Professional Dispositions Policy
What are Professional Dispositions?
Professional Dispositions are the attitudes, values, and beliefs that a prospective educator develops throughout their participation in the TWU EPP. r. An educator candidate’s professional dispositions may be assessed in TWU courses related to educator preparation during any clinical field experience, and in other instructional settings associated with educator preparation.
Professional Dispositions for Educators
- Adherence to established classroom, program, department/division, college, university, public-school, and neighborhood policies.
- Models established classroom, program, department/division, college, university, public-school, and neighborhood policies.
- Demonstrates competence and professionalism in all oral, written, and electronic interactions.
- Models competence and professionalism in all oral, written, and electronic interactions.
- The ability to solicit, accept, and learn from feedback.
- The ability to collaborate productively, respectfully, and effectively with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
- Responsibility for their own learning and that of their students (during a field assignment).
- Professional appearance at all times.
- Professional demeanor (e.g., remain poised and confident; communicate calmly and respectfully). Professionalism in communication and presentation of yourself among stakeholders.
- Professional relationships with students and all stakeholders in and out of the P-12 classroom.
How you'll be evaluated
Dispositions can be assessed at any time and in connection with any course. However, the following courses have disposition assessments assigned to them:
swipe to see the full table⇨
| Program | Benchmark 1 | Benchmark 2 | Benchmark 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Students EXCEPT EC: PK-3 | EDUC 3003 | READ 3013 | EDUC 4113/4243 |
| Undergraduate Students, EC: PK-3 ONLY | ECE 3223 | ECE 4203 | EDUC 4113/4243 |
| Graduate Students EXCEPT EC: PK-3 | EDUC 5123 | READ 5213/5543 | EDUC 5133/5143 |
| Graduate Students, EC: PK-3 ONLY | ECE 5413 | ECE 5263 | EDUC 5133/5143 |
| Principal as Instructional Leader | ELDR 5333 | ELDR 5353 | ELDR 6613* |
| School Counselor | COUN 5303 | COUN 5053 | COUN 5894* |
| School Librarian | LS 5233 | LS 5443 | LS 5841*, 5842*, 5843* |
| Superintendent | ELDR 6233 | ELDR 6503 | ELDR 6663* |
| Educational Diagnostician | EDSP 5123 | EDSP 5833 | EDSP 5863* |
| Reading Specialist | READ 5423 | READ 5513 | READ 5463* |
All benchmark course dispositions are completed in SL&L within the course’s activity TWU EPP Disposition Protocol Form. The PDAR rubric is in the activity containing the four-point rubric, rating the dispositions of students from Improvement Needed, Developing, Proficient, Accomplished, or Not Applicable.
* Denotes courses with required disposition assessments accessed by field supervisors. All others are completed by course instructors.
Instructors or staff needing to report a dispositional concern or infraction should contact TWU EPP Data Coordinator Marcus Rodriguez (mrodriguez89@twu.edu) with the subject line “TWU EPP Professional Disposition Rubric Request” for an external form.
Dispositional Concerns and Infractions
When dispositional concerns arise, any faculty or staff member will complete an external PDAR at any time. On the PDAR, each of the ten dispositional criteria is evaluated using the same four-point rubric present in the course benchmarks. Additionally, the faculty or staff member should also include comments and evidence related to the events that led to the completion of the PDAR.
To request a PDAR form, contact TWU EPP Data Coordinator Marcus Rodriguez (mrodriguez89@twu.edu) with the subject line “TWU EPP Professional Disposition Rubric Request” for a copy of the form.
- The Flag: A faculty or staff member fills out a PDAR form explaining the concern, and it is sent to the Chair of the Education Student Advisory Committee (ESAC).
- The Plan (PDIP): If the concern is valid, a committee will work with you to create a Professional Development Improvement Plan. This includes clear goals and a timeline to get you back on track.
- The Agreement: If you follow the plan and improve, you keep moving forward in the program!
- The Appeal: If you don't agree with the feedback, you have 10 days to file an appeal. Please visit the Complaints and Appeals page for more information. Additional faculty, staff, or school personnel may be asked to provide information related to the observed behavior. Based on the appeal, the COPE Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will either support or reverse the written decision.
Note: If a candidate exhibits a dangerous, criminal, or severely inappropriate behavior, the PDIP will be waived, and the candidate (after the appropriate due process) may be dismissed from the program. Documentation of all meeting content, including any written agreements or action plans, will be placed in the candidate’s EPP file. Each attendee may request a copy if needed.
More Information on Professional Dispositions
A Professional Dispositions Assessment Rubric (PDAR) is used by instructors for some courses to assess all students, and it is also used when any other dispositional concerns arise. When dispositional concerns arise, any faculty or staff member may complete a PDAR at any time.
On the PDAR, each of the ten dispositional criteria is evaluated using a four-point rubric (i.e., Improvement Needed, Developing, Proficient, Accomplished, or Not Applicable). The faculty or staff member should also include comments related to the events that led to the completion of the PDAR.
To request a PDAR form, contact TWU EPP Data Coordinator Marcus Rodriguez (mrodriguez89@twu.edu) with the subject line “TWU EPP Professional Disposition Rubric Request”.
Depending on the nature of the dispositional concern, a range of options, including removal from the educator preparation program (EPP), may be considered. The instructor, staff member, or field supervisor identifying a deficiency or behavior inconsistent with established dispositions for teaching will follow these procedures:
- To address an unacceptable disposition, the faculty member will submit a PDAR using this process. If the candidate is in a clinical student teaching or internship course, the Certification Officer will receive the PDAR and request other faculty members (i.e., the candidate’s advisor, other instructors who currently have the candidate in class) to assess the severity of the situation. If necessary, the Certification Officer may convene the Educational Student Affairs Committee (ESAC). The Associate Dean for the College of Professional Education (COPE) will communicate the Committee’s decision to the candidate’s faculty advisor if the faculty advisor is not present at the PDRC meeting.
- Within ten (10) days after the PDAR is filed, the ESAC will develop a Professional Disposition Improvement Plan (PDIP) to identify strategies for improving the candidate’s disposition(s). The plan will include clear, measurable expectations and a timeline. If the candidate agrees with the report, meets the outcomes in the PDIP, and secures approval from his/her/their faculty advisor, he/she/they may proceed in the program.
- If the candidate does not agree with the PDIP, he/she/they may file an appeal with the EPP within ten (10) class days after the PDAR is filed. The candidate will have the opportunity to explain his/her/their position and provide additional relevant information. Additional faculty, staff, or school personnel may be asked to provide information related to the observed behavior. Based on the appeal, the Associate Dean for the COPE will either support or reverse the written decision.
- If a satisfactory resolution still is not reached, candidates may appeal to the Dean of the COPE.
NOTE: If a candidate exhibits dangerous, criminal, or severely inappropriate behavior, the PDIP will be waived, and the candidate (after the appropriate due process) may be dismissed from the program. Documentation of all meeting content, including any written agreements or action plans, will be placed in the candidate’s file. Each attendee may request a copy if needed.
Page last updated 3:44 PM, August 6, 2026