Retention in the Teacher Education Program

Once admitted, students pursuing teacher certification are retained in the Teacher Education Program as long as they maintain all of the qualifications and performance standards required for admission to the program. Benefits of being admitted and retained in the program include, but are not limited to:

• Registration Status. Students who are pursuing teaching credentials will be granted an electronic code which will allow them to enroll in any 300-level EDUC course or any 300-level field-based certification course, regardless of the prefix of the course, during registration periods. Admission Requirements.
• Qualification for Continued Study. Students who have been admitted to the Teacher Education Program are eligible for advanced level teacher preparation courses and field experiences.
• Notification of Teacher Education Program Meetings and Events. Students who are admitted to the Teacher Education Program will automatically receive information about special meetings, informational sessions, application requirements for the Professional Semester, etc. Students are required to use the campus e-mail system and should expect Teacher Education Program information to be sent via e-mail, in print, in Community News, on the Campus TV network, and/or by personal memo letters through campus mail. It is the responsibility of the student to be alert to these communications.
• Prerequisite for Admission to the Professional Semester and Student Teaching. Students must be screened and hold approved status in the Messiah College Teacher Education Program before they can be considered for the Professional Semester/student teaching.
• Required Clearances on File. According to PA Act 114, These should suffice for the duration of the undergraduate preparation program. (However, certain local school districts require that clearances be no more than one year old at the time of a field placement in the district. If you need to update clearances for such a situation, you will be notified of this by written correspondence from the TEP.)

Loss of Teacher Education Program Status

TEP "admitted" status will be withdrawn if a student's academic performance drops below the required levels or if circumstances arise which impune the student's good moral character.  Once approved as a TEP student, any break in continuous enrollment as a Teacher Education program student will result in forfeiture of "admitted" status. The most common of such breaks in continuous enrollment are due to changes of major, a semester or more away from the college (i.e., medical leave or taking a semester off).

In cases where admitted status has been lost, the student should consult with the Director of Teacher Education regarding re-admission requirements. The need to secure updated clearances will be part of the re-admission process.