3.4 Werklund School of Education - Standards of Professionalism
As a professional degree, the Bachelor of Education requires that students abide by a high standard of professionalism in every aspect of their academic and non-academic behaviour. The Werklund School of Education recognizes that teacher preparation and learning occurs both inside and outside the classroom and has the responsibility to ensure that its student teachers and graduates are competent and conduct themselves in accordance with the standards and expectations of the profession. As such, lack of professionalism, may be grounds for determining whether the student should continue in the program, or be dismissed from the Bachelor of Education program.
The Director of Field Experience may prohibit a student from attending or completing a Field Experience if there is evidence that the student has acted in a manner that may be deemed harmful to oneself or others, or commits any other serious contravention of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) Code of Professional Conduct or the Teaching Quality Standard (TQS), which describes the professional expectation for teachers who work directly with students. Students will have the opportunity to make submissions and present evidence to address concerns about their attending a Field Experience.
Reasons for which a student may be deemed unsuitable for the teaching profession, and the Bachelor of Education, are related to the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) Code of Professional Conduct and include, but are not limited to, the following:
Concealment or distortion of the truth on the Application for Admission to the Bachelor of Education program or the University of Calgary.
Persistent and/or serious conduct that contravenes the University of Calgary Statement on Principles of Conduct.
Academic misconduct: Student Academic Misconduct Policy | University Legal Services | University of Calgary (ucalgary.ca).
Behaviour which would jeopardize the standing or reputation of the Werklund School of Education or the University of Calgary.
Behaviour that may be deemed harmful, whether physically or emotionally, to others, such as school children, partner teachers, partner schools, colleagues, staff, instructors, or others associated with the Werklund School of Education.
Persistent and/or serious medical condition that affects the student's ability to perform as a teacher if that condition negatively affects judgment and interferes with the ability to function within a professional context.
Persistent substance abuse (e.g., alcoholism, drug addiction, use of illegal drugs) that interferes with the ability to function within a professional context.
Criminal behaviour which would result in a change to a student’s Police Information Check and/or Vulnerable Sector Check.
Persistent and or/serious conduct that contravenes the policies of the Field Experience setting (applies to students in Field Experience).
Harassment, physical, verbal, or emotional in nature, of a student or colleague, regarding, but not restricted to, behaviour, values, or roles related to race, ethnicity, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, income source or amount, political affiliation, disability or diagnosis, or national origin, that would interfere with the provision of teaching.
Persistent and/or serious inability to form professional relationships.
Immunization
All Bachelor of Education students taking courses involving practicum placements are required to meet the immunization standards of their field experience placement site. Failure to do so will result in students being removed from practicum courses, or being placed in an alternate environment until such time as adequate proof has been provided. In the event of extenuating medical circumstances impacting immunization status, students may be accommodated. Please note that requirements may change during the program as determined by partner school guidelines. Other community agencies may have additional immunization requirements. Where students choose not to disclose their immunization status or choose not to be immunized, their practicum placements may be cancelled.