Current Students

All students are required to meet with their advisor to create a program plan that fulfills the requirements for the certification and/or degree. It is the student's responsibility to meet and follow procedures as stipulated by the School of Education and the Graduate School.

• Eduardo "Ed" Armijo,PhD:

Certification Officer
(253) 692-4729
armijoed@uw.edu

• Justin Gailey, Advisor & Recruiter:

Advising areas: Educational Administration & M.Ed. for Practicing Educators, with study options in Curriculum & Instruction (C&I), Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Student Academic and Social Success (SASS), as well as, the Endorsement Tracks, Special Education and TELL
(253) 692-5698
jgailey@uw.edu

• Ashley Walker, Advisor & Recruiter

Doctoral Program in Ed Leadership (EdD) and School Psychology Program (EdS) (note: Walker is the Enrollment and Student Services Lead who directly supervises academic advisors and is the main advising point person for the School)
(253) 692-4367
aew7@uw.edu

Students can also seek the advice of any faculty member as needed. Such informal advising is common and highly encouraged. The expertise of faculty should be sought to assist students with career choices or any other professional advice and decision-making.

• Dr. Julia Aguirre: Bachelor of Arts in Education and Teacher Certification Programs (all tracks)
• Dr. Laura Feuerborn: Education Specialist in School Psychology Program (EdS)
• Dr. Matthew Weinstein: Master of Education for Practicing Educators (MEd)
• Dr. Kurt Hatch: Educational Administration Certification Program
• Mr. Tom Hathorn: Manager, Office of Field Placements & Partnerships (across all certification programs)

Meeting with School of Education Leadership team

1. Overview

As a professional school of education with a mission to “prepare ethical and reflective educators and leaders who transform learning, contribute to the community, exemplify professionalism, and promote diversity,” we encourage currently enrolled students who have concerns or questions about a course or employee to directly contact the person with whom they have issues with.

At any time, you may contact your academic advisor and/or trusted faculty advocate to discuss your concerns and think through options. The UW Office of the Ombud may also be of assistance in supporting the resolution of interpersonal conflicts or thinking through strategies that may not involve interacting with the party (or parties) of concern.

The Dean and the School of Education also endorse a Restorative Justice Framework for sustaining healthy, productive, and respectful professional relationships.

Some notes to consider:

1. Due to FERPA requirements, no UW Tacoma employee may provide information about a student to outside parties, including a guardian/parent or spouse, without written permission from the student.
2. As a state institution, all communication transmitted to UW Tacoma faculty, staff, and other students is subject to public-records disclosure. We cannot guarantee what, if any, information may be redacted. Thus:

• Use factual language. Provide details or examples regarding your concern.
• Refrain from using biased, exclusionary, opinionated, and/or unprofessional language.

2. Scheduling a Meeting with School of Education’s Leadership

Before scheduling a meeting with the Dean, faculty directors, or Director of Operations to discuss a School of Education concern, please attempt to follow these steps in the suggested order. For specific contact information, search our online directory.

1. First, communicate with the person in question to attempt to resolve the issue. Here is a resource on how to respectfully share concerns or questions. Moreover:
   1. Feedback and questions about assignments, grading, and other course requirements should go directly to the course instructor.
   2. Please be as proactive as possible when raising concerns by addressing them in a timely manner; do not wait until the last minute. You may reach out to your academic advisor or another trusted source if you need guidance on self-advocacy.
2. If you do not receive a satisfactory outcome in attempts to communicate with the person in question, contact the appropriate faculty director, leader, or academic advisor for assistance:

• Interim Advising Lead (supervises the Advising Team/academic advisors): Ms. Ashley Walker
• Director of Operations (manages/supervises all staff): Ms. Maria Hamilton
• Dean: Dr. Rachel Endo

Students who do not feel comfortable directly contacting the faculty director or person in question may request a direct meeting with the Dean (for issues with the Director of Operations or a faculty member) or the Director of Operations (for issues regarding a staff member). If the person in question is also serving as a faculty director/program coordinator, the student may request a direct meeting with the Dean. If your concern is about the Dean, you may directly contact the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. 

Please have the following information prepared when requesting a meeting:

• Your name and contact information, along with your preferred method of contact for someone to reach you (e-mail or phone) and the best time to reach you.
• Your program of study. If applicable, the course/instructor you are having issues with, along with the instructor’s name.
• Provide a brief overview of the concern and discuss what attempts (if any) were made to resolve the issue with the person in question.
• Briefly explain your desired outcome from the meeting to allow us to prepare for possible solutions to meet your needs.
• Indicate your availability with at least a few dates/times and allow at least 2 business days of notice when trying to schedule a meeting.  

3. Complaints about Clinical/Field Placements and Practica

As in most professional work environments, students in clinical/field placements or practicum with community partners may encounter challenging people or situations, including with field supervisors, mentor teachers/preceptors, peers, site personnel, and/or supervisors.

Following the School of Education’s guiding principles, students with concerns who are placed in a school or site should make all attempts to directly resolve the issues with the parties involved. Please follow the site’s protocols, including communication channels and conflict-resolution procedures.

If there are safety concerns and/or major concerns, including but not limited to bullying, child abuse/neglect, or unethical behaviors, you must follow the building or site policies and procedures to report concerns, which involves contacting the building or site coordinator/manager and possibly contacting emergency services. Please also immediately communicate these incidents with appropriate faculty and staff in the School of Education to allow us to follow up as appropriate.

If a placement/practicum is tied with a specific course, directly contact the instructor of record. If the concern is tied to a field placement, contact Mr. Tom Hathorn, Manager the Office of Field Placements & Partnerships.

4. Reporting Bias, Discrimination, & Retaliation Incidents

If you believe you have experienced bias, discrimination, retaliation, and/or sexual harassment while at UW Tacoma (this also includes by any UW Tacoma employee or student, including individuals in or out of the School of Education), you may contact the Dean for assistance and support.

The Dean is the School of Education’s main point person to ensure that such incidents are properly documented and reported to the appropriate University officials, which includes notifying UW Safe Campus. The Dean will ensure the person who experienced harm is connected to resources and support systems. She is also able to offer support that is deemed most useful, such as accompanying a victim of harm to a UW Safe Campus intake session.

Students who report concerns in good faith will not experience retaliation for doing so. You may learn more about UW’s anti-retaliation policy in Presidential Order 31.

Victims of bias, discrimination, and/or unwanted sexual harassment have additional options as follows, and may proceed with these processes without meeting with the Dean on their own, unless they would like her support:

1. Students who believe they have experienced bias may submit a report through UW Tacoma’s Bias Incident Reporting (BIR) system. You may disclose your name or remain anonymous. Note: whether or not you notify her, the Dean will directly intervene with any report that pertains to a School of Education faculty, staff, or student.
2. The University Complaint Investigation and Resolution Office (UCIRO) investigates complaints that a university employee has violated the University's non-discrimination or non-retaliation policies. Students may contact UCIRO for more information; they may also file a BIR and seek other concurrent resources such as with the UW Ombud Office.

Handbooks

Grading

The grading system for graduate students is covered in the Graduate School Memorandum No. 19.

Additionally, an Incomplete received in a course required for certification must be converted into a passing grade by beginning of the next quarter. An Incomplete will remain a permanent part of the student record. Refer to the Teacher Certification Program Policies and Procedures for the TCP Incomplete Policy.

Low Scholarship

Grades below 2.7 are interpreted as failure to master relevant program standards. Any student who at term's end has earned a grade below 2.7 in a required course will be required to retake the course. All student transcripts are reviewed at the end of each quarter. Those students earning below a 2.7 in any one course, a quarterly GPA below a 3.0 , and/or a cumulative GPA of below 3.0 will be referred to the Graduate Faculty Council.

See below for the UW Tacoma Education Program's Retention and Dismissal Policy.

UWT School of Education Grade Appeal Policy

Updated August 01, 2022

The School of Education follows UW Tacoma's and UW's general policy for grade appeals. Click the link to UW Tacoma's Grade Appeal Policy

Graduate on leave status

To maintain graduate status, a student must be enrolled on a full-time, part-time, or official on-leave basis from the time of first enrollment in the Graduate School until completion of all requirements for the graduate degree. Registration is required when applying for the master's degree and receiving the degree. Summer quarter on-leave enrollment is automatic for all graduate students who were either registered or officially on leave the prior spring quarter. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment constitutes evidence that the student has resigned from the Graduate School. To be eligible for on-leave status, the student must have registered for, and completed at least one quarter in the University of Washington Graduate School. The student must also have been registered or officially on leave for the immediate past quarter (except summer).

On-leave policy: Students will be required to complete an on-leave form and pay the fee for EACH quarter they wish to be on leave. Continue to check here for updated information: Graduate on leave status

Reinstatement fee: If a student becomes inactive (does not go on-leave and does not register for any given quarter) and wishes to enroll in a future quarter, there will be a $250 reinstatement fee. Graduate request for reinstatement

Retention and Dismissal

Students are responsible for knowing policies and procedures as outlined by the UW Graduate School, the School of Education, and the University of Washington Tacoma.

Retention and dismissal policy: The retention and dismissal policy of the University of Washington Tacoma School of Education outlines the policy and procedures regarding review for low scholarship and satisfactory progress for all students enrolled in the School of Education. Academic standards and satisfactory progress are outlined separately for all Master of Education (M. Ed.) students except for specific modifications outlined for students enrolled in the Teacher Certification Program (TCP) and for those students enrolled in the Educational Administrator Certification program. All students regardless of program are expected to meet Standards for Essential Abilities and Dispositions for Admission and Continuance in the School of Education at the University of Washington Tacoma.

Assessment of Standards for Essential Abilities and Dispositions Form (powered by Qualtrics) 

Student Counseling/Remediation

Teacher Certification Field Experience Policy

Forms

Important links

UW Tacoma Office of the Registrar Student Resources
Graduate School
FERPA Information

Tuition Exemption Policy

Updated: June 29, 2021

A. OVERVIEW

The School of Education at UW Tacoma recently implemented minor revisions to our tuition-exemption policy, effective summer 2021. Under our revised policy, the School of Education supports eligible Washington State employees (under RCW.28B.15.558) to enroll on a *space-available basis in up to 12 credits of allowable courses in our Master of Education (MEd) for Practicing Educators degree program.

Eligible students may now choose whichever eligible courses that fall within the 12-credit maximum using their tuition-exemption benefits, with the exceptions of restrictions noted in Section B.

B. RESTRICTIONS

1. Students with non-matriculated status are not eligible for any tuition-exemption benefit.
2. Courses that are not eligible for tuition-exemption benefits include: independent study, culminating project/practicum, fieldwork, or distance learning (online), at any time, per RCW RCW.28B.15.558.
3. At this time, only our MEd for Practicing Educators degree program is eligible for the tuition-exemption benefits. Other academic programs in the School of Education, such as EdS in School Psychology, Teacher Certification, Educational Administration, or EdD in Educational Leadership, are not eligible.
4. Current students who were admitted prior to summer 2020 only: the window to use prior benefits expired in spring 2021. Therefore, you will be covered under this new policy if applicable.

In order to maintain the academic integrity of each course and to ensure every student receives the resources needed to reach degree completion, class-size maximums of all classes will be strictly adhered to. The time schedule will display the maximum enrollment for each course. Additional class sections will not be added solely to accommodate any student(s) using tuition-exemption benefits.



C. CONTACT US WITH QUESTIONS

Please send any questions regarding our revised tuition-exemption policy to the main School of Education email account at uwted@uw.edu. Along with your question(s), please include your name and UW student ID if applicable.

As students, it is your responsibility to check with the University Book Store and the Copy Center to determine whether there are course materials available for your class. In addition, it is expected that you download additional course materials via Canvas and electronic library course reserves. Faculty who wish for you to download materials from Canvas prior to the first class will inform you of the Canvas course access code via email prior to the first day of class.

Please make it a habit to check Canvas, email and course reserves regularly during the quarter for updates in course materials. Obtaining and utilizing all the required materials will contribute to your success in your classes. We appreciate your cooperation in working with the program to streamline course communication and document distribution.

Student Engagement Funding Resources

Student Engagement offer funding sources for events, trainings and conferences as provided by the Services and Activities Fee Committee (SAFC). Please be sure to review all of the guidelines and fill out the appropriate forms completely, attaching any necessary documentation. Click here to learn more.

Proof of immunization

All enrolled students are required to provide proof of measles (rubeola) immunity. Students will not be allowed to register for any classes until the UW Tacoma Registrar's Office confirms that they have satisfied this requirement. Students born before 1/1/57 are considered to be immune to measles and therefore do NOT need to submit proof of immunity.