Course Approval Form

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Professional Development Committee / Division of Graduate and Continuing Education

MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Approval Request Form

In-Service, Professional Development (PDP), Continuing Education Unit (CEU) & Non-Credit Courses

Please submit each requests 30 days or more before the course start date.

Select this checkbox to read the guidelines:

General Guidelines

In-Service Courses (Required by MA Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education)

1. A three-credit course meets for 37.5 instructional hours. (12.5 hours per credit.) While regular courses require two hours of out-of-class work for each hour of instruction, in-service credit courses require limited out-of-class work.
2. The instructor must possess appropriate credentials or a degree one level higher than the level they are teaching, and must be approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education.

Professional Development Courses (PDPs) (Required by MA DESE, Recertification Guidelines, Appendix D)

1. Each PDP unit requires one hour of class time.
2. The instructor must be approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education.

Continuing Education Units (for CEUs)(Per EEC, as an accredited college, MCLA may review and endorse CEUs)

1. Each 0.1 CEU requires one hour of class time.
2. The instructor must be approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education.

Non-Credit Courses

Courses and instructors must be reviewed and approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education.

Printed Certificates

Printed certificates or other evidence of course completion should include:

· Provider name listed on registry
· Participant’s name
· Title of professional development offering
· Content areas
· Total number of PDPs or CEUs awarded
· Dates and hours in attendance
· A brief statement of learning goals and objectives
· A description of the assessment of learning and criteria for mastery
· Signature of provider

2. Certificates may include MCLA’s approved provider number: 2015U00010
Approved 7/09. Revised 10.4.12. Revised 2.13.14. Revised 7.21.14 Revised 8.18.15; 8/16/18

Detail Guidelines

1. In-Service Credit: In-service courses offer a lower-cost option to those seeking this credit, such as public school educators. While In-Service Credit is not transferable to approved graduate programs, it may be used by practicing educators to advance on salary schedules, and may be applied by some schools as elective credit.

Points of emphasis: In-Service Credit converts to Professional Development Points (PDPs) at a rate of 15 PDPs per 1 credit. Contact time for one In-Service Credit is 12.5 hours, with a 3-credit course meeting for 37.5 hours. While full graduate credit requires two hours of out-of-class work for each instructional hour, in-service credit requires limited out-of-class work.

Instructors of In-Service courses must possess apprpriate credentials or a degree one level higher than the level at which they are teaching, and must be approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education.
Typical cost for In-Service Credit is $100/credit, or $300 for a 3-credit course. In-Service Credit may be taken as Pass/Fail or for a letter grade. The grade will be retained on the student’s transcript.

2. Professional Development Points (PDPs) and Continuing Education Units (CEU): These are courses that allow educators (in K-12 and early education) to accrue course credentials to earn, advance, or renew their certifications.

Points of emphasis:
1. PDPs are awarded on a formula of one contact hour equals 1 PDP. However, PDPs must be earned in blocks of time that, at a minimum, total 10 hours – 10 PDPs.
2. CEUs are awarded on a formula of one contact hour equals .1CEU. CEUs must be earned in a minimum of 5 contact hours equaling .5 CEU.

3. All instructors must be approved by the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education.
4. All PDPs and CEUs are pass/fail and a record will be retained on the student’s transcript.
5. PDPs should be aligned with educator goals as high quality professional development. For full detail on PDPs, visit the MA ESE at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pd/ (see more below).
Finances:
1. PDPs (within the K12 community) will be charged at a rate of $4 per student per 1 PDP. Total charge will be $40/student for 10 PDPs (10 hours). Courses must meet for 10 hours (10 PDPs). Courses that are more than 10 PDPs will charged as agreed between the provider and MCLA.
2. CEUs (within the early childhood community) will be charged at a rate of $4 per student per 0.1 CEU. Total charge will be $20/student for a 0.5 CEU (5 hours), or $40/1.0 CEU(10 hours). Courses must meet for 5 hours (0.5 CEU). Courses that are more than 1.0 CEU will charged as agreed between the provider and MCLA.

High Quality Professional Development: A set of coherent learning experiences that is systematic, purposeful, and structured over a sustained period of time with the goal of improving teacher practice and student outcomes. It enables educators to facilitate the learning of students by acquiring and applying knowledge, skills, and abilities that address student needs and improvement goals of the district, school, and individual. HQPD conforms to best practices in research, relates to educators' assignments and professional responsibilities, and conforms to the ten Massachusetts Standards for Professional Development.
Approved 7/09. Revised 10.4.12. Revised 2.13.14. Revised 7.21.14 Revised 8.18.15.; 8/16/18

The Massachusetts Standards for Professional Development:
1. HQPD has clear goals and objectives relevant to desired student outcomes.
2. HQPD aligns with state, district, school, and/or educator goals or priorities.
3. HQPD is designed based on the analysis of data relevant to the identified goals, objectives, and audience.
4. HQPD is assessed to ensure that it is meeting the targeted goals and objectives.
5. HQPD promotes collaboration among educators to encourage sharing of ideas and working together to achieve the identified goals and objectives.
6. HQPD advances an educator's ability to apply learnings from the professional development to his/her particular content and/or context.
7. HQPD models good pedagogical practice and applies knowledge of adult learning theory to engage educators.
8. HQPD makes use of relevant resources to ensure that the identified goals and objectives are met.
9. HQPD is taught or facilitated by a professional who is knowledgeable about the identified objectives.
10. HQPD sessions connect and build upon each other to provide a coherent and useful learning experience for educators.

3. Non-credit courses: These may be run by local community members, faculty, or guest faculty – for example. Non-credit courses do not have set definitions, and proposals should include details about contact time, the financial model, expectations, etc.

Points of emphasis: All courses and instructors must be reviewed and approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education. Finances will be determined after review by DGCE Associate Dean and the instructor. Contact time is flexible and courses are not graded. All non-credit courses are pass/fail and a record will be retained on the student’s transcript.

Approval Requested:

Request Type:

Catalog Description:
(90 Word Maximum)

Format:

Syllabus

Attach a syllabus that includes the following:

1. Contact information
2. Course description
3. Course outline, dates/times included
4. Standards (include any subject/content knowledge or standards course will address)
5. Course goals, objectives, and learning outcomes (all courses must describe how learning outcomes link to educator goals in meeting high quality professional development).
6. Learning activities
7. Instructional materials including texts, handouts, and course materials
8. Key outcome assessment (s) and artifacts required from candidates as sources of evidence
9. Grading scale and assessment detail
10. Selected bibliography
11. Policies such as Academic Integrity, Attendance, Appropriate Use of Technology, Disability Statement
12. Other references/resources

Instructor

Instructor Name:

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS & ADVERTISING

Check all that apply:

In-Service Course

For Professional Development Points (PDPs ) OR Non-Credit Courses

For Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Please indicate if any external funds (such as grants) will be used to offset cost/charge to each participant

MCLA will pay instructor

(indicate suggested amount)

Sponsoring organization will pay instructor

(indicate suggested amount)

Please indicate how course will be advertised:

MCLA will advertise course.

Sponsoring organization will advertise course.

Sponsoring Organization

Organization Name:

Organization Address:

Address Line 1:

Address Line 2:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Location Information

Requested Course Location:

Requested Dates of Course:

Requested Time of Course:

If using MCLA supported facilities:
Please indicate needs including any equipment (such as computer access or overhead projector).
Also, indicated projected number of seats required.

Target Audience

Teachers

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Administrators

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Others

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Submitted By:

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Position:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

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