Frequently Asked Questions
What our students are saying about the Reading program?
"I wanted to thank you for aligning and presenting such a great reading program. I am surprised at how much I learned from the program and how much it has impacted my teaching. Thank you for all your efforts!"
Stacy
Columbia Heights, MN
What are the program specifics?
Learner's Edge and the University of St. Thomas are excited to offer a six course K-12 reading endorsement and a four course reading certificate. You may choose an elementary or a secondary certification. Both programs are fully online.
Besides the number of courses, what is the difference between the Endorsement and Certificate?
The Endorsement is an addition to your license, the Certificates are not.
What do you mean by online? Are textbooks used?
Each course is set up in the Learner's Edge Online environment (Sakai). All course requirements are submitted electronically within the online environment. You will receive a password and username upon course registration to enter the Reading Program courses and complete the course requirements.
Yes, textbooks are required for each course and are your responsibility to acquire via the publishers, Amazon or whatever venue you choose.
Are the programs approved in my state?
We always encourage you to gain prior approval through your district or state for this and any other courses/programs. We cannot give a blanket approval of the program. However, the University of St. Thomas is a regionally accredited institution through NCATE. This is information administration/state departments usually want to know for approval.
Tell me about the pricing for the program:
Tuition for the Reading Program is $350 per credit or $1,050 per three credit course. Textbooks are not included in the tuition price but can be ordered from numerous online retailers. Ordering information will be included in the welcome email from Learner’s Edge.
How do I apply? Register for courses? What are the deadlines?
All parts of the application process take place through the University of St. Thomas; for immediate and specific assistance, you may contact Ea Porter at emporter@stthomas.edu.
Once you have gained admission to the program, UST will automatically register you for your classes.
After you complete your official registration with UST and have been accepted, Learner’s Edge will assign you to your chosen cohort. This will be followed by a welcome email from Learner’s Edge that will give you all of the details about your first course.
Applications for the spring 2012 cohort will be accepted through January 9, 2012 with the cohort beginning January 30, 2012.
Can I receive financial aid for the program?
Yes, all financial aid paperwork is done through UST. Visit the UST website for details.
Who is the advisor for the Reading Program?
Once admitted to the program you will have an advisor that will help you with any program related questions that you may have. The Reading Endorsement Program advisor is:
Julie Yaeger
julie@learnersedgeinc.com
952-469-3454
Is there a program supervisor?
Yes, in addition to your advisor, you will be able to communicate with the program supervisor should you need additional help with such items as transfer credits, grievance concerns, etc. The Reading Endorsement Program Supervisor is:
Dr. Robert Nistler
rjnistler1@stthomas.edu
651-962-4426
What if I need to drop or withdraw from a course?
If you need to drop a course or withdraw from the university, please contact your advisor for further instructions. Your refund will be calculated according to the following schedule (subject to federal regulations regarding Title IV federal financial aid):
Through the 5th calendar day of the term 100%
From the 6th-8th calendar day of the term 80%
From the 9th-10th calendar day of the term 60%
From the 11th-15th calendar day of the term 40%
From the 16th-20th calendar day of the term 20%
After the 20th day of the term 0%
After this date, St. Thomas will be unable to withdraw you from the course, and the grade of “NR” (Not Recorded) will be posted on your transcript. Note: This may affect your financial aid status and upon re-entry into the program will result in assignment to a new cohort.
What are the course due dates?
All coursework is due on or before the last official day of class.
Are coursework extensions granted?
If you need additional time to complete your course, please email or call your advisor to request an extension. Please keep in mind that this may delay processing of your grade. For grading purposes, if your course is not completed by the last day of class an incomplete will be issued. You will then have until the end of the next semester to complete your course and receive a grade. If you fail to complete your course by this time, the incomplete will be changed to an F.
What are the requirements to stay in the program?
Continuation in a graduate licensure or degree program requires maintenance of at least a 3.0 (B) cumulative grade point average (GPA). A student may be dismissed from a program if the term GPA in any one term is below 2.5, or if the term GPA is below 3.0 in two consecutive terms. Any student having less than 3.0 cumulative GPA at the conclusion of the course work will be ineligible for graduation.
Cohort Cancellation:
Learner’s Edge & the University of St. Thomas reserve the right to cancel a cohort that has insufficient enrollment and reassign members to another cohort of their choice.
