Bates Award for Excellence in Extended Practicum

Value Not applicable

Number offered Varies

The Bates Award for Excellence in Student Teaching is a prestigious award received by meritorious undergraduate students in the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan in their final term of study. The Award is annually presented to the top 2% of College of Education teacher candidates who have demonstrated educational excellence; innovation; a high degree of impact upon their fellow students, students in the school, or the community; and academic achievement during their Extended Practicum.

Teacher candidates may be nominated by their extended practicum collaborating teacher, facilitator or the school principal where the practicum took place.

Each of the following is required for general consideration. Where circumstance is explained and deemed by the adjudication committee to be appropriate, incomplete files may be considered:

• Teacher Candidate's Final Assessment: The Bates Award Committee will request a copy of the teacher candidate’s extended practicum final assessment from the Programs Office prior to the adjudication. The teacher candidate need not take action on this item.
• Nomination Statement in Support of a Teacher Candidate signed by Cooperating Teacher, College Practicum Facilitator and School Principal: One nomination letter, of no more than 500 words, should be sent in confidence, and be received by the Bates Award Committee (through the Undergraduate Programs Office) by email at awards.education@usask.ca no later than 4:30 pm on the first business day of February of the calendar year following extended practicum for those students doing the practicum in term one, and not later than April 30 of the same calendar year for those doing the practicum in term two. The nomination letter must be signed by the collaborating teacher, the practicum facilitator, and the school principal. The letter must extend the information presented in the extended practicum final assessment form, and focus on the impact of the teacher candidate’s efforts on students, the school, and/or the community.
• Statement of Professional Growth by Teacher Candidate: A 500-word statement of professional growth written by the teacher candidate must be received by the Bates Award Committee (through the Undergraduate Programs Office) by email at awards.education@usask.ca no later than 4:30 pm on the first business day of February of the calendar year following the extended practicum for those students in term one, and not later than April 30 of the same calendar year as the extended practicum for those students in term two. The letter of introduction should include a description of the program of study undertaken within the College of Education. A detailed explanation of the nature and circumstance of the extended practical experience should be provided. Finally, the statement should acknowledge the impact of the extended practicum on the teacher candidate’s growing professional identity as a teacher, noting what the teacher candidate has learned from the experience about teaching, about learning, and about the experience of becoming a professional educator.
• Statement of Academic Achievement: The Bates Award Committee will request a copy of the teacher candidate’s transcripts from the Programs Office prior to the adjudication. The teacher candidate need not take action on this item.

Selection Criteria Based on academic merit and the merits of the submitted documents

Apply

To be considered for this award, required documents (listed under Eligibility) must be submitted by 4:30pm on the day of the deadline (through the Undergraduate Programs Office) by email at awards.education@usask.ca.

Deadline The first business day of February” for students completing their extended practicum in Fall; or “the last business day of April” for students completing their extended practicum in Winter term.