Handbook of Operating Procedures
Chapter 2 - Faculty and Academics
Publication Date: June 15, 1998

2.29 Teacher Certification Program Process and the Office of Teacher Advising, Certification, and Placement

Approved Program Concept

The preparation of teachers is a University-wide enterprise. It is necessary that all academic units involved in the preparation of teachers understand fully the teacher certification program process.

The State of Texas utilizes the "approved program" concept in its system of teacher certification. The State:
1. establishes the regulations and standards by which teachers are certified (the requirements are independent of college or university degree requirements);
2. approves colleges and universities to recommend students for teacher certificates in areas where programs have been found to be in conformity with State standards and are on file with the State; and
3. issues the teacher certificate directly to the student, upon recommendation of an approved college or university.
University Obligations Under Approved Programs Concept

The approved program concept imposes the following obligations on the part of the University.
1. No program should be proposed for State approval which the University is not prepared to support and maintain on a continuing basis.
2. All courses required in each approved program must be so offered that students may complete the requirements without delay or undue hardship.
3. Proposed additions, deletions or modifications of certificate programs should be made in light of U.T. System regulations which specify that no course may be offered which is not listed in a current catalog.
4. Changes in undergraduate and graduate certificate programs should be so controlled as to become effective as of the date of the proper catalog. No program shall change in less than a two-year period.
5. In the event of a program being dropped or modified, the University is obligated to protect all students then enrolled in the program by making it possible for the requirements to be completed as set forth in the approved program.
New Programs, Program Changes or Deletions

To add a new teacher certificate program or change or delete an existing program, the following procedures shall be followed:
1. Department or College proposing the program, change or deletion contacts the Office of Teacher Advising, Certification and Placement regarding State requirements and approval procedures.
2. Departments and Colleges involved, including the College of Education and Human Development, shall collaborate in the drafting of a proposal. The proposal is submitted to the respective Academic Policy and Curricula Committees for approval prior to forwarding to the Dean of the College in which it is initiated.
3. The Dean of the College in which the proposal is initiated submits it to the Dean of the College of Education and Human Development, who distributes copies to the Office of Teacher Advising, Certification and Placement, and the College Academic Policy and Curricula Committee.
4. Comments and suggestions of the Dean of the College of Education and Human Development, the Office of Teacher Advising, Certification and Placement, and the Division Academic Policy and Curricula Committee are shared with the originators of the proposal. The originators may or may not incorporate the comments and suggestions, into the proposal. The proposal is then returned to the Dean of the College of Education and Human Development for submission to the University Committee on Teacher Education.
5. The University Committee on Teacher Education reviews the proposal and makes its recommendations to the Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences for submission to the President.
6. The President reviews and acts upon the recommendations of the University Committee on Teacher Education and the Dean of the College of Education and Human Development.
7. The approved proposal is sent by the President to the Chancellor of the University of Texas System, and the State Board for Educator Certification. If the proposal does not involve revisions in the structure of authorized degree programs, it does not need to be approved by the University of Texas System Board of Regents or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. If the proposal involves changes in authorized degree programs, it must be approved by both Boards: the University of Texas System Board of Regents and Coordinating Board.
8. The State Board For Educator Certification and the Chancellor of the U.T. System and, if applicable, the Assistant Commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, will inform the President of the actions of the respective Boards.
9. All students in deleted programs are notified, and no new students are accepted as of the effective date.
10. Students in modified programs are notified of the specific changes, and provisions are made so that students in progress are allowed to complete the program unhindered and without undue hardship.

Editorial Amendment

Issued January 2, 2002