Professional Field Experience: Student FAQs

Undergraduates/Graduates as Interns

Question: Do I need to attend an orientation meeting?
Answer: Yes, all undergraduate/graduate interns are required to attend the mandatory orientation for their program. Any student that does not attend the mandatory orientation will not proceed forward in their assigned placement. Also, a great deal of information is discussed in the orientation. You will not feel as confident without it. Your handbook and mentor handbook are available online.

Question: What are the beginning and ending dates for Field Experience Internships this semester?
Answer: The beginning date for the Fall semester is September 7, 2009. The ending date is December 11, 2009.

Question: May I request a specific school and/or teacher for my internship?
Answer: In Semester 1 you may only request a district. In Semesters 2, 3, and Student teaching you may request a school and teacher. SPE student may request a district only! However, many factors intervene, and you might not be placed with whom you request.

Question: May I do all of my field experience in the same school?
Answer: You may only be in the exact same placement twice. This means same district, same school, same teacher.

Question: Why was I not given the placement I requested?
Answer: CTEL places more than 6000 students in schools every semester. Many factors determine your placements. How many teachers are available, how soon the district asks for placements, other jobs that district teachers are assigned to, distance to be traveled, etc. The business of placements is very complicated and involves many people.

Question: May I have my placement changed if: 1) I don't feel comfortable there, 2) It is too far to drive, 3) My job schedule interferes, 4) I have moved since I filled out the paper work,5) I think there is a personality or style conflict between my mentor and me.
Answer: NO. It is too disruptive to change internship placements once they have started.

Question: What reasons would warrant a change in placement?
Answer: If you have been placed in an inappropriate placement for your program or the school district requests a change.

Question: When will I find out where I have been placed? Should I call the office to ask where I have been placed?
Answer: Placements will be given at orientations, however some students might not receive their placement at that time depending on the student's request and when it was submitted. We prefer to have all placement information finalized prior to the internship start date. Please email the office to find out where you have been placed .

Question: Who should I contact if I have questions about my placement?
Answer: Contact the District Liaison at your campus first by email:

Polytechnic: Amber Bickes
Tempe: Greg Preston
West: Lori Chaira

Be patient, we have many students to place and we will get back to you as soon as we are able.

Question: Where can I get a mentor handbook if I have changed placements and need a handbook to give the new mentor?
Answer: The mentor handbook is a chapter in the Student Handbook.

Question: May I start interning at the school where I have been placed before the start date if the teacher allows me to?
Answer: Once the semester begins, as long as both you and your mentor agree, it is perfectly acceptable to start early.

Question: If the school where I have been placed is on an extended calendar year or year-round calendar, will I be able to acquire the total number of interning hours required, even if the school breaks for 3 weeks during the ASU semester?
Answer: You will have to adjust your hours per week to meet the total hour requirement by the end of the semester.

Question: If I intern with a specific school and/or teacher that I would like to use for student teaching, may I repeat the placement location and teacher?
Answer: You may use the same placement, but remember, only twice in the same school with the same teacher.

Question: What do I do if I decide to change my program; For example if I am Early Childhood and now I want to be Elementary Education?
Answer: Your first stop is Academic Advising. They will notify Field Experience if you have changed programs.

Question: I have a family member at the school where I would like to be placed. Will this effect my placement?
Answer: If you are placed in a district where your children attend school, or a family member is a district employee, you will have to submit a Relative Petition. This is required before a placement will be secured.

Question: I'm preparing my student teaching placement request but have several questions regarding the placement.
Answer: Be sure to attend the Semester 3/going into student teaching informational meeting. See Events and Dates for Semester 1, 2, 3 and also forms for Preparation for Student Teaching.

Question: My name and/or contact information (address and/or phone) have changed. Who should I notify?
Answer: Please fill out the Address Change form. Bring (or mail) the form to the Field Experience office or Advising Office at your campus. You will also need to inform the ASU Registration and Records office. The Change of Address Form is located in the PFE Forms section.

Students as Student Teachers

Question: When is the student teaching orientation?
Answer: Please see: Events and Dates

Question: When does student teaching begin and end?
Answer: Student teaching is a 15 weeks full day experience. The CTEL student teaching start date for the Fall semester is August 24, 2009. However, if you student teach in a year round school you may need to start earlier to complete a full 15 week experience in a semester. If you start before the official student teaching start date, you must continue to student teach up to the official end date, December 7, unless otherwise arranged with the Director of Field Experience.

Question: When will I find out where my student teaching placement is? How do I find out where I am placed for student teaching?
Answer: You will be notified by mail by the end of July if you are student teaching in the Fall and by the end of December if you are student teaching in the Spring.

Question: May I start my student teaching experience the day class starts at the school I am placed even if it is before the start date for CTEL student teachers?
Answer: If you would like to start your student teaching earlier than the official start of the semester please fill out a Regular Petition with the date you would like to start.

Question: My mentor teacher has had a personal emergency that will require her to be on a leave of absence. What should I do about my placement?
Answer: Please call your supervisor immediately.

Question: What should I do if my placement principal would like me to substitute teach?
Answer: You should not be substituting during student teaching. If you are asked, contact your supervisor immediately.

Question: What are the requirements for a teacher to be a mentor teacher?
Answer: A teacher must have 3 years experience in the area which you are seeking certification (SED, EED, ESL, BLE, ECT or SPED) and have taken or be willing to take a five hour course entitled Mentoring Matters. The course is available online; call 602-543-3030 to enroll.

Question: Can I find a placement for student teaching? Can I request a specific teacher who has agreed to be my mentor teacher for student teaching?
Answer: You absolutely can identify a specific teacher for your student teaching semester. We make every effort to ensure your placement but cannot guarantee it.

Question: What if I want to student teach at a school or location that is not on the school list?
Answer: You may petition to student teach in a school not identified on the CTEL school list, but you are not guaranteed a particular placement.

Question: What if I have a relative or friend working at the school where I want to be placed?
Answer: The Office of Professional Field Experience requires that you complete a Relative Petition if you have a relative working in the district you request.

Question: Will I have time to work in my student teaching semester?
Answer: Student teaching is a full time (40-60 hour week) commitment. If you must work during student teaching you must speak with the coordinator of Field Experience and complete the Work Policy Section of your Student Teaching Contract.

Question: If I am offered a job while student teaching, what should I do to be ready if I would like to accept the position.
Answer: If you have successfully completed a minimum of 13 weeks in your student teaching placement and are offered a position you should contact your supervisor for further information.

Question: I need to take a class while student teaching. What do I need to do to have this approved?
Answer: You will need to petition to take a class with student teaching. (Regular Petition) If the petition is approved you will need to fulfill this requirement during the evening or on weekends, but never during the school day.

Question: How do I make up a career services seminar if there are none scheduled that I can attend.
Answer: You should ask your supervisor for specifics, but many seminars are available on video tape from Career Services, http://students.asu.edu/career.

Question: I have missed a supervisor seminar. What should I do.
Answer: Contact your supervisor to ask how to make up the seminar.

Question: Is it possible to be certified for more than one program and what do I need to do to request this?
Answer: Please see Academic Advising for this information.

Question: What is an IR?
Answer: An IR is an Institutional Recommendation that will be given to you if all your coursework has been completed, all fees paid and once your degree is posted. This IR is the documentation necessary to obtain certification.