Participation Policy

Policy of the Review of Candidates' Sustained Participation in the ELPS Program

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The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS) strives to ensure the quality of potential administrators who successfully complete their Master’s Degree Program in Educational Administration and/or Administrative Services Credential Program. To that end, the purpose of this policy is to provide a means by which a candidate’s lack of progress in the Program(s) can be brought to the candidate’s attention, reviewed by faculty, and the appropriate corrective action can be taken, including possible termination of enrollment in the Program(s).

1. Standard for Sustained Participation in the Program(s)
   Candidates are expected to demonstrate the following competencies, performance, and professional behaviors while enrolled in the Program(s):
1. Become classified within 12 units of coursework
2. Maintain a 3.0 GPA during the course of the Program(s)
3. Adhere to the CSU Student Conduct policy, including academic honesty
4. Adhere to CSUN nondiscrimination policies
5. Comply with all University, College, and Department standards and requirements at all times during the Program(s)
6. Demonstrate successful progress toward the State’s Six Standards and the Department’s Seven Dispositions
2. Procedures for the Consideration/Determination of Questionable Progress – If a candidate exhibits questionable progress/behavior at any time during the Program(s), his/her continued participation may be reviewed in accordance with these procedures.
1. Typically, faculty will informally discuss the concern with the candidate.
2. If the concern is not corrected, or if the first incident is sufficiently severe, a Candidate Assessment Form is completed by the faculty member stating the nature of the questionable progress, performance, or deficiency.
3. The Candidate Assessment Form (CAF) is submitted to the Department Chair, who, within ten working days of receipt of the CAF, determines whether the concern appears to reflect a failure to adhere to a standard for sustained participation in the Program(s).
4. If consistent with this policy, the CAF is distributed to the candidate and members of the ELPS Retention Committee (RC) by the Department Chair.
5. The Retention Committee (RC) shall be convened to review the performance and/or conduct of candidates whose continuation in the Program is in jeopardy, based on the CAF submitted by the faculty member.
6. When the RC receives the CAF from the Department Chair, the RC will notify the candidate and invite the candidate to submit any evidence, either in person or in writing, which s/he may have regarding the content of the CAF within ten working days. Once submitted, the RC will forward its preliminary decision to the Department Chair within the ten working days.
7. The RC may request additional time to present its preliminary findings if needed in order to permit the RC adequate time to receive evidence or meet with the candidate, if requested.
8. The Department Chair will review the preliminary decision of the RC and, within ten working days, make any recommendation(s) to the RC for final disposition.
9. The RC will inform the candidate, Department Chair, and faculty member who submitted the Candidate Assessment Form, as to its findings and final decision and any appeals procedures that apply.
3. Retention Committee (RC)
1. Composition – The RC shall be composed of at least three full-time ELPS faculty members, either tenure-track or non-tenure track. Each RC will elect a committee chair who will be responsible for calling meetings, overseeing deliberations, submitting reports, and communicating progress to the Department Chair.
2. Selection – Each RC is considered an “ad-hoc” committee; its membership is selected by the Department Chair when s/he receives a Candidate Assessment Form that has been submitted by a full or part-time faculty member. The submitting faculty member is not eligible to serve on the RC.
3. Responsibilities – The RC will serve as an objective panel to hear testimony, study documents related to a candidate’s performance and/or conduct, and make a preliminary decision, including recommendations, related to the candidate’s continued participation based on the evidence submitted. Recommendations may include, but are not limited to, any of the following actions:
1. Remove the candidate from the Program.
2. Counsel the candidate to withdraw from the Program.
3. Suspend the candidate’s participation for a specific period of time.
4. Monitor the candidate’s participation using specific measures recommended by the committee.
5. Take other action as determined appropriate by the committee. Following consultation with the Department Chair as provided in IV (a) below, the RC will render a final decision regarding the candidate’s continued participation in the program. The RC Chairperson will inform the submitting faculty member as to its findings and final decisions(s).
4. The ELPS Department Chair’s Role and Responsibilities
1. Review the preliminary decision of the RC and, within ten working days, make any recommendation(s) to the RC for final disposition.
2. In the event of an appeal by the candidate, call for the election of an Appeals Committee (AC) made up of three full-time professors (tenured or non-tenured). Neither the members of the RC nor the professor who submitted the original CAF are eligible to serve as members of the Appeals Committee. Ballots including the nominees for membership on the committee will be distributed by the Department Chair.
5. Candidate Rights and Appeal Process – The candidate may appeal the final decision(s) of the RC.
1. The candidate may appeal the decision(s) of the RC either in writing or in person.
2. If the candidate chooses to address the AC in person, s/he may be accompanied by an advocate of his/her choice at any time during the appeal process.
3. In the event the AC upholds the decision(s) of the RC, the candidate may elect to participate in the university academic grievance process.
4. All faculty members who participated in the candidate’s appeal will receive written notification as to the outcome of the candidate’s appeal from the AC.
6. Full Disclosure of Outcomes to Credentials Office. Deliberations, outcomes, and decisions for each case presented pursuant to this policy shall be made to the Credentials Office.

4/24/08