This section of the Teacher Education website presents questions that teacher candidates frequently ask about policies and regulations that apply to courses and programs.
Who can I ask if I have questions or problems during the program?
If your question is about course content, first consult with the instructor at the earliest opportunity. Questions or concerns about the BEd program can be directed to the Program Coordinators in the Teacher Education Office early on so that issues may be resolved before there is an impact on your progress. For further assistance resolving program problems, teacher candidates may also see the Bachelor of Education Ombudsperson. Consult with TEO for contact information. Questions or problems relating to practicum (placement progress, withdrawal, etc.) can be directed to Program Coordinators (Practica) in TEO. The Director and Associate Dean are also available to hear concerns. When emailing your concerns, please include your UBC student number.
Course Registration and Programs
How do I know whether I have registered in the required courses for my program?
It is the teacher candidate’s responsibility to complete registration in all required courses for winter and summer session. Follow the guidelines in the Registration Guide posted on the Teacher Education website for your program at www.teach.educ.ubc.ca. Ensure that you are enrolled in the appropriate courses for your program option and in the total number of credits specified for each term as indicated in the Registration Guide. Many courses will be part of a standard timetable. All courses, including electives, are at the 300-400 level. Distance Education courses are not permitted. You may check your option’s courses in the Courses section on the webpage for your program option.
How do I change course sections after my initial registration?
Timetables are constructed to minimize the necessity for course changes. Courses may only be dropped from a standard timetable with approval from a Program Coordinator in the Teacher Education Office.
In some cases, you may change sections of a course if there is room in the preferred section. You are expected to make timetable changes that are permitted online at www.students.ubc.ca by the end of the first week of class. You may only attend classes for which you are registered.
The teacher candidate is responsible for the completeness and accuracy of registration as it relates to the regulations of the degree or diploma program in which the teacher candidate is enrolled. Calendar (Chapter V)
What is the procedure for withdrawal from courses, practica, or the program?
You may withdraw voluntarily from courses or the extended practicum in accordance with the university deadlines for withdrawal as outlined in the UBC Calendar (Chapter V). If you need to withdraw voluntarily from any component of the Teacher Education program, first immediately notify and obtain approval from the Teacher Education Office.
Courses
You may change your term one registration on the web without consequence up to September date denoted in the UBC Calendar. Withdrawals made between September and October dates denoted in the UBC Calendar will record a “W” standing on your transcript. If there are any changes to be done after the date denoted in October, a “Change of Registration” form has to be authorized by a Program Coordinator in the Teacher Education Office. The form must include the instructors’ signatures for courses dropped and added. Change of Registration forms may be obtained in the Teacher Education Office only after the online Registration closes.
The procedures are the same for Winter Session Term 2 and for Summer Session. Check the academic year link from the online UBC calendar for those dates. The date denoted in January is the last day for Term 2 changes in registration and withdrawal without a “W” standing on your academic record. Withdrawals made between the date denoted in January to the date denoted in February, will record the “W” standing on your academic record. Teacher Education Office approval for withdrawals is required.
Practica
The extended practica has specific dates for withdrawal. Withdrawal from practica must be done in consultation with the school advisor and faculty advisor. For advising, also see your Program Coordinator (Practica) in the Teacher Education Office. See the practicum section of this handbook for specific details regarding withdrawal from practicum.
Withdrawals of any type and/or a standing of “W” may have implications for loans and tuition fees. The University policy on Withdrawals and Change of Registration applies. Calendar (Chapter V)
What are the consequences of voluntarily withdrawing from the Teacher Education Program?
If you withdraw voluntarily from the program you will not be entitled to return automatically. Requests for re-instatement will be considered on individual merit. Please note that the Teacher Education Program must be completed in its entirety within four years of first date of admission. Calendar (Chapter IX:8)
How do I change cohorts?
You can only move to a different cohort if there is room available in that cohort before classes begin in September. Once classes start, it is not possible to change to a different cohort unless there are exceptional circumstances.
May I register for additional courses while I am in the teacher education program?
The Teacher Education Program is an intensive full-time program. Normally, you may not add credits to your prescribed course load. You may not take any evening courses (credit or non credit) while on practicum.
May I arrange to finish my 12-month program before the August end date?
Summer Session runs from May to August for September admission programs. Teacher candidates admitted to the July Start options complete their program in June. Vacations, weddings and other personal events must not conflict with classes.
You may not register in more than 7 credits in any 3-week Summer Session sub-term.
Attendance, Assignments and Performance
Regular attendance and the timely completion of assignments are essential to success in the Teacher Education Program.
The University policy states: Regular attendance is expected of teacher candidates in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars, etc.) Calendar (Chapter V)
What happens if I miss classes?
If you must miss a class, notify your instructor immediately. The nature of the Teacher Education Program is participatory. Teacher candidates who miss a significant amount of class time (i.e. more than 15% of course hours) are normally required to repeat the course. Teacher candidates are not able to proceed to practicum until all prior courses are successfully completed.
If you are absent or unable to complete an assignment due to illness, contact your instructor(s) and explain the situation. Discuss the possibility of an extended due date or alternate arrangements to deal with class material missed.
If you wish to request an academic concession (see UBC Calendar section on Academic Concessions), obtain a medical statement from your physician or Student Health Services. The statement must be submitted to the Director, Teacher Education Office as soon as possible. A medical statement does not constitute a concession; it is evidence to be considered when a request for a concession is made. Your instructors may request a copy of the statement or confirmation from the TEO. Teacher candidates will not be excused from classes to take Teacher-on-Call assignments.
What happens if I do not complete an assignment on time?
If you neglect your academic coursework and assignments you may be excluded from (or may not pass) the course. Likewise, on the practicum if you do not submit unit or lesson plans as requested, you may be excluded from the practicum. Calendar (Chapter IX:8)
What happens if I must miss classes or am unable to complete an assignment due to medical, financial or emotional crises?
You have the following options:
In case of sudden illness that interferes with your ability to function as a teacher candidate, you may seek and obtain an emergency appointment at the Student Health Clinic located next to the hospital emergency department on campus. (Patient Appointments, Tel: 604-822-4848) You may also request assistance from a program coordinator in TEO.
If you are absent or unable to complete an assignment due to illness, contact your instructor(s) to explain the situation. Discuss the possibility of an extended deadline or alternate arrangements to deal with class material missed. Should the absence or inability to complete an assignment exceed three days and you request an academic concession, obtain a statement from your physician or from Student Health Services. The statement must include sufficient detail to explain the inability to extend or to complete a course. Submit the statement to a Program Coordinator in the Teacher Education Office without delay. You may wish to provide your instructors with this statement, as well. Instructors need to know that approval has been granted by Program Coordinator(s) in the TEO.
For financial assistance, contact an advisor in the Student Financial Assistance and Awards office:
For personal crises requiring urgent counselling, emergency drop-in hours are scheduled daily in the UBC Counselling Services Centre. You may request the assistance of a program coordinator in the TEO to arrange for a counsellor to see you at the earliest opportunity. The Counselling Services are located at
Brock Hall
#1040-1874 East Mall
Tel: (604) 822-3811
How do I obtain an academic concession?
Requests for academic concessions must first be directed to instructors, and second, to a Program Coordinator in the Teacher Education Office as close as possible to the time attendance or performance is affected. Teacher candidates should provide documentation for such requests (medical condition; personal or other problems; or religious observances). Documentation from a physician or other authority needs to provide sufficient details to support any concessions requested. Concessions may include permission to: drop a course (or courses), withdraw from the program, or obtain deferred or aegrotat standings.
Please note that untimely notification (of request) will normally not be taken into account. Calendar (Chapter IX:8)
What happens if I am granted an academic concession?
An Aegrotat Standing (AEG) allows credit for a course even though the course requirements have not been completed. This standing is awarded [in unusual cases] only if the instructor and the Associate Dean agree that you have demonstrated the capacity to deal with the course material satisfactorily. When an AEG standing is awarded, a letter grade is assigned. In a graded course this will be converted to the minimum percentage for the calculation of averages. (Calendar Chapter V)
A Deferred Standing (SD) may be granted only when you have a valid reason for not completing course requirements as scheduled and you do not qualify for an Aegrotat Standing. If you have been granted Deferred Standing in the Winter Session, you must complete all outstanding course requirements by the following mid-August [or earlier to meet a specific deadline negotiated with the instructor(s)]. If you have been granted Deferred Standing in the Summer Session, you must complete all outstanding course requirements by the following mid-December [or earlier as negotiated]. If you have been granted Deferred Standing, you are responsible for making satisfactory arrangements with your instructors for completion of outstanding requirements. If you fail to complete the deferred requirements by the date specified, the SD will be replaced with a grade or standing that reflects the requirements completed in the course. Calendar (Chapter V)
Access & Diversity
What do I do if I have a disability that may require academic accommodations within the program?
Either before or when you start the program, you need to first meet with a Program Coordinator in the Teacher Education Office so that we are aware of your needs. Following that, you will be advised to meet with an advisor at UBC’s Disability Resource Centre, and who will assess and plan for disability-related services within your teacher education program. Collaboration between the TEO Program Coordinator, the teacher candidate and the Disability Advisor to provide for accommodations identified by the DRC are part of the planning process, and follow-up advising will continue when necessary as you progress through the program.
What happens if I do not demonstrate an acceptable standard of written English after I have been admitted to the program?
Teacher candidates who do not demonstrate an acceptable standard of written English during the program may be required either to improve your standard of English before proceeding to the extended practicum and/or before being recommended for the BEd degree and a teaching certificate, or to discontinue or to withdraw from the Faculty. Calendar (Chapter IX:8)
What happens if I do not demonstrate an acceptable standard in oral English?
All teacher candidates admitted to the teacher education program must demonstrate competency in oral English. If questions arise regarding oral English competency, teacher candidates will be asked to undergo an evaluation of their spoken English. Calendar (Chapter IX: 8)
The results of assessing the standard of oral proficiency in the program and any subsequent oral evaluation will be used to determine whether the teacher candidate will be required to:
undertake a program of remedial work in spoken English, and/or
withdraw from the Faculty.
Teacher candidates will not be permitted to begin the Extended Practicum until they have demonstrated competency in oral and written English. Calendar (Chapter IX: 8)
Proficiency in French
How can I improve my French proficiency in order to be better prepared to teach core French in grades 5 to 8?
For teacher candidates, a communicative approach to teach and learn French uses oral interaction, project-based learning, and authentic student-centred activities. The provincial curriculum includes communicating, acquiring information, understanding culture, and experiencing creative works in the target language.
Ideally, intermediate and middle years teachers should possess a basic level of proficiency in French as well as methodological training in how to teach a second language. The techniques used to teach French can be applied to the teaching of other second languages.
UBC elementary and middle years teacher candidates are encouraged to include a second language methodology course as one of their electives, e.g.: LLED 324 - Teaching and Learning French as a Second Language, either during their pre-service year, or once they are teaching. There are also federal government bursaries available for summer French immersion programs for teacher candidates and for teachers.
If you do not meet the expected standard in coursework you may be required to revise, do supplemental work, do a supplemental examination, and/or repeat a course in order to meet expected standards. If your academic standing is unsatisfactory in one or more courses you may be required to repeat courses, or to discontinue, or to withdraw from the Faculty. Calendar (Chapter IX:8)
May I proceed to the next term without completing all the requirements of the preceding term?
Permission to proceed out of sequence is not automatically granted.
You must have successfully completed all the requirements for a term or terms preceding the extended practicum before proceeding to the practicum. In exceptional cases, after consultation with a Program Coordinator and with the permission of the Associate Dean, Teacher Education, you may be permitted to proceed to the final term of the Teacher Education Program, prior to completing the extended practicum. Calendar (Chapter IX:8)
If I am required to discontinue or withdraw from the program, may I re-enroll at a later date?
If you withdraw from the program voluntarily, you will not be entitled automatically to return. Each request for reinstatement will be considered along with other applications at the time.
Required to Discontinue
If you are required to discontinue and wish to re-apply to the Faculty of Education, your application for re-admission must include evidence that you have satisfied any conditions set at the time you were required to discontinue. Re-applications must be received 6 months prior to the term you wish to resume the program. Please note that re-admission is not automatic.
Required to Withdraw
If you are required to withdraw, you will not normally be readmitted to the Teacher Education Program. In exceptional circumstances you may, after at least one year, submit a formal appeal for permission to re-enroll. Such an appeal will be granted only after review by the Dean and/or by approval of the Senate Admissions Committee.
Timelines
If you fail to complete all requirements of the program within a four year period, you will not be allowed re-admission. You may, however, submit a new application for admission. If admitted, you will receive no advanced credit for courses previously completed.
Can I apply for a scholarship or an academic award?
The Faculty makes recommendations for student awards and scholarships based upon achievement in classes and practica during the program. You do not apply for most scholarships or academic awards. However, you may apply for scholarships and bursaries that do not require a recommendation by the Faculty.
Check application procedures and deadlines at the Office of Awards and Financial Aid in Brock Hall www.students.ubc.ca/finance. Canada Student Loan application information and deadlines are also available from this office. Refer to the Awards section of the Teacher Education website.
In order to be recommended by the Faculty of Education for certification to the British Columbia College of Teachers, teacher candidates must provide evidence in their professional ePortfolios of demonstrating the "Standards for the Education, Competence and Professional Conduct of Educators in British Columbia".
Graduation and Certification
How do I obtain my degree?
Teacher candidates must make formal application to have their Bachelor of Education degree conferred. To apply for graduation go to the Student Services Centre (SSC) website: www.students.ubc.ca. Applications must be submitted online to the Student Services Centre no later than February 20 for Spring Convocation and by August 31 for Fall Convocation. See the Apply to Graduate section for your program option of the Teacher Education website.
If you do not apply or are not eligible for graduation, a recommendation for certification will not be submitted to the B.C. College of Teachers.
The Faculty of Education applies the following policy in determining satisfactory completion of the Bachelor of Education:
Entry into the profession of teaching is not a right, but a privilege. Suitability to teach includes satisfactory academic performance, teaching performance and professional conduct. Although satisfactory academic performance is prerequisite to advancement, it is not the sole criterion in the consideration of the suitability of a teacher candidate for promotion or graduation. The Faculty reserves the right to require a teacher candidate to withdraw from the Faculty if the teacher candidate is considered to be unsuited to proceed with the study or practice of teaching. Calendar (Chapter IX:8)
How do I obtain my professional certificate?
You must apply to graduate, and upon approval of your degree completion, the Faculty will recommend you to the British Columbia College of Teachers. The possession of a Bachelor of Education does not in itself confer the right to teach in public schools in British Columbia. Certification to teach is granted by the BC College of Teachers. Applicants who intend to teach in other jurisdictions must obtain information concerning the requirements for entry from the governing or credentialing body in those jurisdictions.
Teacher Certification
Possession of a certificate of qualification to teach is mandatory for teaching within public elementary, middle years or secondary schools of British Columbia. The Teaching Profession Act has assigned the authority to the British Columbia College of Teachers to issue teaching certificates and to determine the classes of certificates of qualification issued. Persons convicted of or given an absolute or conditional discharge on a criminal offence and who are considering a teaching career, should write the Registrar, BC College of Teachers for clarification of their status. For contact information: www.bcct.ca/.
At the end of each session, the Faculty reports to the BC College of Teachers the names of teacher candidates who have satisfied requirements for BC teacher certification. This report includes a copy of each teacher candidate’s UBC transcript but does not include copies of transcripts from other institutions.
Those not wishing their status reported and their transcripts forwarded to the College of Teachers should inform the Associate Dean, Teacher Education, in writing at least one month before they complete teacher certification requirements. (Committee on Curriculum Admissions Standing and Appeals, Spring 2001).
What are the Standards for the Education, Competence and Professional Conduct of Educators in British Columbia?
British Columbia College of Teachers (BCCT) Standards
The UBC Attainment of Standards Report to the College and the full text of the BCCT Standards can be viewed at: www.educ.ubc.ca/about/standards/. Refer to Expectations for all Teacher Candidates: Professional ePortfolios for information about providing evidence of attaining the Standards.
Educators value and care for all students and act in their best interests.
Educators are role models who act ethically and honestly.
Educators understand and apply knowledge of student growth and development.
Educators value the involvement and support of parents, guardians, families and communities in schools.
Educators implement effective practices in areas of planning, instruction, assessment, evaluation and reporting.
Educators have a broad knowledge base and understand the subject areas they teach.
Educators engage in career-long learning.
Educators contribute to the profession.
Records and Confidentiality
Who has access to my records?
All information in your file is considered confidential. You may request copies of any information in your file except for confidential reference letters submitted to support your admission application. Requests for information must be presented in writing at least one month prior to release of records. Under no circumstances will the Faculty forward academic or practicum records to potential employers. You are expected to retain copies of practicum reports for this purpose. Requests for official transcripts must be made to the Enrolment Services on-line at www.students.ubc.ca/.
How long are my records kept?
Upon program completion, practicum reports and anecdotal records are normally retained for a period of five years following convocation. Academic transcripts of courses and degrees may be obtained from Enrolment Services for a fee. UBC academic records are kept indefinitely.
Appeals
Can I appeal a decision made regarding my progress in the program?
Teacher candidates who wish to protest evaluative decisions relating to their academic coursework may do so. Appeals should first be directed to the nearest source, typically an instructor. If there is no resolution, appeals progress to the Head of the Department concerned, and finally, if necessary, to the Associate Dean of Teacher Education.
If the situation is still unresolved, the appeal can be heard by the Faculty of Education’s Committee on Curriculum, Admissions, Standings, and Appeals (CCASA). A written appeal to CCASA must be made within 60 days of the Associate Dean’s decision. Advice concerning the process and forms on which to submit an appeal are available from the Teacher Education Office. Calendar (Chapter V)
BEd online application system opens starting in December 2009.
Includes online application and all supplemental forms (see BEd Application Checklist).
Late applications submitted after deadline until April 30, 2010 considered based on available program spaces.
Seats available for EDST 455/082 "History of Childhood & Youth"
Winter Term 2
Mon, Wed | 10:30-12:30
Geography Building, Room 101
The Canadian Association for School Health and its partners in the Canadian School Health Knowledge Network are pleased to launch a series of webinars on comprehensive school health (CSH) and health promoting schools (HPS).
UBC Vancouver Senate approves a special Reading Week extension in 2010. UBC Vancouver campus students will receive a mid-term break extension during Term 2 in 2010 to two weeks instead of the usual one week.
The 2009/2010 Reading Break will be held Mon, Feb 15 - Fri, Feb 26, 2010.
*Note: Does not apply to Secondary BEd teacher candidates on extended practicum at that time, and who need to follow the break schedules as set out by their school districts.
The Education Students' Association is a group of students from the Faculty of Education organized to promote activities and represent Education students through participation in various organizations on campus such as the Alma Mater Society and Senate.
Includes online application and all supplemental forms (see 
