Office of
Field Experiences
Tom Ganser, Director
2038 Winther Hall
Whitewater, WI 53190
fieldexperiences@uww.edu
(262) 472-1123
Fax: (262) 472-1500

TEACHER INTERNSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS

Office of Field Experiences
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Fall 2008 and Spring 2009

Special Education students must contact the Special Education Field Coordinator of Directed Teaching for approval before applying to the Teacher Internship Program.

Forms necessary to apply for a teacher internship are listed below . Complete the forms online and print them, or print them out blank and fill in by hand (DO NOT STAPLE).  The forms cannot be saved online. Adobe Reader is required. You can download a free copy at the Adobe Reader Homepage.  Also, please contact Deb Bowditch or Cheryl Wegner if you have problems with the forms. 

1. Teacher Internship Application Form
2. THREE (3) Teacher Internship Reference Forms
3. Teacher Internship Clearance Form
4. Teacher Internship Application Materials Release Form
5. Teacher Internship Reference Check Sheet
6. Resume (including Philosophy of Education)
7. Unofficial transcript (do not staple any of the materials together)
8. FERPA - Federal Educational Rights & Privacy Act (see #19 below)

Additional Steps and Information for UW-W Teacher Internship Candidates

1. Fall 2008 - Deadline is February 15, 2008
   Spring 2009- Deadline is September 15, 2008  (note - some schools begin interviewing as early as March, so we highly recommend turning in applications early in the spring semester) 
2. Meet with the Subject Area Coordinator for your major, taking the Teacher Internship Clearance Form and a copy of your unofficial transcript with you (a list of Subject Area Coordinators is at the bottom of the Teacher Internship Clearance Form). If you are unsure of your student teaching semester, please contact the department of your major. If you have a Bilingual/Bicultural minor, note the additional required signature.
3. A minimum overall GPA of 3.00 is required for application to the Teacher Internship Program and must be maintained throughout the remaining educational program.
4. A grade of C (2.00) or better in any course or approved equivalency in your program area (defined as both major and licensure area) is required. 
5. Three (3) references are required. A F.E.R.P.A. form should be completed for each reference and for the Teacher Internship Office (see #19 below).  Teacher Intern candidates should complete the top portion of the Teacher Internship Reference Forms and then give/mail them to their references (ask references first). Or references can complete the Teacher Internship Reference Forms online. Completed reference forms can be returned to the Teacher Internship Office by the intern candidate or the reference.   At least two (2) references should be UW-Whitewater faculty members. NOTE: The intern applicant must attain an average score of at least 3.5 from Section B and a score of at least 3.0 from Section E. If either score is below the minimum, the applicant will not be approved as a candidate for the Teacher Internship Program.
6. Special paper for your resume is unnecessary, as copies, not originals, are forwarded to interested school districts. Questions concerning the design of a resume may be directed to Career Services. A Philosophy of Education is to be included.
7. As part of the approval procedure, the Teacher Internship Coordinator may solicit input regarding the qualifications of applicants from faculty members in the UW-Whitewater Departments of: Curriculum & Instruction; Educational Foundations; Health, Physical Education, Recreation, & Coaching; Special Education; and/or other academic departments.
8. The Teacher Internship Office communicates with students via their University email address only.
9. After reviewing each completed file, the intern candidate's student teacher semester will be verified and a letter will be sent via email to the applicant indicating unqualified approval, qualified approval (e.g., approval subject to improved overall GPA), or disapproval as a prospective intern. Approval as a prospective intern does not guarantee the availability or awarding of a Teacher Internship placement. A student may reapply to the Teacher Internship Program if circumstances should change for a student who has been denied acceptance.
10. Approved Intern candidates will be notified regularly via email of schools requesting interns.  Those Intern candidates will then notify the Teacher Internship Office where to forward their files.  Typically, school personnel review the files, select candidates for interviews, and contact those students directly. Feel free to check with the Teacher Internship Program Office on the status of your application at any time. No Teacher Intern placements will occur after July 15 for fall or December 1 for spring.
11. All approved Intern candidates and Interns must turn in an updated unofficial transcript after each semester and summer to the Teacher Internship Program Office until the internship is completed (or until it is determined that the candidate will not be interning).
12. UW-W Teacher Interns will be charged $200, which covers an administrative fee charged by DPI.  This should be paid when you receive your first paycheck.  Note that you will not receive a passing grade for your internship until this is taken care of.
13. In addition, an internship occurring out-of-area (50+ miles from UW-W) will incur the following expenses:  1) four (or more, if necessary) supervisory visits at the current market rate, 2) supervisory travel expenses in excess of $100, 3) Office of Field Experiences supervisory arrangement fee of $50, 4) liability insurance, etc., if required, 5) cooperating teacher stipend, if required locally, 6) any other costs.  Please note that an out-of-area internship is contingent upon our ability to obtain an out-of-area university supervisor.
14. Interns are subject to identical requirements as student teachers with respect to the TB test and criminal background checks.
15. Special Education majors and K-12 Physical Education majors enrolled in their full semester of student teaching/internship are required to enroll in the student teaching seminar course appropriate to their major:
    • all Special Education majors must enroll in SPECED 470
      (Student Teaching Seminar)
    • all K-12 Physical Education majors must enroll in PEPROF 410
      (Student Teaching Seminar-Physical Education)
    • All other majors are encouraged to enroll in CIGENRL 470 (Student Teaching Seminar). Although you are not required to enroll in this course, it will provide you with important information and ideas that will enhance your preparation for a successful career in teaching.
16. Teacher Intern candidates and those with confirmed internships must attend all student teacher meetings. Exception: confirmed interns do not need to attend the placement/interview meeting, but please notify your Subject Area Coordinator. Also, the intern is expected to attend two "Intern Dinner Meetings" during the internship.
17. If your application is accepted but a placement does not occur, the assigned student teaching placement will remain in effect.
18. The files of Teacher Internship candidates not receiving an internship will be discarded at the end of the semester.
19. Complete a F.E.R.P.A. form for the Teacher Internship Program Office and each of your references.  Guidelines for completing the FERPA form for the Teacher Internship Program Office:  I AUTHORIZE:  UW-Whitewater Teacher Internship Program Office    TO DISCLOSE...:  grades and academic transcript; performance observation notes, evaluation instruments or information, general comments about performance in a course during a field experience (Field Studies, Student Teaching, Internship, Practicum, etc.)  OTHER (SPECIFY):  verification of hiring and salary  TO THE FOLLOWING...:  prospective employer(s); school official(s) responsible for admission to educational programs; individual(s) responsible for scholarship, grants, etc.; OTHER (SPECIFY):  rental agencies  FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON(S)  (explain):  Future employment; pursuit of further education; salary verification for housing purposes; grants/scholarships  THIS AUTHORIZATION WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL:  suggest putting a date of two years from the date of signing.