Office of the President

Revision of Subject Matter Competence Certification and Teaching Potential Recommendation for Professional Teacher Preparation Program (PTPP) Applicants

Executive Memorandum 90-023 May 24, 1990

From: Robin S. Wilson, President

Subject: Revision of Subject Matter Competence Certification and Teaching Potential Recommendation for Professional Teacher Preparation Program (PTPP) Applicants.

This revision brings CSU, Chico into compliance with Executive Order 547 issued in June 1989 by the CSU Chancellor's Office.

Effective fall 1990, students applying for admission into the PTPP are required, per EO 547, to be certificated as subject matter competent by the CSU, Chico department / program offering the student's primary subject matter preparation. Department/ program faculty also may provide a recommendation on the student's teaching potential to the PTPP. This becomes part of the student's application for admission into the PTPP and will be based upon the following.

Subject Matter Competency Certification:

Subject matter competency certification is the responsibility of faculty from the specified subject area. Certification will be based on a review of the student's academic record and other sources of data defined by each department / program and may include a portfolio review, interviews, examinations, results of a capstone course, or other appropriate data.

Each subject matter preparation area shall maintain criteria and procedures including those for special considerations and appeal procedures. The criteria for establishing subject matter competence shall rely on multiple measures of academic performance including, but not limited to, grade point average (GPA). Suggested measures of subject

matter competence will be found in resource guides published by the CSU system for each subject matter area. The following minimum procedures will be utilized in determining subject matter competency for single­ subject, subject matter preparation programs and for the Liberal Studies subject matter preparation program. In all cases, the calculation of the applicant's grade point average shall be cumulative, based on all completed coursework.

Single-Subject, Subject Matter Preparation Program (committee composed of at least three faculty members):

Student has completed 15 or more of the subject matter preparation program units and a total of 30 or more units at CSU, Chico within the past ten years.

Committee reviews the student's academic record and other sources of data for demonstrated effective performance in subject matter preparation taken at CSU, Chico. When appropriate or necessary, additional input will be sought from faculty not on the committee.

If a student earned a bachelor's degree or has completed 30 or more units at CSU, Chico, she must meet or exceed the CSU, Chico median grade point for the specific discipline.

If the review of the academic record and other sources of data does not provide adequate information for a recommendation, a student interview will be conducted to help evaluate subject matter competence.

The committee certification recommendation can be approval, approval after further demonstration of competence (e.g., completion of specific courses within an identified timeframe; successful completion of appropriate National Teacher Examination (NTE)), or rejection.

Student has completed fewer than 15 subject matter preparation program units and fewer than a total of 30 units at CSU, Chico, but has graduated within the past ten years.

Committee reviews student's academic record and other sources of data for demonstrated effective performance in subject matter preparation. When appropriate or necessary, additional input will be sought from faculty not on the committee. If a student earned a bachelor's degree at a CSU campus other than Chico, he must meet or exceed the median grade point for the specific discipline at that campus. If a student earned a bachelor's degree at a non-CSU campus, she must meet or exceed the CSU system median grade point for the specific discipline.

The committee certification recommendation can be approval, approval after further demonstration of competence (e.g., completion of specific courses within an identified timeframe; successful completion of appropriate NTE), or rejection.

Student completed subject matter preparation program coursework more than ten years ago.

Student takes and passes appropriate NTE.

Following successful passage of the NTE, the committee reviews student's academic record and other sources of data and interviews student to help evaluate subject matter competence prior to making a recommendation.

The committee certification recommendation can be approval, approval after further demonstration of competence (e.g., completion of specific courses within an identified timeframe), or rejection.

Reciprocity with other CSU campuses.

CSU, Chico will accept a subject matter preparation program completed at another CSU campus as fulfilling the requirements for the equivalent subject matter preparation program offered at this campus.

If a student has completed a subject matter preparation program at another CSU campus, CSU, Chico will accept a subject matter competency assessment from that campus as fulfilling the requirements for subject matter competency assessment on this campus.

Liberal Studies Subject Matter Preparation Program (committee composed of at least two faculty from each liberal arts college and the Liberal Studies Coordinator. The committee may be divided into subcommittees, depending upon workload, and may be augmented for students seeking a bilingual credential):

Student completed at least 15 units of Liberal Studies coursework and a total of 30 or more total units at CSU, Chico within the past ten years.

Committee reviews the student's academic record and other sources of data for demonstrated effective performance in subject matter preparation taken at CSU, Chico.· When appropriate or necessary

If the review of the academic record and other sources of data does not provide adequate information for a recommendation, a student interview will be conducted to help evaluate subject matter competence.

If a student earned a bachelor's degree or has completed 30 or more units at CSU, Chico, he must meet or exceed the CSU, Chico median grade point for the specific discipline.

The committee certification recommendation can be approval, approval after further demonstration of competence (e.g., completion of specific courses within an identified timeframe; successful completion of NTE-Core Battery examination or its replacement), or rejection.

Student completed less than 15 Liberal Studies units at CSU, Chico, but graduated within the past ten years.

Committee reviews student's academic record and other sources of data for demonstrated effective performance in subject matter preparation. When appropriate or necessary, additional input will be sought from faculty not on the committee.

If a student earned a bachelor's degree at a CSU campus other than Chico, she must meet or exceed the median grade point for the specific discipline at that campus.

If a student earned a bachelor's degree at a non-CSU campus, he must meet or exceed the CSU system median grade point for the specific discipline.

The committee certification recommendation can be approval, approval after further demonstration of competence (e.g., completion of specific courses within an identified timeframe; successful completion of NTE-Core Battery examination or its replacement), or rejection.

Student completed Liberal Studies program more than ten years ago.

Student takes and passes appropriate NTE-Core Battery examination or its replacement.

Following successful passage of the NTE, the committee reviews student's academic record and other sources of data and interviews the student to help evaluate subject matter competence prior to making a recommendation.

The committee certification recommendation can be approval after further demonstration of competence (e.g., completion of specific courses within an identified timeframe), or rejection.

Reciprocity with other CSU campuses.

CSU, Chico will accept a subject matter preparation program completed at another CSU campus as fulfilling the requirements for the equivalent subject matter preparation program offered at this campus.

If a student has completed a subject matter preparation program at another CSU campus, CSU, Chico will accept a subject matter competency assessment from that campus as fulfilling the requirements for subject matter competency assessment on this campus.

Recommendation on Teaching Potential:

If the committee chooses to provide input on the student's teaching potential, the recommendation should indicate whether that student exhibits personal and interpersonal characteristics and skills related to teaching potential including, but not limited to, personal integrity, communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and perceived commitment to teaching as a profession. Specific information should be cited if possible to assist the PTPP in assessing the student's application for admission. Final determination of teaching potential resides with the PTPP and any recommendation is only part of the teaching potential input received and evaluated by the PTPP.

The certification of subject matter competence and the recommendation of teaching potential are both recommendations to the PTPP. The final decision regarding acceptance into the program shall be the responsibility of the PTPP.