Clinical Experiences & Certification Process (CECP)
For questions related to the appeals process, please contact the Cecelia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center.
Student Appeal Procedure Upon the Denial or Abridgement of Rights
If the student believes that his/her rights have been denied or abridged, it is
essential that the person involved make an attempt to reach an agreement through
informal discussions with the instructor and department chair. Where informal
recourse fails, the student may file a formal appeal in writing to the office of
Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes. Should the student wish to
carry the appeal beyond the Executive Committee of the Council for Teacher
Education, the appeal should be made to the full body of the Council for Teacher
Education via the chair of the Council for Teacher Education. In all formal
appeals, the student has the right to be represented by legal counsel and may be
accompanied by and advised by a person of his/her own choosing.
1. Guidelines for submitting student appeals.
Within 30 days from the date of the alleged act or decision took place, the
student must submit a written appeal to the Director of the Office of Clinical
Experiences and Certification Processes (CECP). The director will informally
discuss the situation with the student in an effort to determine what steps have
been taken toward resolution. The Director of Clinical Experiences and
Certification Processes (CECP) will then forward the appeal to the Chairperson
of the Council for Teacher Education.
The written appeal should:
a. be word processed
b. be signed and dated
c. include the local address and phone number
d. be concise and specific, with names and dates wherever relevant and possible
e. clearly state the act or decision being challenged
f. clearly state why the act or decision is unauthorized or unjust
g. briefly describe your attempts to reach an agreement through informal
discussions with the instructor and department chairperson
Along with the letter of appeal, the student may include additional information
in support of the student’s grievance such as, but not limited to, the following:
documents from advisors, supervisors or department personnel, letters or
statements from those directly involved in the situation, transcripts of
interviews, and other supporting evidence that would help clarify the student’s position.
The Executive Committee of the Council for Teacher Education will act on the
appeal. The student will be informed of the decision no later than 30 days after
the petition has been received by the director of CECP. Upon receipt of the
decision of the Executive Committee, the student may appeal to the full
Council for Teacher Education.
2. Procedures
a. Upon receipt of the written appeal from the Director of Clinical
Experiences and Certification Processes (CECP), the chairperson of
the council shall arrange for a swift and comprehensive investigation
of the matter under consideration.
b. The decision of the review board shall be sent in writing to the
complainant and other parties involved within 10 working days after
the review.
c. The complainant may appeal the decision of the review board to the full
body of the council. Such an appeal must be in written form and
received within 10 working days after the review board decision. The
council will schedule a hearing for a regularly scheduled meeting date.
The decision of the council will be communicated to the student and
other appropriate parties within 30 days of the decision.
d. In all matters regarding admission to teacher education, retention in
teacher education and teacher certification, complainants have the right to
be represented by legal counsel.
For detailed information regarding the format for the Council for Teacher Education hearing, the
complainant should contact the Dean’s office in the College of Education. (See Addendum)
3. State Teacher Certification Board
If the candidate is denied recommendation for certification by the full body of
the Council for Teacher Education, the candidate may appeal to the State
Teacher Certification Board within 10 days of notification for a review of the
institution’s decision. Upon such review the State Teacher Certification Board
shall recommend appropriate action to the State Superintendent of Education.
Addendum:
FORMAT FOR COUNCIL FOR TEACHER EDUCATION HEARING
Purpose: To serve as a final review for complaints/requests for waivers, etc. from teacher
education students following decisions made by the Teacher Education Review Board. Students
have the right to be represented by Legal Counsel. Legal Counsel may not speak on behalf of the
complainant but is there to advise his/her client . If the complainant brings Legal Counsel, the University
the final decisions Legal Counsel will be asked to be present as well. The Council for Teacher Education will make one of
relative to the student’s complaint:
a) Approves the student’s request; overrules the Teacher Education Review Board
decision
b) Denies the student’s request; affirms the Teacher Education Review Board
decision
Authorization:
The Bylaws of the Council for Teacher Education stipulate that the Teacher
Education Review Board (TERB) will review cases of students having complaints
concerning admission, retention, evaluation and evaluation of progress toward
certification in teacher education programs. (Note: Illinois State Board of
Education rules require, as a criterion for program approval, that institutions
provide this stipulation for teacher candidates. See Criterion 8 of the program
approval rules.)
Procedures for Hearing of Complaints by the (full) Council for Teacher Education:
Prior to the Hearing:
1. Student may appeal the decision of the Teacher Education Review Board. Such
an appeal must be in written form and received within ten working days following the
Review Board decision. The student must indicate in writing whether he or she will be
bringing legal counsel.
2. The Chair, Council for Teacher Education, will schedule a date and time for the
Council for Teacher Education to meet to hear the complaint. A date of a regularly
scheduled meeting will be selected for the hearing.
Prior to the hearing, the student and the department represented (chair and/or designee) will be
provided copies of all the information which each have submitted to the members of the CTE. The
student and the department chair will be notified of the hearing times and asked to submit
information in writing regarding the complaint by a date certain which addresses the particular
issue, criteria, or policy. The department chair may delegate his or her designee to prepare the
written response regarding the complaint on behalf of the department. As part of the information
provided to Council for Teacher Education, the Teacher Education Review Board will also submit
to Council for Teacher Education a written rationale for its binding decision.
3. If the student chooses to have legal counsel present at the hearing, the Council for
Teacher Education Chair will invite the University’s Legal Counsel to be present at that
time, also.
At the Hearing:
1. The Chair, Council for Teacher Education, will review for the Council the particular
teacher education issue in question: admission, retention and evaluation of progress
toward certification in teacher education programs.
2. The Chair of CTE will facilitate the hearing. Other members of the Council for
Teacher Education who may be members of the specific student’s department and/or
members of Teacher Education Review Board may not participate in the deliberations
of the Council.
3. During the hearing, the student and the representative(s) of the department are asked to
meet separately with the Council. The student will meet first with the Council for
Teacher Education.
4. The student is limited to 30 minutes to present oral remarks regarding the complaint.
His or her legal counsel may not speak on behalf of the complainant but is there to adivse
his/her client.
5. The members of the CTE may ask the student or legal counsel questions for up to an
additional fifteen minutes, if desired. Following the oral testimony and the questions
by the Council for Teacher Education members, the student and/or legal counsel will
leave the hearing room.
6. The departmental representative(s) is/are then asked to meet with the Council. The
department representative(s) is/are limited to 30 minutes to present oral remarks
regarding the complaint and is/are asked to provide evidence and rationale as to the
department’s decision.
7. The members of the Council may ask the departmental representatives questions for
up to an additional fifteen minutes, if desired. Following the oral testimony and the
questions by the Council for Teacher Education members, the departmental
representative will leave the hearing room.
8. Following the oral testimony, the Council may review the merits of the complaints; it
may choose to reschedule another meeting for review; and/or it may make a decision
at that time.
9. The members of the Council will be asked by secret ballot to vote on the decision of
the Council. The Chair will announce the results of the ballot. Members of the Council
for Teacher Education who may be members of the specific student’s department and/or
members of Teacher Education Review Board may not vote. In the event of a tie, the
Chair will vote.
10. When the decision is rendered, the Chair, Council for Teacher Education will inform
the complainant in writing of the decision of the Council within thirty working days
of the hearing and will communicate the decision to the appropriate parties in writing,
including the Office of Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes.
(CTE Approved Procedures: 4.3.07)
