Undergraduate Programs

Faculty of Education degree programs that lead to Teacher Certification are essential for the healthy long-term development of the teaching profession in Newfoundland and Labrador and abroad. As such all required courses in these programs are designed and tailored to scaffold and transition students into professional teachers. Students in these programs have an obligation to maintain professional practices, norms, and values as outlined in the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association’s Code of Ethics, the University’s Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities, and the Faculty of Education’s Academic and Professional Suitability policies.

Teaching is a skill, therefore the lessons in our courses go beyond the transmission of content and are situated as experiential for the development of propositional, procedural, and tacit knowledge, which in turn is foundational for the development of pedagogical content knowledge –how to best teach a subject area domain. Attendance, therefore, is not only an academic obligation, but a professional one as well. It is from this context that the Faculty of Education requires attendance in all non-elective required courses in programs that lead to Teacher Certification.

 Attendance Policy

1. All courses designated as “Attendance Required” must be noted in the University’s Calendar.

2. A student who is absent for less than 20% of class time must coordinate with their instructor to complete any missed assignments and/or other equivalent work that the instructor deems necessary to cover the missed concepts where possible.
   
   
3. A student who is absent for less than 20% of class time but has missed a critical component of the course which was noted in the course syllabus should be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs or designate for review and consultation on appropriate action.
   
   
4. A student who is absent for 20% or more of class time should be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs or designate for review and consultation on appropriate action.
   
   
5. The range of outcomes for a student who has been reported to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs or designate for review may include but are not limited to:
   
   1. dropping of the course
   2. modification of program
   3. Requirement to withdraw from the program
   4. Review under the Faculty’s Professional Suitability Policy
      
      
6. Students that miss class must inform their instructor in writing 24 hours prior to the absence. In the case that this is not possible, students must inform their instructor in writing as soon as possible after the Specific documentation may be required.
   
   
7. Acceptable absentee reasons may include but are not limited to:
   
   1. Compassionate absence
   2. Parental absence
   3. Professional development absence
   4. Sick absence
   5. Special circumstances
      
      
8. Any changes resulting from any procedure noted above to a student’s standing will follow the Faculty of Education’s regulations for readmission and advancement.