Field Experience Placements

School-Based Experiences (Pre-K-12th grade)

Office of Educator Preparation

Field Experience Placements

Field experience placements allow students the opportunity to complete observational or hands-on experiences within a classroom of a partnering school district.  Students encounter multiple field experience opportunities working through our programs within Clemmer College of Education and Human Development. These experiences expose students to many teaching styles and pedagogies. It is critical for students to observe and apply real world practice to what is being taught in the classroom.

Semester Dates & Deadlines for Requesting a Field Experience Placement

 

Fall Field Experience Placement Request Form Opens: June 1

Fall Field Experience Placement Request Form Deadline:  September 15 (No placements will be requested after Sept.15)

Spring Field Experience Placement Request Form Opens: December 1

Spring Field Experience Placement Request Form Deadline: February 15 (No placements will be requested after Feb. 15)

Fall 2024 Field Experience Placement Request Form is now closed.

Email edprep@etsu.edu if you have any questions. 

  • Field Experience Placement Guidelines (Background Check Information Included)

    Field Experience Placement Request Form Final Deadlines. No placements will be requested after these dates.  

    Fall Semester: September 15  

    Spring Semester: February 15  

    Students must complete the steps below in order to receive a field placement. See the tabs below. 

    Step 1:  Field Experience Placement Request Form

    Students can confirm that a field experience placement is part of their class requirements on the first day of classes when their instructor goes over the syllabus.

    Students must submit a Field Experience Placement Request Form for each class that requires field experience hours.

    Students may not double count hours. All hours must be completed for each course for which students are enrolled. (For example, if a student is enrolled in two courses with 20 hours for each course, then the student must complete a total of 40 hours.  The same hours cannot count for both classes.)

    The Fall 2023 Field Experience Request Form is now closed. Please email the Office of Educator Preparation at edprep@etsu.edu for assistance.

    Step 2: Background Check Package

    All students who participate in a field experience placement are required to complete a Background Check Package, which consists of fingerprinting and required paperwork.

    A Background Check Package is good for one calendar year. If students have completed a Background Check Package, an Affirmation of Background Check may be completed to extend the duration of the background check for the next year.  (Please follow the correct OPTION below).

    HAVE YOU COMPLETED A BACKGROUND CHECK PACKAGE?

    • YES:

      If you have completed a Background Check Package within the past 12 months with the Office of Educator Preparation, you may be eligible for a Background Check Package Affirmation. Please email the Office of Educator Preparation at edprep@etsu.edu or call 423-439-7597.

    • NO:

      If you have never completed a Background Check Package or it has been over 12 months since your previous Background Check Package was completed with the Office of Educator Preparation, please follow the link below. 

      Click on the following link for the directions to complete a Background Check Package: https://www.etsu.edu/coe/educator-preparation/background.php   

    Remember: You must complete the Background Check Package before the Final Deadlines or your will not recieve a field experience placement. 

    Due Dates for Each Semester

    • Fall Semester: September 15  
    • Spring Semester: February 15  

    Step 3: Placement Confirmation

    The Office of Educator Preparation will email students their assigned field experience placement and teacher information once the placement has been confirmed by the school district.

    Students need to contact their assigned field experience teacher via email within ONE WEEK of receiving their placement to set up their first classroom visit.

    When the student receives the email reply from their assigned teacher, they will need to forward the email reply from their assigned teacher to: edprep@etsu.edu  Once this email has been received in the Office of Educator Preparation, the student placement is confirmed.

    If students do not hear from their mentor teacher within one week of contacting them, students should email the Office of Educator Preparation at edprep@etsu.edu for assistance.

    Step 4: Field Experience Verification

    The student should have the mentor teacher in their field experience placement complete the Field Experience Verification AFTER all required field experience hours have been completed (No electronic signatures will be accepted).

    Click here: Field Experience Verification Form

    Once the Field Experience Verification Form is complete, it is the student's responsibility to return the Field Experience Verification form to the Office of Educator Preparation either in person or by scanning and emailing to: edprep@etsu.edu.

    The Field Experience Verification Form must be returned by the last day of class in order to pass your course. 

    **Please note that instructors may have other due dates for paperwork so please consult your syllabus. Students must follow the deadline of their instructor if he/she requires this paperwork earlier than the dates required by the Office of Educator Preparation.

    If you need assistance with any of the steps above, please contact the Office of Educator Preparation at edprep@etsu.edu or 423-439-7597.

  • Responsibilities

    Requirements:

    • Complete the online Field Experience Placement Request Form by the deadline.
    • After the placement deadline September 15 (Fall)/February 15 (Spring), the online request form cannot be completed; therefore, students cannot be placed. 
    • Complete required documentation and background checks prior to all school placements. Students will not receive a placement until the Field Experience Request Form and Background Check Package or Affirmation is complete.
    • Contact the assigned field placement teacher via email within 7 days after receiving the assigned placement asking the teacher to send an email response with a date for their initial meeting.
    • Forward the email reply from the assigned teacher to the Office of Educator Preparation, edprep@etsu.edu, to continue the placement.
    • Establish a clear schedule with the field placement mentor teacher before completing hours and make sure he/she is notified of any changes or absences in advance.
    • Notify the Office of Educator Preparation ASAP regarding issues or concerns with the placement or of extenuating circumstances that might interfere with the field placement.

    Expected Duties:

    • Allow for adequate time in the semester to complete required hours.
    • Follow procedures at school placement where placed (i.e., dress code, professionalism, etc.).
    • Maintain confidentiality with ALL student information (student records, conversations, etc.).
    • Do not share information about the school, students, mentor teachers, etc., privately or publicly to others.
    • Refrain from posting materials, information, photos, or personal commentary on social networking sites.
    • Refrain from serving where you have close friends or relatives due to a conflict of interest and confidentiality issues.
    • Avoid bringing others (e.g., personal child, significant other, etc.) with you to the assigned school.
    • Upon their arrival and departure, students should sign in and out of the school in the office using the school's procedures. 
    • Logged hours must match the total amount of hours indicated on the Field Experiences Verification Form.
    • Turn in the Field Experience Verification Form to the Office of Educator Preparation no later than the last day of classes
    • Provide required paperwork to your instructor per syllabus deadline.

    In order to pass your course, you must submit theField Experience Verification form to the Office of Educator Preparation.

    Please note the Honor Code and Pledge about falsifying information. Falsification of hours will not be tolerated.

  • Resources
  • Honor Code and Honor Pledge

    Please note the Honor Code and Pledge stated below. Falsifying information including falsification of hours will not be tolerated.

    Honor Code

    East Tennessee State University is committed to developing the intellect and ethical behavior of its students.  Students found to be in violation of policies on plagiarism, cheating, and/or fabrication will be held accountable for their actions.  Any knowledge of academic misconduct should be reported.  Students are expected to act with honesty, integrity, and civility in all matters.  Honor Code revised and adopted February 16, 2012.

    Honor Pledge

    By becoming a member of the campus community, students agree to live by the standards of the honor code and thereby pledge the following: “I pledge to act with honesty, integrity, and civility in all matters.”  Honor Pledge revised and adopted February 16, 2012.

  • Tennessee Mandatory Reporting

    All members of the University community are responsible for compliance with Tennessee laws on mandatory reporting of child abuse and child sexual abuse. Go to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services website to find out more information on how to identify and report child abuse and child sexual abuse.

    University students placed in school districts should proactively ask the field experience and residency site for the school’s procedures for mandatory reporting and adhere to those reporting structures when possible. 

    View full Mandatory Reporting protocol here.

The Completed Field Experience Information form allows students to track their field experiences leading up to residency and/or graduation. It is encouraged to track each placement throughout your academic career.