as the Application to Teacher Education Form, Recommendation for Student Teaching and others are available at this College of Education and Human Services website.
On Course Degree Audit
If you would like to check to see how the courses you have takes so far match up with the courses you need to graduate, then you can do a "degree audit." You can do a degree audit yourself electronically. Follow this link for directions on how to complete a degree audit. You should always consult with your advisor for information about your specific situation.
Course Scheduling and Registration
Students in education must meet with an advisor prior to scheduling their courses. The elementary/early childhood department hosts an advising week the week before course scheduling, Monday - Friday, 9-5. Once you have met with your advisor you can schedule your courses electronically.
Course is closed/Course Needs List - If you find that the course you need to take has been filled and is now closed, please do not panic. There are several things you should do.
- Please go to the Elementary/Early Education Department office in Keystone 302 and add your name to the course needs list sheet.
- Also, please go to the following website and fill out a course needs list request form. http://www.cup.edu/academic/oss/needs.htm
You will be notified as information becomes available about this course. It also helps to stay on top of things and check your registration periodically.
English 102 - The American/English Literature courses below are acceptable in lieu of ENG 102 on the student’s advisement sheet using the standard course substitution form. Here is a list of those courses that are acceptable for the PDE Literature requirement. Some of them are offered this Spring.
ENG 106 Intro to Poetry
ENG 107 Intro to Fiction
ENG 108 Intro to Drama
ENG 125 The American West
ENG 155 Black Literature
ENG 160 Intro to British/American Literature
ENG 203 Great Books
LIT 125 The American West
LIT 127 Women as Hero
Psychology Courses - For students in the new PreK-grade 4 and grades 4-8 programs who started Fall 09: the PSY 100 prerequisite for PSY 208 is waived because they are taking 2 child psych courses (PSY 216 and 217) and PSY 208. PSY 100 does not appear on their advisement sheet.
For current students under the old program: the PSY 100 prerequisite for PYS 208 is not waived. PSY 100 is on their advisement sheet; they must take it.
College-Level Exam Program (CLEP)
Students can earn college course credits by taking examinations rather than taking the course. Information about these exams is located on the CLEP exam website.
Praxis Test Information
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires that candidates for elementary or early childhood education teacher certification take 5 tests. These tests are designed and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
Praxis I Tests before Admission to Teacher Education - In order to be admitted to the teacher education program all candidates must take, pass and have their score sent to Cal U before they can be admitted to teacher education. The Praxis I tests are called the pre-professional skills test: PPST Reading (#0710 paper-based test or #5710 computer-based test); PPST Writing (#0720 paper-based test or #5720 computer-based test); and PPST Mathematics (#0730 paper-based test or #5730 computer-based test).
Praxis II Tests before Recommendation for Student Teaching - The Praxis II tests must be taken, passed and reported to Cal U prior to the Recommendation for Student Teaching deadlines of June 1st for Fall Student Teaching and November 1 for Spring Student Teaching.
Elementary Education majors must take: 1. Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment (#0011) and 2. Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (#0511).
Early Childhood majors must take: 1. Early Childhood Education (#0020) and 2. Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (#0511).
Dual Elementary and Early Childhood majors must take tests #0511,#0011,and #0020.
A complete list of required PRAXIS tests for all Cal U majors can be found here.
When to take Praxis Tests - Our best advice is that you should take the tests after you have completed the classes that help you pass the Praxis Tests and far enough before the deadlines so that your scores are reported in a timely manner. Please see your advisor for help in planning the optimum time for you to take the Praxis Tests.
Finding Information - All of the information you need to know about when, where, how much, and what is on the tests can be located at the ETS Praxis website. Information about Pennsylvania's requirements, passing scores and other information is located on the ETS website here .
At California University of Pennsylvania the current requirements for taking the tests can be found on the information paper entitled, "Praxis Exam Requirements." located in the Department office in 302 Keystone.
Preparing for Praxis Tests - All students should prepare before taking these tests. There are many resources available to help you be successful. First, perform well on the assignments in your classes. Second, study for the Praxis tests by obtaining a copy of the free study guides on-line from ETS or buy one of the many Praxis study guides available in bookstores (Make sure to buy the right study guide for your test. Check the test number when buying a test guide). There are free copies available to borrow and more information on the website for the Cal U Praxis Preparation Office. Everyone should read the ETS study tips webpage as well as download and read "General Information and Study Tips" and "Reducing Test Anxiety" at the bottom of that webpage. Don't waste your money and time by having to take the Praxis Tests over again....some students have had to change their academic personal plans because they didn't pass the Praxis tests....invest in your future by studing for success and pass the first time!
Once you have the information about what is on the test .... find a friend, form a study group, and prepare for success!
Praxis Test Scores - The best place to find information about your Praxis test score is from the ETS Praxis Website for Pennsylvania.
For Praxis I tests there are two scoring methods. Either you earn scores that allow you to pass them outright (Reading = 172; Writing = 173; Math 173) OR the scores need to be above a minimum (Reading = 171; Writing = 170; Math 171) AND the cumulative score for all three must be above 521 then you could pass. This second method of scoring allows you to have a slightly lower score on one test and use a higher score on another test to still pass. These two methods of scoring are explained on the Praxis handouts in the department office and on the ETS website.
Praxis II passing scores (as of September 2005) are 150 on the Fundamental Subjects test (#0511); 168 on the Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (# 0011); and 530 on the Early Childhood Education (#0020).
Certificates for Free Praxis Re-Test
PDE and Praxis have teamed up to allow students, under certain circumstances to take the Praxis exam for free. The guidelines are available here. The procedure we will use at Cal is as follows:
1. Students can come to our office (Keystone 202) to get the “Pennsylvania Certificate for Re-Test” form. This form comes from ETS and cannot be copied because it is watermarked.
2. When they come, they should bring their:
a. Praxis Candidate ID Number – found on the Praxis scoring sheets
b. Current unofficial transcript – so we can verify their GPA
c. The test name and code they wish to take
d. The date on which they wish to take the test
e. Praxis score reports – all of them. Students must have already failed the test once, but no more than twice. They also must have failed by 3 points or less.
3. Once we have verified their information we will allow them to complete a certificate, log the information in a spreadsheet and keep a copy of the Certificate form. We will not give them a certificate to take with them to complete because we were only given 100 certificates. They must have all the information when they come to complete the form.
4. Students will then need to send the original certificate with their registration form in order to get a Free Praxis test.
Criminal and Child Abuse Clearances
Pennsylvania Law requires that all personel in schools obtain criminal background checks and child abuse clearances BEFORE you can interact with children. This impacts Cal U students who may be required for their courses to go to public schools. It also impacts students who are applying for student teaching. For information on how to obtain clearance you can go to the Department Office or to the College of Education Clearance Website.
ACT 114 - Fingerprint FBI Clearance
Candidates who are student teaching will be required to present a current ACT 114 clearance. This clearance must be "current" (one-year from date of issuance). Candidates who do not comply with this policy will be not be permitted to student teach or participate in other school field experiences. For students to verify they have a clean ACT 114 record they may either show: 1) a letter from the Director of Student Teaching OR 2) the “Unofficial Copy” that was sent to the student through Cogent. This is the one they paid $2.50 to receive.
On December 1, 2008 PDE changed the way that the ACT 114 clearance is provided to the recipient. If you paid the additional $2.50, a copy will be mailed to you. In addition, a letter can be printed for you at Cal U. To have this done, you will need the Cogent Systems Receipt, entitled “Proof of Fingerprint Submission” you received when you were fingerprinted and bring a copy of it to Keystone 202. You can then pick up the results in Keystone 202. Please bring your Cal U ID to receive your letter. Be advised that we will NOT give your letter to anyone but the student listed on “Proof of Fingerprint Submission”. This is the procedure that we will be following from here on out:
1. Student registers with Cogent and has fingerprints taken
2. Student brings registration form to Keystone 202 with PAE# on it.
3. Heidi D. will run the report and contact the student via email when the report is available in the system.
4. The attached letter will be filled out and given to the student when he/she comes to the office to retrieve (needs to show their ID).
5. A copy of the letter and the “Rap Sheet” will be put in their permanent file in the CoE office.
6. IF there is an infraction on the clearance the director of student teaching will still meet with those students, but a different letter will be produced.
Speech and Hearing Screening
Before you can be admitted to the teacher education program you must take and pass a speech and hearing screening. These can be taken in the Communication Disorders Speech and Hearing Clinic located in Morgan Learning Research Center Room 296. There is no cost and appointments are necessary. As of August 2008 the hearing test times are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-5 PM.
Writing Resumes
Communicating your talents, skills, education and experiences to a potential employer in a brief format is the purpose of a resume. Often, employers receive a stack of resumes to consider for a single position and the first decision on whether to invite some one for an interview is made based on the information contained in the resume. So it is important to put together a high quality resume that communicates your experiences without the format distracting people from the key information you want them to know. To help you find resources for your resume , contact the Career Services Center. Click on the Red Book icon on the right side of the page.
Pre-Service Teacher Professional Seminar Series
The professional seminar series provides you an opportunity to learn about various aspects of the teaching profession. Information and requirements can be located by consulting the Teacher Education Program Handbook.
Students may attend Cal U sponsored seminars or select other seminar/conferences. When you attend a Cal U sponsored seminar you will be asked to sign in on a paper form or swipe your Cal U identification card. This information will be processed and added to your Cal U Activities Transcript. Students can manage their activity transcript information on-line and may request a printed copy of the activities transcript on official paper that can be picked up in the student activities office in the student union. You can find more information about your activities transcript here.
Students who wish to attend a seminar or conference NOT sponsored by Cal U should contact their advisor BEFORE attending to have their workshop/conference approved IN ADVANCE. Please provide adequate documentation to help your advisor make a decision on whether the event will count for a seminar or conference. After you attend the conference provide your advisor with documentation that you attended the conference. The advisor can then email your name and conference to the College of Education office (Keystone 202) where the information will be added to your Cal U activities transcript.
Applicants for student teaching in the Fall have until June 1 to submit their activities transcript with their application packet and Spring student teacher applicants have until November 1.
Applying for Admission to Teacher Education
You must apply to be admitted into a teacher education program. The process involves filling out an application form and including documentation such as: transcripts, clearances, professional seminars, etc. Please go to the College of Education website for the most recent information on applying for admission to teacher education.
Here is an example from Spring 2010.
Applying for a Recomendation for Student Teaching
As you approach the completion of your coursework you must apply to be recommended for student teaching. Student teaching is not automatic. The process to apply to student teach involves putting together a packet of documents, preparing a professional portfolio, and participating in an interview with a faculty member. Follow these links for more information on student teaching: general student teaching information and information about the student teaching application.
Undergraduate Students can find more information about the Recommendation for Student Teaching Information Packet here and the Application Form here. (These are examples from Spring 2010. Make sure to get the most recent version).
Graduate Students can find more information about Recommendation for Student Teaching Packet here (2/25/10; make sure to get the most recent version).
Student Teaching GPA Calculators - Follow this link to calcuate your major GPA.
Teacher Education Portfolio using LiveText
More information about developing your teacher education portfolio can be located at this website.
Internship Procedures
All students planning to apply for an internship MUST enroll in the Internship Intent Section during the registration period during the semester BEFORE their internship. Directions for indicating your internship intent are located on this webpage. This section will have no credits or billing obligation associated with it, and does not mean that you are registered for credit. Failure to enroll in this section by the deadline will prohibit you from being approved for an internship. You will only be officially registered for internship credits once you have:
Last Updated:
March 25, 2010
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