Watson College of Education
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Professional Standards, Expectations and Dispositions
for Watson College of Education Programs
Education is a profession that requires mastery of content, knowledge of pedagogy, and a self-aware
disposition that is open to constructive feedback and contributes to the learning and development of self and
others through interpersonal competence. Both graduate and undergraduate candidates receive feedback
about scholarship, pedagogical skills and professional disposition in courses and supervised clinical settings.
UNCW evaluates a student’s performance expectations and dispositions through grades and rubrics used to
evaluate professional knowledge, skills and dispositions. Failure to improve when problems are identified in
any of these areas may result in academic performance measures and/or dismissal from the program.
Outside of performance, graduate and undergraduate candidates are entrusted with the care and education
of learners at all levels; therefore, they must adhere to a high standard of personal character and conduct.
Professional responsibility begins with a prospective educator’s initial association with the Watson College of
Education and continues throughout their respective program. As an initial matter, all graduate and
undergraduate candidates must adhere to the policies, procedures and regulations contained in the UNCW
Code of Student Life, http://uncw.edu/odos/documents/cosl-current.pdf, as well as the UNCW Student
Academic Honor Code, http://uncw.edu/odos/documents/Honor_Code_12-13.pdf. Failure to adhere to these
policies will subject the student to potential action and process ascribed by each of these policies and may also
result in WCE disciplinary action, including but not limited to withdrawal from courses and/or dismissal from
the Watson College of Education. Apart from these standards, applicable to all graduate and undergraduates
at UNCW, WCE graduate and undergraduate candidates are required to adhere to the high ethical standards
of WCE students, including the Code of Ethics for North Carolina Educators,
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/effectiveness-model/ncees/standards/code-of-ethics.pdf and the
Watson College of Education Professional Dispositions,
http://www.uncw.edu/ed/professionalexperience/documents/WCEProfessionalDispositionsforTeachers_002.
pdf .
Adherence to these professional standards is expected during all aspects of students’ matriculation and career
with the Watson College of Education. Violations of these standards may result in disciplinary action, including
but not limited to withdrawal from courses and/or dismissal from the Watson College of Education.
Due Process for Students Enrolled in Watson College of Education Programs
There may be circumstances where immediate dismissal may be necessary. The circumstances are carefully
considered by the Associate Dean for Teacher Education and Outreach, Director of Professional Experiences,
and other appropriate Watson College personnel and may include blatant violations of the professional
standards resulting in impaired relationships with partnership teachers, B-12 students and/or WCE faculty.
However, in most cases, an intervention involving an improvement plan may be considered, prior to a
dismissal from courses or the Watson College of Education.
Watson College of Education is committed to documenting student growth and areas for continued growth.
Strict adherence to due process rights of students is given:
1. Inform the student. Open communication guides the student in monitoring his/her growth.
2. Support or assistance. Faculty and teachers support professional development in concern areas using
available resources.
3. Written notification. The faculty or other appropriate Watson personnel identifies an improvement
plan using an appropriate written format.
4. Meeting. In the event a student is not successful in meeting the terms of the improvement plan, the
Associate Dean for Teacher Education and Outreach, the Director of Professional Experiences (or
designee), University faculty, and school personnel as appropriate meet with the student. At the
meeting, the student:
a. Receives a written summary of the areas of concern;
b. Has an opportunity to further review documentation supporting the removal decision;
c. Responds to the concerns.
5. Appeal. In the event the student disagrees with the decision, the student may request an appeal to the
Dean of the Watson College of Education within one week after notification of the decision. A decision
of the Dean is final and may not be appealed. The request for appeal must be in writing and must state
the reasons for the appeal and the remedy requested.
Appeal Process for Dismissal from Watson College of Education Programs
1. The candidate submits a formal letter of appeal to the Dean of the Watson College of Education within
one week of receiving notification of dismissal from the Watson College of Education programs,
specifying the reason for the appeal and the circumstances which should be considered in the appeals
process.
2. The Dean will request from the appropriate Associate Dean materials used in making the initial
decision regarding dismissal.
3. The Dean convenes the Administrative Review Committee to consider the letter of appeal from the
candidate as well as materials considered in the initial dismissal decision.
4. The Administrative Review Committee makes a written recommendation to the Dean who makes the
final decision and notifies the candidate in writing, within two weeks of the dismissal decision.
5. The Dean’s decision is final and cannot be appealed further.