Inclusion Education

The Inclusion Education Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study is a 15-credit online program for educators, both teachers and administrators, who wish to have more background in special education with respect to inclusion practices and concerns.

This unique concentration explores methods and strategies for teaching all students in inclusion settings with a special course on the range and use of assistive technologies. Furthermore, formal and informal procedures for assessing special needs students will be reviewed with a focus always on utilizing the results to inform and plan instruction. Finally, the ability to apply special education law to your setting and a practicum to integrate all your inclusive education learning concludes this concentration. This does not lead to a special education certification.

The goals of the CAGS program are to prepare students to:

• Administer schools in a humanistic, caring manner.
• Instill a sense of responsibility and ethical decision-making.
• Meet the Interstate School Leadership Licensure Consortium Standards (ISLLC) to enable school educators to obtain administrative certification nationwide. The six ISLLC standards state that a school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by:

1. Facilitating the development, articulation, implementation and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.
2. Advocating, nurturing and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.
3. Ensuring management of the organization, operations and resources for a safe, efficient and effective learning environment.
4. Collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs and mobilizing community resources.
5. Acting with integrity and in an ethical manner.
6. Understanding, responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural context.

The CAGS program is approved by the Maine State Board of Education. All programs at the University of New England are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

• A Master's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or its equivalent.
• Have a minimum of three years' teaching experience in an accredited public or private school.
• Current employment in an educational setting where you have regular access to an environment in which you can apply course concepts and strategies.
• Sufficient computer skills to navigate the worldwide web.
• Own or have regular access to a computer with internet connection, with the hardware and software requirements described on the CAGS webpage.

Additional prerequisites to participate in the Inclusion Education Program include:

• A sincere interest in continuing professional development as an educational leader.
• The potential to improve practice through application of new knowledge and skills.
• The ability to pursue challenging online graduate study.
• Ability to be a positive change agent, maintaining professional ethics and supportive management strategies.
• Experience in a leadership capacity (i.e. team leader, committee chair, department leader, subject-matter coordinator or other relevant leadership role in an educational setting).

PROCEDURES AND POLICIES

• Students are admitted to the CAGS program six (6) times a year: Summer A & B, Fall A & B, Spring A & B.
• Applications for admission are accepted through UNE’s online application only. Detailed instructions are included in the online application.
• Applications are reviewed by the Program Admissions Committee using the following criteria for evaluating your personal goal statement and letters of recommendation:
  • Indications of leadership potential
  • Indications of a desire for professional improvement and growth
  • Writing conveys excitement of learning and leading
  • Evidence of compatibility with the distance-learning format
  • Writing is organized, cohesive, and cogent
  • Evidence that the applicant is willing to apply new ideas and techniques
• Applications received by the respective deadlines will be given full consideration.  Applications submitted after the deadline will be reviewed on a space available basis only or for the next available term.
• Admissions are rolling and decisions are made by the program admissions committee throughout the cycle.
• International applicants and applicants with international degrees must have their transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of a regionally accredited US institution.  See International Admissions for a list of educational credential evaluators.
• All applicants to UNE must be able to understand and communicate in English to be admitted to the university.  UNE accepts several methods of English Proficiency, see International Admissions.  English Proficiency requirement must be completed at the time of application.

RE-ADMISSION

• Students who have withdrawn from the CAGS program, either self-initiated or administrative withdrawal, must reapply to the program if they wish to continue their studies. The application procedures, academic policies, and program requirements that are in effect at the time of readmission will apply.
• Students who re-enroll following withdrawal will have their previous coursework evaluated for applicability to the existing academic requirements. Coursework that is more than five years old will not be accepted for credit in the CAGS program.

Any questions regarding the application process should be directed to the following:
For the CAGS concentrations in Literacy, Curriculum & Instruction, Inclusion Ethics and Change, Educational Leadership or Advanced Educational Leadership, please contact University of New England Offsite Admissions at 800-994-2804 or l.pollack@online.une.edu.

Transfer credit is not accepted by the CAGS program, since the program has been developed holistically to meet the six ISLLC standards.

MINIMAL GRADE STANDARD AND ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (“B”). Failure to do so will result in academic probation and possible termination from the program. Students receiving a grade of “F” in any course will be immediately placed on academic probation. A student receiving an “F” must register and pass the failed course with a grade of “C” or better before registering for any additional credits.

The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Inclusion Education curriculum consists of four 3-credit online courses and a 3-credit internship within your local area. Each on-line course is ordinarily scheduled for 8 weeks, so a student has the ability to enroll in two courses each semester, one in term A and one in term B. A minimum of 15 credits must be taken to be awarded the certificate.

The University of New England's Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Inclusion Education curriculum is designed to apply as broadly as possible to requirements throughout the country, meeting basic ISLLC (Interstate School Leadership Licensure Consortium) standards. However, it is the responsibility of the candidate to confirm what course content is needed in the state in which certification is sought and to discuss with your advisor if alternative courses need to be accommodated.

After completing a CAGS program, students should be able to

• apply research results to leadership decisions
• describe the requirements of the ISLLC standards
• demonstrate a high degree of specialized knowledge and skills about school administration
• exhibit leadership skills in an actual school administrative settings 

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

The University of New England regards academic integrity as an essential component to the educational process. Charges of academic dishonesty will be handled through the dean of the appropriate college. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
3. Action that destroys or alters the work of another student.
4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

It is expected that students will accurately and correctly document all academic resources. APA format is the required style for citing sources and establishing a bibliography. If you are unfamiliar with what constitutes plagiarism, please do an online search to acquaint yourself with all of the components of plagiarism. You may also check the Georgetown University Honor Council for a plagiarism description.

Documented instances of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by UNE administrators. Violation of the academic honesty policy will result in a grade of F' being issued for the course involved. A student who has violated the academic honesty policy may also be dismissed from the CAGS program and the university.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

To complete the program and receive a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Educational Leadership, you must:

• Complete 15 credits composed of four 3-credit courses and a 3-credit internship within your local area.
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Pay all tuition fees when due.