Students in the UNI Principalship cohort programs progress together through an articulated sequence of courses and clinical experiences for three (3) academic years and two (2) summers. Students enrolled in the UEN Leadership Academy Cohort pursue an accelerated, two (2) academic years and one (1) summer program. Students will be scheduled for classes the same night during the fall and spring semesters throughout the two or three-year program to assist students in planning their personal and professional lives while they are completing their program of study. Students finish the program receiving a Master's degree or an Advanced Studies Certificate (ASC). A team of campus faculty, field professors, and field administrators/mentors work together to integrate theory, internship/clinical experiences, and reflective practice into every course in the program. Since long-distance learning is utilized, students seeking a Master's degree, an ASC in the Principalship, or the UEN Leadership Academy are required to spend the first summer of the program on the UNI campus to facilitate the development of a learning community. This is normally an eight-week session which usually starts the first week of June and ends in late July. By this time the students have shared the ICN (Iowa Communications Network) classes for two semesters, and relationships have started to develop with the students at other ICN sites. The continuation of relationship-building is encouraged in interactive summer classes and out-of class activities during the summer term.

2. What is the purpose of a cohort?

The purpose of the Educational Leadership Cohort is to develop a learning community among the students, university faculty, field faculty, and field administrators where all interact to create the optimal learning experiences for students. The learning community fosters the skills of relationship-building, networking, teamwork, cooperative inquiry and study, reflective practice, and continuous improvement. As the result of their participation in a learning community for two or three years, students will learn the transformational leadership skills so necessary for implementing the change process, school improvement initiatives, and shared decision-making. In addition, the learning community becomes a safe and supportive environment where students can learn to trust others, be open with others, appreciate differences and diversity and grow into more mature human beings. Academically, the learning community is a more stimulating, interactive environment that fosters in-depth discussion, challenges the students to a higher level of thinking and creates an environment where reflection becomes the norm. Cohort members become powerful motivators for each other as they become an interdependent group who share both the good and bad times. They learn together, laugh together, have fun together, and most importantly they encourage each other to higher levels of performance and achievement.

3. What are the expectations for students selected to participate in the UEN-UNI Leadership Development Academy?

It is an honor to be selected by your UEN school district to participate in this special Leadership Development Academy designed especially for students aspiring to be principals in the urban school setting. The UEN Leadership Development Academy is a non-traditional accelerated program that requires students to be self-directed, self-motivated, independent and well-organized to meet the challenges of the program. Students will complete 36 hours of coursework for PK-12 Principal licensure in approximately 22 months. This principalship preparation program is totally performance-based. Students will be evaluated on demonstrations of performance rather than on traditional test-taking measures. Students will be expected to tackle complex problems in their home districts utilizing problem-solving skills and critical thinking skills to improve student achievement for all students through school improvement initiatives utilizing action research. Courses will require students to complete an in-depth internship to apply and practice the learning and content presented in the class sessions. Mentors with leadership expertise will be selected by your urban school district to mentor and coach you with the internship. Program delivery is dependent on technology utilizing the ICN and the Internet. You will need to be technology proficient or be willing to rapidly learn the necessary technologies during the first semester of the program.

4. Describe the Internship

All students in both cohorts develop a two or three-year internship plan with a field administrator/mentor of their choice. For the Master's and ASC in the Principalship students, the internship plan is integrated into every instructional course of the program and students are expected to complete a minimum of 200 hours of internship experiences as part of coursework. An additional 225 hours of internship will be determined by the student, field administrator/mentor, and designated UNI faculty field supervisor. All students enrolled in the Principalship program (M.A.E. and ASC) will complete a minimum of 425 hours.

5. How are the ICN sites selected?

ICN sites are selected by the determination that there is a critical mass (a minimum of five students) in the area to make an ICN site feasible. The University of Northern Iowa wants to not only provide ICN sites within a convenient driving distance from the student's home, but also to provide an instructional environment with field professors at the ICN site and enough students at the site to build an interactive learning community. UNI views education as an interactive process, not a spectator activity where one sits in a room for three hours by him/herself.

6. How are students assigned to cohorts?

When you are accepted and admitted into the Educational Leadership Program you are assigned to the cohort group starting the following fall semester for students in the principalship program. Superintendency students begin their program the spring semester.

7. If I am a middle school teacher, do I seek elementary or secondary principalship endorsement?

All students who complete the Educational Leadership program will be awarded a PK-12 Principal license if the person has taught three years. This is a foundational requirement that is required by the Iowa Department of Education. The University of Northern Iowa provides the prescribed program of study necessary for the principalship certification and certifies to the Department of Education the successful completion of that course of study. However, it is the Iowa Department of Education or your local school district that must verify your years of teaching experience before you are awarded the principalship certification. If you have further questions, you can call the Licensure Bureau of the Iowa Department of Education [515] 281-3245.

8. What are the research scholarly requirements of the Master's Degree and the ASC in Educational Leadership?

Students have the option to complete a Master's thesis or a non-thesis program. The majority of Master's students in the Principalship program choose the non-thesis option. Currently, there are no culminating research requirements for the ASC (Principalship) students. However, students seeking a Doctoral Degree (Ed.D.) are required to do extensive research during their course of study that culminates with the completion of a dissertation.

9. How do I qualify for Financial Aid?

To qualify for financial assistance you must be degree seeking (accepted in a program) and enrolled at least half-time (5 semester hours in the fall or spring semesters or 4 semester hours in the summer). File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, either the paper copy or on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov , as soon as possible after January 1. This application covers summer, fall, spring semesters (in that order). If you are eligible for loans you must complete, sign and return one copy of the promissory note and award letter to the Financial Aid Office. Entrance counseling is required of all first time borrowers at UNI. If you have any questions on financial assistance, feel free to contact the Financial Aid Office at 1-800-772-2736 or 319-273-2700 - FAX 319-273-6959, www.uni.edu/finaid.

10. If I received my undergraduate degree from UNI, will I need to request those transcripts?

No. The Registrar's office will forward UNI transcripts to the Educational Leadership office once application has been made.

11. Why must I have completed two years of teaching in Iowa in order to be accepted for the Principalship program?

Students must be recommended for a Standard license by their district in order to begin our MAE program.

The University of Northern Iowa is an inclusive academic community, hospitable to all. UNI is an equal opportunity educator and employer with a comprehensive plan for affirmative action.