Legal Issues
The Central Michigan University Teacher Education Program mandates that candidates disclose their legal status on at least THREE occasions: Application to the Teacher Education Program, Midtier Application, and Application to Student Teaching. The CMU Teacher Education Program further requires candidates to self-report any changes in their legal status to the Center for Student Services within two (2) business days of conviction.
Since the candidate's criminal record is a point of concern for Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the CMU Teacher Education Program, students will be asked to self-report at application. A background check will be required when a student completes an application for midtier and student teaching. If a student fails to report a misdemeanor, felony, or a campus-related disciplinary incident, which is discovered as a result of a criminal and academic records check, that student will be subject to disciplinary action up to, and including, dismissal from the Teacher Education Program.
The Central Michigan University (CMU) Teacher Education Program mandates that candidates disclose any misdemeanors, felonies or other campus-related disciplinary incidents at:
1. Application to the Teacher Education Program,
2. Application to Midtier, and
3. Application to Student Teaching.
Effective February 1, 2009 the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is mandating that court records for students with a criminal conviction(s) will be forwarded to the MDE for evaluation prior to the issuance of a teaching certificate.
If a student has been arraigned for, or convicted of, a misdemeanor or felony, or has any outstanding criminal charges or warrants pending in Michigan or any other state or jurisdiction, that student will be required to submit court documents indicating the crime of which they have been convicted, and the dates and sentences imposed, with the application materials. In addition to criminal offenses, students are obligated to report all CMU and other university disciplinary and academic infractions or probations.
CMU reviews each incident on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the student should be either admitted to, or allowed to continue in, the Teacher Education Program. These decisions are based upon the professional and ethical standards inherent in the Central Michigan University Teacher Education Program and the State of Michigan Teacher Code of Ethics, Truth and Honesty Statement. This statement indicates that "Professional Educators uphold personal and professional integrity and behave in a trustworthy manner. They are expected to adhere to acceptable social practices, current state law, state and national student assessment guidelines, and exercise sound professional judgment."