NOTE: Before you begin completing form please note a letter of support from your faculty advisor or course instructor must be attached to appeal form. There is a section on the form that requires this action.

Appeal form

If you have issues with the link, please contact Mrs. Staci Fuqua, sfuqua2@utm.edu or call 731-881-7686.

Admission Requirements for the Education Preparation Program

  1. Students must have an ACT score of 22 or higher. If a student’s highest composite ACT score is 21, please see the appeals process below.
  2. Students must establish and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75.
  3. Students must demonstrate an acceptable level of written and oral communication skills during an interview process and prepare a one-page document for the interview stating Why I Want to be a Teacher.
  4. Students must submit to and successfully pass a criminal background check and sign the release form.

Appeal Process

If a student has a GPA of 2.75 or higher and an ACT score of 21

  1. Students should retake the ACT (either residual or national test) to demonstrate an attempt to achieve a score of 22 or higher. Achieving an ACT score of 22 or higher with all other requirements met will allow a student to be admitted to the EPP.
  2. If a student’s highest ACT composite score remains at 21 after retaking the ACT, the student will qualify for the Appeal process for admission to the EPP. The appeals committee will consider grades from education coursework taken before entrance to the EPP related to the student’s program area, attendance, disposition, and any other stipulation applicable to individual students. Once all other admission requirements are met, the student will be fully accepted into the EPP.

If a student has an ACT score of 22 or higher but does not meet the GPA requirement of 2.75 or higher

  1. Students should first attempt to retake any courses with poor grades in an attempt to raise their cumulative GPA.
  2. Students with a cumulative GPA between 2.72 and 2.74 may submit an appeal application. If the appeal is accepted, the student will be on probation for one semester. If after one semester, a student is unable to reach a 2.75 cumulative GPA, the student will not be allowed to take any classes requiring admission to the EPP until the cumulative GPA of 2.75 is obtained.

Components of the appeal

  1. Complete an appeal form with a comprehensive letter of recommendation
  2. Submit a letter from a faculty member with whom the student has had as an instructor and is able to speak to both academic and disposition skills.
  3. Provide a criminal background check including a criminal background release form.
  4. Demonstrate an acceptable level of written and oral communication skills during an interview process. (Prepare a one-page document for the interview stating Why I Want to be a Teacher.)
  5. Submit to and successfully pass a criminal background check and sign the release form.
  6. Present this information to the Director of the EPP to be distributed to the Appeals Committee for a decision

If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below a 2.75 after acceptance into the program

  1. Students will be contacted by the Director of the EPP and placed on probation for one semester.
  2. 2. If after one semester the student is unable to obtain a 2.75 cumulative GPA, the student will be required to drop any courses requiring admission to the EPP and will not be permitted to take coursework requiring EPP admission until the 2.75 cumulative GPA has been achieved.

The Appeals Committee will consist of one faculty member representing Health and Human Performance, one from Applied Sciences, one from Fine and Preforming Arts and two from ED Studies (5 total). The committee will select a chair from this group. These members will rotate off every three years if possible. The Director of the EPP will serve as an ex-officio member to coordinate the work.