Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) For Current Leadership Scholars Program Students
The STEP=UP Leadership Scholars program consists of a single cohort of doctoral students in the field of special education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The program is not currently recruiting new students.
Current students should refer to the following FAQ for any questions they might have about the program. If you cannot find the answer to your question here, please contact our staff.
General Questions
Can I still work, and if so, when are my courses and STEP=UP commitments?
The STEP=UP Leadership Program is tailored for persons who work; it is for part-time doctoral studies during the academic year (late August through mid May.) In the summer, however, all scholars will participate in internships (250 hours) which will require full-time commitment approximately mid-June (when schools are out for summer) through August 15. If you have a job in which you do not have that time free, then you would need to take a leave of absence in order to fulfill the three internship requirements.
UIC special education doctoral coursework is usually from 5:00 – 8:00, either on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Courses usually meet once a week. Once a month scholars will participate in a seminar from 4:30 – 6:30 that is typically held on Tuesdays.
When would the program begin?
We are currently admitting students to begin the program in Fall 2007. This is the only date for which we are accepting students. If you are interested in pursuing a doctorate in special education but cannot begin the program at this time, unfortunately you will not be eligible for the STEP=UP Leadership Scholars program. We hope you will still consider applying for UIC's doctoral program at another time. There are many other sources of funding for graduate study, including graduate assistantships, fellowships and financial aid. Please see the Graduate College website for additional details about funding options.
If you do choose to apply for the STEP=UP Leadership Program, you would be notified by e-mail of acceptance as a non-degree student in the STEP=UP Leadership Program sometime between August 2, 2007 and August 10, 2007. Due to the quick turn around, we would need your decision within a week of receiving the acceptance. We will hold a mandatory orientation on August 20, 2007 from 5:00 – 7:00 in the College of Education. Fall semester coursework will begin the week of August 27, 2007.
Your commitment is to study part-time (8 to 9 credits a semester), with full-time summer commitment for the three internships (250 hours each), for four (4) years beginning fall 2007 and extending through May 2011.
What obligation would I have to the federal government who would pay my tuition through the grant?
You would have a service obligation, which we explain below. Also review our service obligation information sheet.
Will this program lead to an Illinois Type 75 Certification?
The STEP=UP Leadership Scholars program is designed to prepare people for academic work in a university setting, and will not result in eligibility for a Type 75 administrative certificate. If you are interested in pursuing this certification, please consider one of the College of Education's other doctoral programs.
I see that I must have experience with, and commitment to, work with culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
Yes, all programs in the College of Education are committed to helping students gain cross-cultural competency. Therefore, we are highly interested in individuals have have experience working in a variety of contexts (e.g., schools, community agencies) with individuals from culturally and/or linguistically diverse population. Faculty in special education infuses those competencies throughout the program so that all students study their beliefs about culture in order to challenge prevailing practices. In order to interact effectively with their students, and design research related to students with disabilities from a culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, all students and future researchers need to confront their own racism and biases, learn about cultures of others, and perceive the world through diverse cultural lenses. Research-based evidence and argument is used in all coursework and the STEP=UP Leadership Program supports and include resources from national centers such as NCCREST and the Bueno Center for Multicultural Education, CEC-sponsored work, and up-to-date scholarship about topics such as the recognition of cultural diversity in special education, disproportionality, and links between family and cultural awareness and disability.
Benefits
Tuition is free???
Yes, though you will need to pay university fees and assessments each semester in order to enroll. These fees and assessments typically total approximately $900 for part-time graduate students; they are subject to change at any time. (please see http://www.uic.edu/depts/oar/ for up-to-date information about fees and assessments.)
What is a "service obligation"?
Thanks to funding provided by a federal grant, the STEP=UP Leadership Scholars program provides free tuition for the duration of the program for students who remain in good standing and meet all program requirements. At the end of the four-year commitment, you return this debt to the federal government by completing a "service obligation." For every year you accept the STEP=UP Leadership award, you will owe two years of service as a full-time university researcher or faculty member in the area of special education or related services. Since the program is 76 credits in length, the service obligation is anticipated to be 7 years. You will likely have a total of 10 years after graduation to complete the service obligation. If you are currently in a position as a special education teacher or other related service provider (see Federal guidelines) where at least 50% of your time or 50% of children or adolescents you service qualify for special education services, then you may be able to begin your service obligation while you are completing your program. Federal guidelines under these circumstances may allow you to complete up to 2 ˝ years of service obligation prior to graduation.
After completing the program, can I complete my service obligation in the Chicago Public Schools?
No. The terms of the service agreement require you to complete your service obligation in a university setting.
Along with the tuition, I see we have additional supports.
Yes, many. In order to help you become a leader in special education, we will help you join organizations through which you will network with other professionals and receive mentoring. The Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) is our main professional organization, and all scholars will join and attend the yearly conference. That will be part of your yearly "book and professional organization stipend," aimed at helping you participate in organizations, like CEC, where you will eventually present your research.
Additionally, the stipend will help you defray costs of course materials. Another yearly stipend is for travel to help you defray costs of conference participation. Other benefits include becoming part of a cohort of novice researchers, meeting monthly in "communities of inquiry" seminars with the project directors, receiving mentoring from professionals in your chosen area of interest, and participation in summer institutes that expand on the summer internship studies. All scholars will participate in summer internships; there will be three in all. The total value of tuition and additional financial supports is approximately $62,000 per scholar.
Tell me more about the internships.
Each summer, beginning in June 2008, scholars will complete a 250-hour internship. The aim is to prepare leaders for the three major tasks of being a university faculty member: teaching, research, and service and community work. Drawing from our extensive network in the Chicagoland area, scholars will have a large pool from which to draw on opportunities that best fit their interests, research, and growing expertise. Scholars will meet at as a cohort with project directors and other professionals (including from internship sites) during "summer institutes" to share ideas. Scholars will not be able to have other outside employment during these summer internships, and thus will receive a $7,500 stipend. Scholars will complete their 250 hours of internship sometime between June 16 and August 15 of each summer. Specific schedules will be arranged based on the need of the requirements of the individual internship. Individuals who typically do not have this time period off will need to make arrangements with their employers to take a leave of absence during each of three internships prior to beginning the STEP=UP Leadership program.
Will I be able to continue working during the summer while completing these internships?
No. The paid summer internships are a full-time commitment. You can not work from mid-June to mid-August for 3 summers of the program. It is your responsibility to make arrangements with your employer to take leaves of absence during these times prior to beginning the STEP=UP Leadership program.
Eligibility and Application Process
I understand there is a two phase process for application, and I must send materials to two places and at different times. Why?
Your application will be evaluated in two different parts of the university during the first phase of your application. You must apply to the UIC Graduate College to become a non-degree student, and you must apply to the STEP=UP Leadership Program, which is part of the Department of Special Education, in order for faculty to review a more extensive set of documents. Both of these applications must be received by June 29, 2007 (note that this is not the postmark deadline - we must have your applications in hand, including GRE scores and letters of reference by this date.) Faculty will want an extensive profile of your background and future interests as they evaluate potential success for you to become a university researcher and professor. Once accepted you will begin taking courses as a non-degree student in fall 2007.
In fall 2007 you will apply officially to the Graduate College and College of Education for Ph.D. studies, and faculty will review those materials extensively. If accepted, you would begin officially in special education doctoral program as a doctoral student in summer 2008. You will then apply to transfer in up to 12 credits from your non-degree status to the doctoral program.
In summary, you would apply as a non-degree student for fall 2007, and if accepted you would be a non-degree graduate student at UIC. In fall 2007 while taking courses, you would apply as a potential Ph.D. degree student, and if accepted you would be a Ph.D. student at UIC beginning summer 2008. Scholars who are accepted into the STEP=UP Leadership Program and who are in good academic standing should be in good shape to be accepted into the doctoral program.
Can I wait until Phase 2 of the application process to submit my GRE scores?
No. GRE scores are a required part of the Phase 1 application. You must take your GRE before June 29, 2007, and you must enclose a copy of the official score report with your application in order to be considered in the first round.
If your official score reports are not available at the time that you are submitting your STEP=UP Leadership Scholars application, you may still be considered for the program as part of a second round of application reviews. Include a copy of your testing date registration confirmation with your application. Report your unofficial scores on the STEP=UP Leadership application and indicate it is self-report. When you receive the official scores, please e-mail them to marieth@uic.edu.
Program
Will I be able to register for Special Education Courses as a non-degree student?
Please note that special education courses at UIC are not open to non-degree students unless they have been formally accepted into the STEP=UP Leadership program or the course is listed as part of our general Continuing Education course offerings (see http://www.oce.uic.edu/oce/ocepublic/). There are other departments at UIC who do permit nondegree students to register for classes; however we recommend that you contact the department of the course you are interested in before you register.
I’ve read about the course requirements and credits. Could you say more about the "areas of concentration?" I’m not sure that my interests align with those areas.
To help you focus your research and studies, you will declare one area of concentration among three: language and literacy; behavioral and emotional disabilities; early childhood special education. All scholars will take a wide array of coursework, chosen in collaboration with your faculty advisor, across these areas and more (e.g., special education teacher preparation.) The coursework under each concentration will be determined through that collaboration, completion of your Professional Development Plan for your four-year doctoral program, and in conjunction with peers.
What is the "professional development plan?"
The Professional Development Plan (PDP) will be created and revised throughout the four-year program. Activities outlined therein will include doctoral coursework, research participation, seminars, professional and grant writing, and conference presentations. It will help, additionally, in creation of a portfolio for scholars’ efforts to seek higher education employment after the program.
Can you say a bit about employment possibilities for higher education after I finish the program?
The shortage of university researchers and professors in special education is more staggering than that of special educators in K – 12; the need is very huge. The UIC Special Education Department is the top supplier of new professors to the many universities in the Chicagoland area. In addition, our graduates take faculty positions at universities across the nation. Many of those graduates have agreed to mentor new scholars, will present at seminars and in summer institutes, and will become part of ongoing program development.
