Section V. Procedure for Addressing Allegations of Unprofessional Conduct

An allegation of violations to the McGill Principles of Practice, Behaviour and Ethical Conduct for Teacher Candidates should be immediately reported to the Faculty of Education Disciplinary Officer (DO). If the allegation also constitutes a breach to the McGill Code of Students Rights and Disciplinary Procedures, the case may be ceded to the University Committee on Student Discipline. The DO will follow the procedures outlined as follows:

• The DO communicates with the instructor or other relevant individuals, gathers all appropriate materials, interviews witnesses, and then determines if there is sufficient evidence to conduct a disciplinary interview.
• If the DO proceeds, the instructor or individual(s) reporting the allegation become at arm’s length to the process. They are not made aware of specifics about the case, nor about anything discussed between the student and the DO: confidentiality is preserved.
• The student is called into a disciplinary interview as soon as reasonably possible, after which the Faculty of Education provides one of the following dispositions:
  • Exoneration: If there is a lack of clear, convincing and reliable evidence, the student is exonerated (no penalties, no consequences).
  • Admonishment: An admonishment follows from an official finding of responsibility. It signifies that a student has violated one or more principles outlined in the McGill Principles of Practice, Behaviour and Ethical Conduct for Teacher Candidates and that this finding was supported by clear, convincing, and reliable evidence. Admonishment is a sanction internal to student’s respective department and does not result in a disciplinary record.
  • Reprimand: A reprimand follows from an official finding of responsibility and is a formal sanction. It signifies that a student has violated one or more principles outlined in the McGill Principles of Practice, Behaviour and Ethical Conduct for Teacher Candidates and that this finding was supported by clear, convincing, and reliable evidence. A reprimand results in an official disciplinary record, kept by the Faculty of Education.
• In the case of admonishment or reprimand, additional penalties may be imposed including but not limited to: 
  • Conduct Probation. A probationary period during which time any further violations may be escalated to the Student Affairs Committee for possible removal from the program, withdrawal from a course of field placement, failure of a course or a field placement failure, and/or withdrawal from a program.
  • Removal from a Course. Failure to meet expectations set out in McGill Principles of Practice, Behaviour and Ethical Conduct for Teacher Candidates and may result in:
    • A teacher candidate being assigned a grade of “F” for the component where standards of professional conduct were not met, which may result in a student being removed from a field placement.
    • A teacher candidate may be removed from a course and/or a field placement at any time during the semester.
  • Cancellation of a Field Placement: A teacher candidate may have an upcoming field placement delayed or cancelled, by reason of:
    • Evidence of inability to adhere to and embody the McGill Principles of Practice, Behaviour and Ethical Conduct as expected of a teacher candidate in a field placement.
  • Removal from a Field Placement. A teacher candidate may be removed from a field placement, at any time during that field placement, by reason of:
    • Removal from a Field Placement may lead to a D grade (student can repeat next time EDFE is available) or F (student is removed from the program and must appeal for readmission to SAC when conditions are met
    • Evidence of inability to carry out duties established for a teacher candidate in the field placement.
    • Conduct during the field placement which has resulted in the Cooperating Teacher or school authorities having required the student’s withdrawal from the assigned classroom or school.
  • Removal from a Program. Any teacher candidate who has displayed unprofessional conduct and/or who has been convicted of a criminal offence may be removed from the teacher education program or to undertake a supplemental or remedial program.
• Please note:
  • If a teacher candidate is removed from a field placement because of a violation of the McGill Principles of Practice, Behaviour and Ethical Conduct for Teacher Candidates, the teacher candidate must apply to the Student Affairs Committee for readmission in order to repeat the field placement.
  • Removal from a course, field placement and/or program that results from disciplinary procedures may not result in a refund.

Where a teacher candidate has been charged with a criminal offence that, if proven, would constitute unprofessional conduct, the student’s respective department may postpone the teacher candidate’s advancement, including graduation from the teacher education program, until such time as the criminal charges are dismissed or have proceeded through the court system to acquittal or conviction and sentencing.

Information on appealing a disposition related to the Principles of Practice, Behaviour and Ethical Conduct for Teacher Candidates can be found HERE