School of Education
Guide for off campus program Students
Off campus programs differ from those on campus in a number of important ways. Please read the off campus programs guide to learn about the workings and benefits of off campus programs.
Orientation Sessions
Program Advisor
Class Coordinator
Program Schedule
Textbooks and Course Materials
Date/Facility Changes
Instructor/Course/Advisor Evaluations
Telephone Tree
Final Projects, Internships and Portfolios
The School of Education Catalog
A Final Word about Your Graduate Program
Who's Who in Custom Degree Programs?
Orientation Sessions
An orientation session is held prior to the start of your first class session. You will be introduced to your program advisor, meet with representatives of St. Thomas, take the Miller Analogies Test (when applicable) and receive additional information about the program.
Program Advisor
A full-time faculty member of the St. Thomas School of Education has been selected as your program advisor. Your advisor will inform you of university policies, procedures, deadlines and will review your files for admission to the program and help process petitions that may be submitted. Your advisor will also assist the cohort in the selection of elective courses, necessary schedule changes and completion of the final integrative paper or project for the program. Your advisor will make at least four on-site visits during the course of your program and will be available by phone, voicemail and/or e-mail for the duration of the program. Your advisor will arrange one meeting designed specifically to help you prepare for your final paper or project.
Class Coordinator
Your class coordinator is a student in the cohort who serves as a liaison between the class and the St. Thomas off campus programs. The class coordinator works with the coordinator of the off campus progam, the program advisor and course instructors to make sure things run as smoothly as possible at the class site. He or she also acts on behalf of the students by communicating group questions and areas of concern to the appropriate contact persons at the university. The class coordinator assists with selling textbooks, distribution and collection of evaluation forms, facilities setup, as well as schedule and facilities changes.
Program Schedule
An updated program schedule is provided during the orientation session. You will receive new schedules as instructors return contracts and if dates, times or course order are changed. The program advisor, course instructor and/or the class coordinator will discuss all changes with the cohort before the changes are initiated. Our goal is to reach consensus whenever possible within the group when a change is necessary.
Textbooks and Course Materials
Textbooks and course materials are ordered by the instructor for his or her specific course. Texts and materials are available during the first class session of a course and are distributed by the class coordinator. Payments for texts by students are to be made when texts are received.
Class Attendance
Your masters program is offered at an accelerated pace. The shortened span of a course and the extended hours in each session are different from an on-campus course which meets 14 to 15 times over a 15-week period. As a result of these differences, attendance at class sessions in custom degree programs are essential. Students who miss the equivalent of three on-campus class sessions (8 hours) will be asked to drop the class except in instances of illness or extreme hardship. If you must miss part of a class session, please speak with the instructor ahead of time so that alternate assignments and requirements may be explained. In instances in which the majority of the cohort must miss a session (i.e. holidays, school conferences, and district meetings), the class coordinator, instructor and/or advisor will assist in selecting an alternate date for the class session. You are also asked to arrive on time for classes. If you must be late (or leave early), please notify the instructor of the class.
Date and Facility Changes
Members of the cohort are asked to carefully examine the current program schedule to identify conflicts that affect the whole group (i.e. holidays, state conferences, etc.). Necessary date changes should be reported to the class coordinator and/or program advisor as soon as possible. The information is then passed to the off campus program coordinator so instructors can be notified and new facility arrangements can be made.
Sometimes weather emergencies, facilities changes, instructor availability or circumstances beyond the control of custom degree programs may affect the date, time and/or location of a class session. Every effort will be made to keep short-notice changes to a minimum and to inform you of changes as far ahead as possible.
Instructor, Course and Advisor Evaluations
You will be asked to give feedback on the effectiveness of every course you take in the program. Instructor and course evaluations are completed twice during each course and are collected by the class coordinator. You will also be asked to complete evaluations for your program advisor three times during the length of the program. Your evaluations are read by the dean of the School of Education, the program chair of your program area and the instructor for the course.
Telephone Tree
Please assist your class coordinator in creating a "telephone tree" that may be used to contact cohort members as quickly as possible in cases of class cancellations due to bad weather, an instructor's illness or other emergency. Please provide backup phone numbers where we can leave a message in case we have difficulty reaching you at work or home.
Listservs
Each cohort has a listserv or broadcast e-mail service associated with it. To find your cohort, visit the Web client and sign up for your cohort's e-mail list. For additional information, download instructions ???(Microsoft Word .rtf document),??? or contact the custom degree programs office.
Final Projects, Internships and Portfolios
Your program advisor will provide information about any required final papers or projects during your course of study. Your advisor will assist you in the completion of any proposals or other requirements for these activities.
Graduation
Your advisor and education outreach programs personnel will guide you through the graduation process and prepare your files for graduation. Required forms will be mailed to you two to three months before graduation and you will be notified of all requirements and deadlines.
The School of Education Catalog
Please read the current School of Education catalog carefully. It contains important material about the following:
-
Campus facilities
-
Transfer of credit
-
License requirements
-
Student performance evaluation
-
Academic honesty
-
Student records
-
Sexual harassment and violence policies
-
Grievance policies
A Final Word about Your Graduate Program
Please remember that coursework for your graduate program will be challenging as well rewarding. St. Thomas has a reputation for academic excellence and maintains high standards for student performance in custom degree programs. We will work with you to ensure that your educational experience is professionally and personally beneficial.
Who's Who in Off Campus Programs?
If you need additional information, contact the following:
1. Contact the instructor of the course if you have questions or concerns about:
Course assignments
Grades and student evaluation
Course content
Class attendance
Exams or projects
The course instructor's phone number is listed on the course syllabus.
2. Contact a custom degree program representative if you have questions or concerns about:
Status of your student file
General program information
Transcripts
Important university deadlines
Loan deferment procedures
3. Contact Financial Services if you have questions or concerns about:
Your student loan application
Deferment of loan payments
Student loan options
Repayment of student loans
Financial Services may be reached at: (651) 962-6550 or (800) 328-6819, ext. 2-6594
4. Contact the St. Thomas Business Office if you have questions or concerns about:
Specific billing issues
Payment of tuition
Credit for payments
The Business Office may be reached at: (651)962-6600 or (800)328-6819, ext. 2-6600
5. Contact your advisor if you have questions or concerns about:
Petition for transfer of credits
Review of your student file
Schedule/facilities changes
Guidelines for final program projects
6. Contact the class coordinator if you have questions or concerns about:
Purchase of textbooks and course materials
General program issues to share with graduate outreach programs
Possible schedule changes
Facilities issues
7. Contact the extension librarian if you have questions about:
Library services
Computer searches
Inter-campus resources
The extension librarian, Maura Smyth, may be reached at (651) 962-4661, or e-mail address mtsmyth@stthomas.edu.
For detailed information on Off Campus Programs and dates for information meetings in your area, please contact:
School of Education
University of St. Thomas
MOH 217
1000 LaSalle Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(651) 962-4550
education@stthomas.edu
