University Committee on Advanced Non-Teaching Educator License Programs

Membership of UCANELP

BYLAWS Revised 03/19/2015. Approved on 4/6/15.

ARTICLE 1: Responsibilities of the University Committee on Advanced and Nonteaching Education License Programs (UCANELP)

1.1 The basic purpose of the UCANELP is to serve as a coordinating body regarding policies, curriculum, and procedures pertaining to advanced and nonteaching programs in the professional educator license pursuit at Northern Illinois University.

1.11 An advanced or nonteaching program is defined as a set of advanced graduate-level courses and experiences, the successful completion of which leads to the issuance of the professional educator license by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The requirements for each program are established by each advanced program faculty, aligned with their respective professional standards and approved by the university, the ISBE, and the respective national professional organization.

1.12 The candidate for advanced professional - licensure/endorsement at NIU is required as a condition of completion to satisfy all requirements for one of the ISBE advanced endorsements approved at NIU. 

1.2 The responsibilities of the committee shall include:

1.21 reviewing and advising on the preparation of external accreditation reports specific to professional educator licensure for advanced and nonteaching programs in cooperation with each of the representative advanced and nonteaching programs,

1.22 coordinating the intercollegiate aspects of advanced and nonteaching licensure/endorsement,

1.23 organizing and directing the work of the ad hoc committees to further the goals of UCANELP,

1.24 monitoring and making recommendations for the development and improvement of professional educator licensure for advanced and nonteaching programs,

1.25 reviewing periodically the assessment plans and the curriculum specific to professional educator licensure for advanced and nonteaching programs,

1.26 participating in the external liaison activities of the university in matters affecting professional educator licensure for advanced and nonteaching programs, 

1.27 establishing and maintaining relationships and interactions with the License Officer, University Spokesperson, Administrative Officer, University Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation (UOELP) Assessment Coordinator, Catalog Editor/Curriculum Coordinator, Office of Registration and Records, the Graduate School, University Committee on Initial Educator Licensure (UCIEL) representatives, and duly constituted NIU curricular bodies and other NIU individuals who have an interest in the professional educator license for advanced and nonteaching programs.

1.3 The Vice Provost is the Administrative Officer of UCANELP.

Responsibilities include:

1.31 assuring that all actions and motions approved by UCANELP are carried forth to appropriate bodies for implementation,

1.32 facilitating the intercollegiate aspects of the work of UCANELP of the whole along with the ad hoc committees,

1.33 integrating aspects of UCANELP business with other committees and offices on campus including UOELP, and

1.34 in cooperation with UCANELP, coordinating external accreditation reports pertaining to professional educator licensure for advanced and nonteaching programs

ARTICLE 2: Membership on the UCANELP

2.1 Program Representation

2.12 There shall be only one vote per program being represented.

2.13 Representatives shall be selected annually by the academic department and the advanced or nonteaching program faculty having administrative responsibility for said program. Each department shall notify the UOELP of the member selected to serve on UCANELP. Each department should acknowledge that responsible membership on UCANELP and its subcommittees may require a substantial commitment of time on the part of the program representatives, and this should be taken into account when program representatives are selected and the merit procedure is undertaken each year.

 2.14 Each program representative has the authority to speak for that program in discussions and votes of UCANELP. The same person, or his/her designee, will serve as the official program contact person outside of UCANELP meetings when questions relating to that program arise within the university. Each program representative is responsible for keeping other program faculty appropriately informed of pertinent actions of and issues being addressed by the UCANELP, for keeping UCANELP informed of pertinent news and developments related to licensure, and referring UCANELP related inquiries appropriately.

2.2 Student Representation

2.21 There shall be one student representative of an advanced or nonteaching professional educator licensure program appointed by UCANELP annually.

2.22 The student representative shall have one vote.

2.3 Administrative Representation

2.31 Ex officio members of the UCANELP shall include a representative from the office of the Provost, a representative from the office of the Dean of the Graduate School, and the University Licensure Officer.

2.32 Ex officio members shall serve without vote.

2.4 Terms of Office

2.41 A member serving on the UCANELP shall serve until replaced by the respective program.

2.42 The student representative shall serve a term of one year beginning on August 16 or as soon as appointed thereafter.

2.43 Administration representatives shall serve as long as each person continues to hold the office upon which representation is based, or as long as the person shall be a duly recognized designee. 

ARTICLE 3: Officers of the University Committee on Advanced and Nonteaching Educator License Programs (UCANELP)

3.1 Presiding Officers

3.11 The Committee shall elect a chair-elect from among the representatives at an organizational meeting each spring term for the following year.

3.12 After serving one year the chair shall succeed to the office of past chair and shall serve in that office for one year.

3.13 In the absence of the chair the duties as presiding officer shall be exercised by the chair-elect. In the absence of both the chair and the chair-elect the past chair shall serve as the presiding officer. Should the past chair not serve on UCANELP, the membership of the Committee of the whole shall select a new chair to fill the duties left vacant.

3.14 The terms of office of the new chair-elect, chair, and past chair shall begin at the start of the academic year.

3.2 Recording Secretary

3.21 The UCANELP recording secretary will be provided by the UOELP and shall attend UCANELP meetings for the purpose of recording the minutes.

3.22 The recording secretary shall see that the UCANELP minutes and reports are deposited in the university archives and distributed in timely fashion to the University Council, the Faculty Senate, the UCANELP membership and such others as deemed appropriate by UCANELP. 

University Committee on Advanced Non-Teaching Educator License Programs
The UCANELP typically meets virtually on the first Monday of the month at 9 a.m. during the academic year. 
2023-24 meeting dates: Sep 11, Oct 2, Nov 6, Dec 4, Feb 5, Mar 4, Apr 1, May 6

* chair