PACE - LCSC Education Division - Lewis-Clark State College

9. Be prepared to participate in special field experiences, conferences, meetings, and/orworkshops. Every effort will be made to inform you and your on-site teacher educator ofsuch obligation as far in advance as possible. A tentative calendar will be available at thebeginning of the semester to assist in planning.Minimum Hours Required For InternshipThe minimum total hours of internship for elementary candidates during the first semester is noless than 140 hours; during the second semester, no less than 640 hours during the 16 weeks.You may be absent no more than four days each semester of internship, and will be required toextend internship for any missed days beyond the four days. 2 You must secure permission inadvance from your school and college mentors to be absent from internship to attend job fairs orother professional activities.Internship I occurs during Summer II of the defined PACE Program. You will conclude theinternship according to the college calendar. You will begin internship II on the first day thatyour OSTE is expected to be at the school or a date agreed upon between you and your OSTE toprepare the room for the opening of school. You will conclude your internship based on a datedetermined by your PACE advisor/mentor unless an extension is deemed necessary by thecollege supervisor and the PACE Coordinator or The Director of Field Experiences.Difficulties During the InternshipOne of the major functions of the internship is to ascertain whether or not an intern is suited bytemperament, education, and experience to a career in teaching. If school and college mentorsbelieve that you demonstrate serious deficiencies that raise the question about your suitability toenter the teaching profession, they will inform the Elementary Program Coordinator or theDirector of Field Experience. A meeting will be scheduled with you, your school and collegementors, and possibly other educators. The committee will discuss the deficiencies with you andsuggest possible remedies. The nature of the problem and suggested solutions will becommunicated to you in writing, and a specific time frame identified during which you shouldattempt to overcome the deficiencies. Additional teachers and college supervisors may be askedto observe you and make suggestions. If the deficiency is not resolved by the end of the timeframe, the PACE Coordinator and/or Faculty Supervisor will reconvene the group and discusspossible actions to be taken. These include extending the internship, placement at another site,removal from internship to give you the opportunity to remedy the deficiencies, or permanentremoval from internship and advising you about alternative career choices. If you are removedfrom internship, you must wait at least one full semester before applying for another internshipplacement. In the event that irreconcilable difficulties arise during the second placement, youwill not be assigned to a third internship. Before assignment to a second internship, you mustdemonstrate to the satisfaction of the Field Experience Committee that all deficiencies have beenremoved. Appeal of the committee’s decision may be made first to the Division chair andsecondly to the Division at a regularly scheduled meeting.2 Reasons for absences must be reported to your college mentor and any professionals expecting to seeyou that day (OSTE, college faculty, etc.) A phone call is expected before the absence occurs.22