According to the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), all candidates seeking accreditation and licensure must meet all professional standards of practice as well as evidence proper dispositions within their chosen field. NCATE defines dispositions as:

"The values, commitments, and professional ethics that influence behaviors toward students, families, colleagues, and communities and affect student learning, motivation, and development as well as the educator's own professional growth. Dispositions are guided by beliefs and attitudes related to values such as caring, fairness, honesty, responsibility, and social justice."

The School of Education and Allied Professions (EAP), through the University Council for Candidate Preparation for School Licensure (UCCPSL), worked and developed a dispositions process that all EAP licensure candidates would be held accountable to during their studies at Miami University . As part of that process, a candidate must demonstrate acceptable professional behavior in four key areas derived directly from the 2003 Code of Ethics for the Association of American Educators:

1. Professional conduct toward students;
2. Professional practice;
3. Professional conduct toward professional colleagues;
4. Professional conduct toward parents and the general community.

If a candidate meets or exceeds these standards of professional behavior, s/he will continue in the chosen field of study without interruption. If a candidate does not meet these standards, s/he must go through the following procedures of the EAP Dispositions in the order listed:

1. The appropriate program coordinator will be notified by the instructor of a dispositional issue. The instructor does this by filling out Form B.
   
2. The appropriate program coordinator must meet or offer to meet with the candidate. In that meeting, the candidate's present performance will be reviewed and discussed.
   
3. A corrective action plan designed to address the identified problem(s) will be generated. A corrective plan should identify the problem(s) or concern(s) and contain suggestions to remedy the situation. * (Note that some inappropriate behaviors may be so severe and extreme that they limit the utility and/or provision of any official intervention prior to dismissal from the program).
   
4. Immediate and sustained improvement in the candidate's performance is expected and must be demonstrated. If progress is not evidenced within a specified time limit, further action by the program area must be taken. This can include failure of the class and/or removal from the program. If removed from the program, the student must be given notice and have an opportunity to be heard by appropriate division personnel.
   
5. When a candidate completes the disposition process and believes that s/he has been judged unfairly (e.g., received an inappropriate grade), then a candidate may file an academic grievance with the chair of the department through the Academic Grievance Procedures located in Appendix L in the Student Handbook.
   
6. If a student seeks to file an academic grievance, the case will be reviewed by the Academic Appeals Board. The decision of this board will be considered final.  

* Dean's Office ( School of Education and Allied Professions) must be notified of any student action plan and a copy of the corrective plan will be kept on file in that office. These procedures have been reviewed by University Counsel and are consistent with university policy regarding due process.

Acceptable professional behavior (based on the 2003 Code of Ethics for the Association of American Educators) includes the following:

•  Professional Conduct Toward Students: Candidates deal with students in the following ways:

____ a. a fair and just manner
____ b. showing preference toward no individual or any particular group of students
____ c. showing respect and value to all; accepting every individual for who they are
____ d. showing respect for the cultural and family traditions of the students

•  Professional Practice: Candidates follow expected professional standards of practice including the following:

____ a. assumes responsibility and accountability for all personal and professional actions
____ b. complies with school building/district rules and/or procedures that are not in conflict with professional ethics
____ c. complies with course and program area policies and expectations in the university setting (e.g., classes, interactions with faculty, staff and peers)
____ d. does not use institutional or professional privileges for personal gain or advantage
____ e. demonstrates appropriate manner including being punctual to work, being prepared for class, showing affection/warmth appropriately (e.g., using praise, rewards, or smiles), completes work in a timely fashion, models educated language devoid of profanity, vulgarity, dresses professionally, etc.
____ f. all confidential information remains confidential and is only shared with those directly involved with the case at hand
____ g. continues to work on, and take advantage of, professional growth opportunities, feedback from peers, etc.

•  Professional Conduct Toward Professional Colleagues: Candidates demonstrate proper professional respect in the following ways:

____ a. equitable treatment of all professional colleagues that he or she has contact with
____ b. does not willfully make false statements about a colleague or the school system
____ c. respects each colleague's freedom of choice and expression and does not attempt to violate any individual's professional integrity

•  Professional Conduct Toward Parents and the General Community: Candidates support the school system and community by:

____ a. making every effort to fully inform parents about their children and to assist families in their educational endeavors
____ b. making every effort to understand and respect the values and traditions of diverse cultures and groups represented in the educational community
____ c. maintaining a positive and active role in the educational process and working for the betterment of all children

Send a copy to: Dean's Office, School of Education & Allied Professions, 207 McGuffey Hall, Oxford , Ohio 45056

Student's Name: Date:
Student ID#: Completed by:
Student Class Status: Title:
Fresh. ____ Soph. ____ Junior ____ Senior ____ E-mail or Phone:

Program Candidate is enrolled (check as appropriate for majors and pre-majors)

If the student displays difficulty with behaviors in any of the professional areas (based on the 2003 Code of Ethics for the Association of American Educators) listed below, s/he needs to be identified and receive institutional/program intervention. Please check the area(s) of difficulty.

1. Professional Conduct Toward Students: Candidates do not deal with students in the following ways :
____ a. a fair and just manner
____ b. showing preference toward no individual or any particular group of students
____ c. showing respect and value to all; accepting every individual for who they are
____ d. showing respect for the cultural and family traditions of the students

2. Professional Practice: Candidates do not follow expected professional standards of practice including the following :
____ a. assumes responsibility and accountability for all personal and professional actions
____ b. complies with school building/district rules and/or procedures that are not in conflict with professional ethics
____ c. complies with course and program area policies and expectations in the university setting (e.g., classes, interactions with faculty, staff, and peers).
____ d. does not use institutional or professional privileges for personal gain or advantage
____ e. demonstrates appropriate manner including being punctual to work, being prepared for class, showing affection/warmth appropriately (e.g., using praise, rewards, or smiles); completing work in a timely fashion; modeling educated language devoid of profanity, vulgarity; dressing professionally, etc.
____ f. all confidential information remains confidential and is only shared with those directly involved with the case at hand
____ g. continues to work on, and take advantage of, professional growth opportunities, feedback from peers, etc.

3. Professional Conduct Toward Professional Colleagues: Candidates do not demonstrate proper professional respect in the following ways :
____ a. equitable treatment of all professional colleagues that s/he has contact with
____ b. does not willfully make false statements about a colleague or the school system
____ c. respects each colleague's freedom of choice and expression and does not attempt to violate any individual's professional integrity

4. Professional Conduct Toward Parents and the General Community : Candidates do not show support of the school system and community by failing to do the following :
____ a. making every effort to fully inform parents about their children and to assist families in their educational endeavors
____ b. making every effort to understand and respect the values and traditions of diverse cultures and groups represented in the educational community
____ c. maintaining a positive and active role in the educational process and working for the betterment of all children

Provide explanation(s) and example(s) for each area of concern that is not being met. Be sure to identify the letter from the first page that is being addressed

Student Signature:______________________________________________________________________

Program Coordinator Signature:___________________________________________________________

Other University Personnel Signature:______________________________________________________