Office of Clinical Experiences & Candidate Services

What We Do

In the Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services, our work is focused on communicating with all WCU faculty and staff, K-12 partners, and WCU students to first understand needs and requirements, and to then align our processes for student success in our programs.

Our Mission

The Mission and Vision of The College of Education and Social Work provide an integrated framework for teaching, learning, and professional behaviors. The Mission, which is the core of the Conceptual Framework for each Educator Preparation Program (EPP), is accomplished through:

• Teaching: We value excellence in our academic and instructional pursuits. We are committed to applying research and theory in practice facilitated through meaningful engagement with Candidates.
• Applied Practice: We believe in engaging our Candidates in educational settings that allow them to learn by the direct hands-on application of theory, skills, concepts, and models in real-world experiences.
• Research and Scholarship: We believe in engaging Candidates in scholarly excellence and research that contributes to the field of education, schools, and communities.
• Service: We believe meaningful learning occurs when Candidates engage in personal and professional development in serving the needs of others.
• Local and Global Partnerships: We commit to working cooperatively in establishing meaningful partnerships with P-12 educational systems as well as university, local, and national communities to improve the educational outcomes, economic vitality, and well-being of everyone.
• Leadership: We believe in fostering the leadership skills of all Candidates.
• Innovative Practice: We believe in creating innovative experiences and approaches to advance new knowledge, solve problems, and improve our practice.
• Ethics and Values: We strive to uphold the highest ethical standards and strive for personal and professional integrity.

This framework and methods of delivery guides the work in each EPP. In fulfilling its mission, the EPP educates Candidates who are:

• Lifelong Learners who have an enduring purpose to become a better professional with high expectations for themselves and others.
• Scholars who actively engage with the discovery of new knowledge or broaden and deepen existing knowledge, and apply knowledge to affect improvement.
• Evidence-Based Decision Makers who use data-driven facts and intellectual standards to make informed decisions.
• Reflective and Skilled Practitioners who have the ability to analyze, assess, and revise practice in light of students' performance, learning theory, research, and constructive feedback.
• Social Justice Advocates who have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to confront social inequality and promote equity within their sphere of influence (Adams, 2010).
• Innovators of Applied Technology who have the ability to use and leverage technology to address the needs of all learners.

Developing professional behaviors is essential to the EPPs. The EPPs take pride in developing the Professional Dispositions and Requirements essential to the professional field. The EPPs are committed to Candidates. Our programs not only educate Candidates, but they monitor those behaviors and provide strategic support as Candidates matriculate though their program.