PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COUNCIL
MINUTES
February 25, 2008
Killian 104
Members Present: Anderson-Ruff, Beaudet, Bernhardt, Butcher, Carpenter, Catley, Corbin, Faircloth, Franklin, Gastle,
Holt, Honeycutt, Hunt, Ivey, Kantz, Lofquist, Norris, Roberts, Schade, Schallock, Steiner, Stewart, Tapley, Troy, Unruh
Lucian Szlizewski attended on behalf of Jacque Jacobs.
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m.
I.
Dean Michael Dougherty
The dean was away on other business and not present.
II.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the January 24, 2008 meeting were approved.
III.
Chair’s Report
A.
UNC Tomorrow – Recommendation 4.3 B-20 Education
Dale explained that UNC Tomorrow is a system wide project to become more actively involved in solving NC public
education challenges. Go to http://ceap.wcu.edu/unctomorrow/step1.htm to keep informed of the process. This site also
gives an opportunity for you to give feedback, ideas, and suggestions. Rankings of recommendations for 4.3 B-20
Education are 1) UNC should improve the quantity, quality, and geographic distribution of public school teachers;
2) UNC should help address the shortage of science and math teachers, especially in rural areas; 3) UNC should
strengthen efforts…to enhance the teaching skills of public school faculty and the leadership skills of public school
administrators; 4) UNC should leverage its expertise and increase collaborations…to lower our state’s dropout rate and
improve academic achievement in all public schools in North Carolina, especially those that are high-priority and lowperforming; and 5) UNC should strengthen partnerships…to develop a seamless educational continuum from pre-K
through higher education (“Birth-20”).
B.
Revisions of Preparation Programs for Teachers and School Executives
Dale talked about the recent kickoff luncheon sponsored by CEAP to go over the guiding principles and proposed
changes to our programs as a result of five new NC Professional Teaching Standards. Guiding principles focus on
outcomes rather than inputs; eliminate barriers and obstacles (not standards or rigor); increase rigor/accountability with
increased flexibility; and 21st century programs producing 21st century teachers. Proposed changes include separating
national accreditation from program approval and making national accreditation voluntary; replacing the seven year
program approval cycle with an annual review of candidate evidence based on a rubric developed with McREL that is
aligned with the teacher and school executive evaluation instruments; and basing continuing program approval on
candidate evidence that they meet the standards for teachers, candidate performance on the job, and IHE involvement
with and service to the public schools.
IV.
Information
A.
B.
C.
D.
Admissions - none
Curriculum – none
Appeals – none
Policy and Procedures -none
E. Field Experiences
Ken distributed information detailing the increased number of students in supervised student teaching and early field
experiences. Fall 2008 application due dates have been set for guaranteed placements (2/29/08) and placement
consideration (3/31/08) with no undergraduate or graduate applications being accepted in the Office of Field Experience
after March 31st. Lists of interns and students teachers with deadlines and assignments are sent to departments; an email
PEC Minutes
February 25, 2008
Page 2.
reminder is also sent to students. Ken also discussed distance placement criteria in public schools proposed by UNC
Field Experience Directors. There are a number of uniform guidelines for traditional placements outside the region,
including student payment for supervision at host institutions. Distance Programs placement criteria are to be
determined.
F. Assessment
Renee thanked Barbara Schade for organizing the recently completed teacher education interviews. She announced that
during the next interview process, interviewer comments from TaskStream will be shared with Ken Hunt so that he can
assign a specific field placement to provide the best experience for the candidate. Renee will be doing an assessment
survey of committee operations in late March which will link to Ultimate Survey to better have data for the NCATE
team. Handouts with data from student program evaluations after student teaching [assessment of academic supervisor,
cooperating teacher, and candidate internship/student teaching experience] from spring and fall 2007 were distributed.
Renee will use Ultimate Survey in the future because it doesn’t attach to a class and provides more confidentiality.
Overall, there was a lot of variation from each semester. Leadership Council requested data by major and Renee has
distributed this information to departments. Renee will continue to monitor to see where we can improve, especially
being prepared in diversity and special needs areas.
There was a brief discussion of seminar classes and their usefulness, particularly in secondary areas with so many
different majors in the same class.
G. Technology - none
V.
New and Previous Business
A.
Schedule to Review Conceptual Framework
Dale explained that in 2006 there was a two year review of the Conceptual Framework. The PEC, departments, and
Leadership Council decided to stay with the framework and begin another review in 2008. It makes sense to review it
now to inform and guide the teacher education revision and curriculum changes simultaneously with the framework.
Dale is asking for volunteers from the PEC, as well as other stakeholders, to begin looking at the conceptual framework
again.
V.
Program Share
Susan Stewart, Special Education, distributed a handout and shared information about both undergraduate general
curriculum/adaptive curriculum and graduate MAT and MAED programs. A graduate program can be completed online; undergraduate pre-requisite courses are on-line but not all undergraduate courses. Discussion included a perceived
need for a dual license program combining general education and special education.
The Council adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Schade
PEC Secretary