Clinical Experiences - Frequently Asked Questions

OFFICE OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

COMMUNICATION/GENERAL INFORMATION

Q: How do I know that I am eligible for internship?
A: Students must be accepted into the College of Education at the time of application, possess an overall 2.5 GPA as well as a 2.5 GPA in professional preparation and specialization. Eligibility for internship is also outlined on the Clinical Experiences website in the Student Teaching Handbook: A Guide for Internship and Clinical Practice. Please refer to your specific program requirements in the university catalog.

Q: How will I receive information and updates about my internship?
A: You are required to have an active e-mail address in order to receive updated internship information. The most important source of information is the Clinical Experiences website, which is regularly updated with essential information about internships.

Q: How can I access the Student Teaching Handbook and why do I need it?
A: The Student Teaching Handbook: A Guide for Field Experiences and Clinical Practice can be accessed on-line at Clinical Experiences Website. The handbook contains the necessary information (e.g. forms, roles, responsibilities, assessment and evaluation) for you to successfully complete your internship and is required reading for the internship.

Q: How can I find out about orientations for Internships I and II?
A: For Internship I, this information is given at the end of the general meeting orientation held the semester in which you apply for student teaching. For Internship II, the students must refer to the Internship Calendar, and to the instructions for orientation registration. In addition, orientation information will be posted outside of the Office of Clinical Experiences, as well as, in the UCF Teaching Academy as soon as it is available.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Q: What is the deadline for the internship application?
A: Directions for applying for Internship I and II can be viewed on the Application Instructions Page. The application is due September 15th for spring internship, or March 1st for fall internship. The application is due the semester before you plan to do your internship.

Q: How will I know that my application has been processed?
A: If there are any problems with your application, or if any further information is required, you will be notified via e-mail from the Office of Clinical Experiences. You may also check the status of your application by checking the your Internship Status.

Q: What happens if I miss the application deadline?
A: Students must refer to their academic program coordinator on the Clinical Experiences Website. Late applications are handled on an individual basis and must be approved by the program before they are accepted in the Office of Clinical Experiences. Faculty advisors cannot approve a late application.

Q: How do I register for the internship course?
A: Check the Clinical Experiences website (http://www.clinicalexperiences.education.ucf.edu) for class numbers. Use these class numbers to register on My UCF for the internship course and any courses that are internship co-requisites.

Q: What are the steps to withdraw an application?
A: Students are required to complete a "drop internship" form in the Office of Clinical Experiences (Orlando campus), or the College of Education office on regional campuses. It is the intern's responsibility to drop the internship course through the university add/drop process. If the internship is dropped, the student will have to reapply and meet all applicable deadlines.

Q: What are the steps to withdraw from an internship once it has begun?
A: Students should notify their university coordinator, supervising teacher, faculty advisor, and the Office of Clinical Experiences of their intent to withdraw from the internship. Withdrawal from the internship, the required internship course, or co-requisite courses must be initiated by the student and must be completed prior to all university deadlines. Notify your university coordinator, who should immediately contact the College of Education Program Coordinator.
If the withdrawal deadline is not met, students must go through the offices of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies, located in Millican Hall.

PLACEMENT

Q: How do I find out where I have been placed?
A: Instructions for access to placement information are found on the Clinical Experiences Website. Placements can be accessed approximately the first week of December (for spring semesters) and toward the end of June (for fall semesters).

Q: How long is the student teaching requirement?
A: Internship I Student teaching is a full fourteen weeks.

Elementary Education majors work in schools two days per week all day (Mondays and Tuesdays);
Early Childhood, Physical Education and Secondary majors work in schools two days per week all day (normally Tuesdays and Thursdays);
Exceptional Education majors attend Mondays and Tuesdays all day.
For programs requiring two placements, the duration of each placement is seven weeks. Check with the Calendar on the Office of Clinical Experiences website (http://www.clinicalexperiences.education.ucf.edu).
Internship II is a full fourteen weeks. Students are in school Monday through Friday for the entire school day. Once you have been assigned to a school, check school schedules and calendars.

Q: How can I find directions to my school? How do I locate the telephone number?
A: This information can be found on school district websites, or on the Clinical Experiences Website. Under "Area Public Schools" link select the county you need. MapQuest driving directions (www.mapquest.com) are helpful to scheduling your driving routine.

Q: How soon after orientation do I report to my school?
A: Internships begin on the day of the week designated by your specific program. All internships begin the second week of UCF classes.

Q: What is the policy for changing my placement?
A: Placements are final. Changes can only be initiated by the faculty academic program coordinator, the university coordinator, the Regional Campus Education Coordinator, or the Director of Clinical Experiences.

Q: Can I be released early from my student teaching?
A: No. The student teacher must remain at his/her placement for the entire semester. Completion of the internship is a graduation requirement.

Q: Is it possible to take any classes during my internship?
A: Internship I students are usually enrolled in co-requisite courses during the internship.
Internship II is considered a full-time experience. Normally, students cannot take classes during Internship II. Students are permitted to enroll in other classes only with the consent of their academic program coordinator (see the University Catalog under “UCF Degree Programs”).

Q: Can I be exempt from any part of my first student teaching experience (Internship I)?
A: If you have had two or more years of teaching experience, you may complete a petition form for waiver of (undergraduate) Internship I and submit to the Undergraduate Admission and Retention Committee (UARC) for evaluation. Please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences for deadlines for submitting waiver materials as well as committee meeting dates and times. The following majors provide instructions for waiving the internship: Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Exceptional Education and Math Education. Waiver requests must be supported by the faculty advisor and the academic program coordinator. Instructions for waiver of Internship I are located on the Clinical Experiences Website. Follow the link to Internship I, Instructions for Waiver of Internship. Contact the Office of Clinical Experiences at (407) 823-2436 for deadlines and further information.

Q: Can I be exempt from any part of my Internship II/Graduate student teaching experience?
A: No. This is a program requirement for all initial teacher certification undergraduate and graduate students.

Q: Where can I find portfolio or LiveText information?
A: Portfolio information can be found on the Internship Forms Page as well as through the Office of Clinical Experiences website. Refer to the Student Teaching Handbook for information related to LiveText, or questions can also be directed to your faculty advisor or academic program coordinator.

EVALUATION

Q: What is the grading procedure for my internship?
A: Undergraduate Internship I students are assessed on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), but receive "S," (satisfactory), "U," (unsatisfactory), or "I" (incomplete) as a final grade.

Undergraduate Internship II students who successfully complete their student teaching experience successfully receive an "S" (satisfactory); those who are not successful will receive a "U" (unsatisfactory). Graduate students who have successfully completed the internship are assigned a letter grade (A or B). Graduate students can be assigned a lower grade to indicate that the internship was not successfully completed.
Students who receive an "I" (incomplete) will be required to repeat the internship or portions as determined by the university coordinator. A “U” (unsatisfactory) evaluation also requires repeating the internship.

Q: How are final evaluations submitted to the Office of Clinical Experiences?
A: University Coordinators are responsible for submitting all internship evaluations to the Office of Clinical Experiences on the Orlando campus, or to the College of Education office on regional campuses. Interns and university coordinators should make sure that all required signatures are on all copies of the evaluations. Copies of the final evaluations that are not signed are invalid. Students should always keep copies for their own records.

Q: What happens if I lose my final evaluations?
A: You may obtain copies of your final evaluations at the Office of Clinical Experiences - College of Education Complex, Suite 110 (Orlando campus) for a maximum of three years after your graduation date.

GRADUATION/CERTIFICATION

Q: How do I get certified as a teacher?
A: Certification information is available on the World Wide Web from the State of Florida Department of Education at http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/. Applications for certification may be obtained in the Office of Student Affairs, Education Complex, Suite 110 (Orlando campus), or in College of Education offices on regional campuses. In addition, you may apply online at http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/apply.asp if you are seeking an initial temporary or professional certificate. You should not apply for a teaching certificate before the bachelor's degree is awarded. Students are encouraged to work with the hiring school district personnel office to facilitate the application process.

Q: What are entrance requirements for the College of Education?
A: See the table on the Changes in Admission Requirements section for updated entrance requirements for the College of Education.

Q: What are requirements for graduation from the College of Education?

Students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
Students must also have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in their specialization and professional preparation courses.
Students must meet all specific program requirements.
Students must successfully complete the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE).