The College of Education, health, and Human Sciences strives to provide teacher candidates and graduate practicum students a variety of options for clinical practice and graduate practicum assignments. School sites include public, private, and parochial schools approved by the appropriate State Department of Education, the US Department of State, or the US Department of Defense.
While preferences are not guaranteed, teacher candidates and graduate students will have the opportunity to express a preference to be assigned to a school district or organization within one of three geographic areas referred to as Tiers.
The Tiers are based on the distance between the UNO main campus and the central administration office of the school district or organization.
Tier1
Tier One includes sites located within a 25-mile radius of UNO. Within Tier One, teacher candidates and graduate students are responsible for the tuition and fees associated with the experience.
The public school districts in Tier 1 include:
Nebraska:
- Bellevue
- Bennington
- Blair
- Douglas County West
- Elkhorn
- Fort Calhoun
- Gretna
- Louisville
- Millard
- Omaha
- Papillion La-Vista
- Plattsmouth
- Ralston
- South Sarpy
- Westside
- Yutan
Iowa:
- Council Bluffs
- Lewis Central
- Treynor
Out of Area: Tier 2
Tier 2 includes sites located within a 26 to 50-mile radius of UNO. Within Tier 2, teacher candidates and graduate students are responsible for:
- tuition and fees associated with the experience
- mileage expenses incurred by the university supervisor.*
All payments for mileage will be made to the College and must be received prior to the beginning of the experience.
The public school districts in Tier 2 include:
Nebraska:
- Arlington
- Ashland-Greenwood
- Cedar Bluffs
- Conestoga
- Elmwood-Murdock
- Fremont
- Loganview
- Mead
- Wahoo
- Waverly
- Weeping Water
Iowa:
- AHST
- Glenwood
- Logan-Magnolia
- Malvern
- Missouri Valley
- Nishna Valley
- Riverside
- Tri-Center
- Underwood
- West Harrison
- Woodbine
Out of Area: Tier 3
Tier 3 includes sites greater than 50 miles from UNO. The college approves Tier 3 assignments only after careful consideration. Tier 3 sites require the college to contract supervision to someone who is not a faculty member (full-time or adjunct) of UNO. Because the college believes capstone experiences such as clinical practice and graduate practicums are optimized when individuals who have a strong understanding and direct connection with its programs provide supervision and support, Tier 3 assignments are rare.
Teacher candidates and graduate students who believe their situation warrants a Tier Three assignment must contact the Office of Field Experiences. Questions should be directed to the Director of Field Experiences (204 Roskens Hall) prior to the corresponding clinical practice or practicum application deadline.
Candidates seeking a Tier Three assignment must complete an appeal, and all associated paperwork, to the College’s Academic Review Committee. The appeal form can be found here.
If a Tier 3 assignment is approved, the teacher candidate or graduate student will work with the Director of Field Experiences to discuss specific Tier 3 arrangements.
If a Tier 3 assignment is approved and a site and university supervisor can be secured, the teacher candidate or graduate student may be responsible for expenses above the Tier I experiences related to the assignment including:
- Payment to the cooperating teacher or clinician, if required by the placement district.
- Payment to the university supervisor, if their rate is higher than the rate paid to UNO university supervisors.
- Mileage reimbursement for the university supervisor, if they must travel more than 25 miles one way or if mileage is required by their home university.*
All payments for supervision and mileage will be made to the College and must be received prior to the beginning of the experience.
*Mileage expenses will be estimated based on the current, federally approved rate for mileage reimbursement