Diversity FAQ
- I have the race/ethnicity category to fulfill and I am student teaching next term. Where I want to
student teach will not fill this requirement. What should I do?
First, take a look at where you did
your pre-professional and midtier hours. When looking at those two prior placements, consider the specific
make up of the individual classes. Did an individual class have 20% or more non white students? If so, you
can petition for classroom ethnicity and meet that specific category through an individual class. The classroom
ethnicity form must be filled out and given to either the midtier coordinator or director of student teaching to
confirm the request.
Also while looking at your pre-professional hours, if you have less than 30 hours at
a school that meets the categories you need to fulfill, you may want to explore the possibility of returning
to that school to do additional hours to reach the 30 hour requirement for that school to count toward your diversity.
- My classroom did not meet the ethnicity and I still need to fulfill this category. Any other suggestions?
You can do an additional 30 hour placement to fulfill any category not already complete. If you are living in Mt.
Pleasant and want to get this done before you student teach make sure you check the diversity chart online to confirm
what school will meet your need. Once you choose your school, arrangements can be made to begin your additional field
hours. Please follow the guidelines below when arranging additional field hours.
- What if I can't get my hours done before student teaching? Does that mean I can't graduate?
You will be
able to graduate without your diversity categories complete but Central Michigan University will not be able to send your
paperwork to the state for your teaching certificate until all diversity requirements are met. You can complete this
after student teaching but it is recommended that you get this done prior to graduation.
- Any other suggestions on how to get these diversity requirements met?
If you are thinking about
trying to complete needed diversity categories during your student teaching, but your student teaching school does
not meet the needed categories, you might consider these options. Check you school district for any days off. For
example, you might have the first day of deer season off, or a professional development day you could be excused from
attending. Find as may non teaching days during your school calendar that might allow you to obtain hours at a district
that fulfills the category or categories you are missing. If you can get some hours in prior to the end of the term you
might be able to finish up the hours right after you are done student teaching. If you are student teaching in spring,
one other option might be during spring break of your host school. Chances are you will be able to find another school
not on spring break that will meet your needed categories. if so, you can attend that other school when you are on
spring break from student teaching.
- How could I have avoided this dilemma of not having my requirements done and student teaching not meeting my last couple of categories?
It is always a good thing to think ahead and try to plan on meeting your most difficult diversity categories during your
pre professional hours. The midtier filed hours will meet some of your diversity but please note the Mt. Pleasant area
will not meet urban and often will not meet ethnicity. If you desire to drive to an urban location during your field
hours you must be sure to make the midtier coordinator aware of your needed categories by using the additional information
section when filling out your midtier placement forms. You can also do an additional 30 hour placement anytime during your
time at CMU. A good opportunity to obtain a 30 hour additional placement is when CMU ends the term in early May.
Most schools are still in session until the end of May or early June. May schools will welcome students at this time
and appreciate the extra set of hands in the classroom.
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Request a Diversity Audit
