The resources in this Welcome Guide will help mentors and interns get to know each other, learn about the internship year program, and do some early planning together before the internship begins in August. In August, interns and mentors will meet their field instructors, who will provide additional customized support in designing an experience for the interns that is sensible in the school context while within the guidelines of the MSU program.
IMPORTANT: Please consult the Internship Guide for the Substitute Teaching by Interns policy. To summarize the policy: Interns can begin subbing for their mentor teacher only after the first Guided Lead Teaching is completed (usually around the middle of October) with the consent in writing of the mentor teacher, field instructor and building administrator. Interns may substitute teach for no more than 15 days during the year-long internship.
Please review the information in this Welcome Guide and contact your placement coordinator if you have questions.
Preliminary Course Enrollment Information
All interns must enroll in the following courses:
FALL SEMESTER
- TE 501 (6 cr.) – Internship in Teaching Diverse Learners I
- TE 801 (3 cr.) – Professional Roles and Teaching Practice I
- TE 802 (3 cr.) – Reflection and Inquiry in Teaching Practice I
SPRING SEMESTER
- TE 502 (6 cr.) – Internship in Teaching Diverse Learners II
- TE 803 (3 cr.) – Professional Roles and Teaching Practice II
- TE 804 (3 cr.) – Reflection and Inquiry in Teaching Practice II
- TE 503 (1 cr.) – Internship in Additional Endorsement Area (minor), only required for those seeking certification in areas beyond the major.
Additional information about the courses is available in the Internship Guide.
TE 501, 502, 503, 802 and 804 sections are determined by an intern’s subject area. See the MSU Schedule of Courses for additional details about the sections of these courses in which each intern should be enrolled.
TE 801 and 803 sections are determined by an intern’s placement school. Initially, interns should enroll in section 8 of TE 801 and TE 803. Coordinators will assign specific sections when the bulk of placements are confirmed, and share that information with interns in August prior to the start of classes. Interns remain in the same section for both TE 801 and TE 803.
Interns should plan to enroll for internship courses between mid-May and mid-July. The university will charge a late fee of $50 to interns not enrolled in any courses by 8 pm on the mid July deadline (contact the registrar for the specific date). See the MSU Academic Calendar. Further, interns cannot begin their field placement until they are properly enrolled for the internship courses. Only enrolled students are covered by our indemnification agreements with placement schools.
As part of their course expectations, all interns should make plans to attend the Secondary Intern Convocation Ceremony. Please check your email for information.
Mentor teachers are warmly welcomed and encouraged to attend this celebration of the internship year.
Fingerprinting Information for Interns
Last updated 2/13/15.
Throughout their pre-internship course work, MSU teacher candidates have submitted to ongoing monitoring of their conviction history. Additional information about those requirements and procedures can be found on the College of Education website at Conviction Disclosure Responsibility and Implications.
Since July 1, 2008, the State of Michigan has required that all individuals āemployed or regularly and continuously workingā in Michigan schools must be fingerprinted using the LiveScan technology (digital fingerprinting) and submit to criminal background checks. This includes any individuals acting as substitute teachers.
School districts vary in their interpretation of the law with respect to student teachers or interns, but most require interns to be fingerprinted. As a result, the MSU policy is:
ALL MSU INTERNS SHOULD EXPECT TO BE FINGERPRINTED BY THEIR PLACEMENT DISTRICT PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE INTERNSHIP SO THAT A CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK (CHBK) CAN BE CONDUCTED BY THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE.
Fingerprinting should be done during the spring or summer before the internship year so the CHBK can be received by the school or district before the internship begins. Michigan State University does not participate in the fingerprinting process, and neither the fingerprints nor the results of the CHBK are delivered to MSU. The fingerprinting and background check process takes place between the intern and the placement school directly. All interns are advised to check with the human resources department of their placement school district to confirm how the district will access their fingerprinting and CHBK information. It is important to make this inquiry sooner rather than later. Schools may have important information for interns about their preferred or recommended method for receiving the CHBK information.
Most interns can be eligible to be paid as substitutes for their mentor teachers. Some districts do not permit interns to substitute for their mentor teachers. Contact your school placement district human relations office to determine your schoolās policies. Fingerprinting is required in order to be a substitute teacher, and interns will want to avoid being fingerprinted twice if possible, so inquiries about substitute teaching should be made early as well.
Some interns have had their fingerprints taken previously and in some cases these may be used to meet the requirements for the internship. In most cases interns will have to have new fingerprints taken. Interns should contact the agency that collected their first set of prints to find out if they can be used again for internship and/or substitute teaching requirements.
Documents
Initial Checklist
Spring and Summer Planning Checklist
Planning Grid
Placement Confirmation Form
Confirmation of the internship placement will be completed using the online Placement Confirmation Form. Interns will receive an email invitation to complete their portion of the placement confirmation form from the MSU Teacher Preparation Program. This email will be delivered to their MSU email address and will contain a personalized link tied to their individual student record. Interns should contact the Teacher Preparation Program at tchrprep@msu.edu if they need another copy of their invitation email. It is not possible to use someone elseās link. Expect the first invitation email to arrive sometime during the spring semester, and reminders to arrive periodically through the summer until the form is submitted.
Interns complete the form first, by following the link provided and entering the mentorās full and correct name and email address. When the internās portion is complete, the online system will send an email to the mentor with additional information for completing the mentorās portion of the confirmation process. Mentors with questions about their portion of the confirmation process can contact tchrprep@msu.edu, or their placement coordinator.
It is important that all interns and mentors complete this process prior to the start of the internship year. The information on the form allows for the disbursement of the mentor teacherās professional funds. See Financial Support for Teachers in the Internship Guide for additional information.
If an internās placement changes after the confirmation form has been filed, the intern should complete a second form. Interns in this situation can request access to the second form by contacting tchrprep@msu.edu.
