Cumberland University's School of Education is in full compliance with laws concerning the employment of individuals in Tennessee schools (pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §49-5-413). The Tennessee Board of Education's statement on this policy and frequently asked questions can be found here.

CU students who declare an education-related major or major qualifying them for initial teacher licensure MUST submit to  background check and fingerprinting procedures. This is to be done while the undergraduate candidates are enrolled in ED 201, Education as a Profession. Graduate candidates in a MAE program track leading to initial teaching or adminstrative licensure must complete a background check upon entering the program. A second background check may be required by the host school during student teaching.

Students, click here for instructions on how to complete the background check and where to go for fingerprinting. A background check is only as good as the moment it is issued; therefore, School of Education students or candidates in a program leading to initial licensure must sign the following statement stating that they agree to notify the School of Education of any incident that will alter the status of their initial background check (print, sign, and bring or send the statement to the School of Education office to be filed) .

If a background check is returned by the TBI to the University indicating a record with the courts, the University will follow this procedure. Anyone with a felony background is INELIGIBLE for teacher licensure in the state, and therefore will be assisted in determining another appropriate major or otherwise asked to leave the program.

State law concerning initial licensure can be found here.