Center FAQs

Ashland has 3 semesters throughout the year:

1. Fall Semester is August through November with evening and Saturday classes.
2. Spring Semester is January through April with evening and Saturday classes.
3. Summer Semester consists of 3 separate sessions:
   
   • *X is May through June for 5 weeks with evening and Saturday classes.
   • *Y is June through July for 4 weeks with day, evening, and Saturday classes.
   • *Z is July through August for 4 weeks with day, evening, and Saturday classes.

Courses are delivered in a variety of ways to meet your learning style and to accommodate your busy schedule:

1. Face-to-face
2. Hybrid (combination of face-to-face and online)
3. Online

1. Building hours are Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am - 10:00 pm (please note all exteriors doors are locked after 6:30 pm.) and Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
2. The main office is currently open Monday thru Friday, 9:15 a.m. - 6:15 p.m. and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., except by appointment.

All students are issued an Ashland email account which is typically available 24 hours after your first registration is processed. All correspondence and important announcements are sent through your Ashland email.

See the Tuition and Fees website by clicking here:

• Graduate: http://www.ashland.edu/graduate/about-graduate-school/tuition-fees
• Undergraduate: http://www.ashland.edu/students/financial-aid/tuition-fees

Transcripts are printed in the Registrar’s Office on Ashland’s main campus. Payment (check, money order, or credit card) must accompany your request. Online request for transcripts are now available for an additional convenience fee. The Transcript Request Form is available in the office or on our website at: http://www.ashland.edu/documents/pdf/transcript-request-form

Change of name, address or phone number. Please remember to notify Ashland University when you have a change to your name, address or phone number. Address and phone number changes can be made in WebAdvisor. Name, address and phone number changes may be made by completing the change of name/address form located at the main desk or at http://www.ashland.edu/documents/pdf/change-address-form and supplying supporting documentation.

Masters

• C & I: Literacy
• C & I: Teaching & learning in the 21st Century
• C & I: Teacher Leader
• C & I: ISMM
• C & I: Talent Development
• Educational Administration

Endorsements

• Early Childhood Education 4-5 (must have Pre-K licensure)
• Middle Grades 4-6 Generalist (Ashland 4-9 students only)
• Reading
• Talent Development
• Teacher Leader
• Technology Facilitator
• TESOL (pending)

Licenses

• CIPD (Curriculum, Instruction & Professional Development)
• ISMM (Intervention Specialist Mild/Moderate)
• Principal
• Pupil Services
• School Treasurer/Business Manager
• Superintendent

For information on course requirements for each program, refer to the Graduate Programs Catalog: https://www.ashland.edu/documents/pdf/2012-2013-graduate-catalog.

Regular Admission – A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, or a minimum graduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (a minimum of 12 graduate semester hours are required). Please note: individual graduate degree programs may require additional criteria.

Conditional Admission – An undergraduate grade point average of 2.25 – 2.75, or a graduate grade point average of 2.50 – 3.0 (a minimum of 12 graduate semester hours are required). A 3.0 GPA must be achieved by conditionally accepted students at the conclusion of 12 semester hours of coursework.

1. Complete a request for transcript evaluation by sending an email to: columbus-admissions@ashland.edu
2. Complete the M. Ed. application online: http://www.ashland.edu/graduate/about-graduate-school/admission
3. Submit the following to the Admissions Office at the Columbus Center:
   
   • a. $30.00 non-refundable application fee*
   • b. Official transcripts
   • c. Copy of teaching license
   • d. One letter of recommendation*
   • e. Signed Good Moral Character statement: http://www.ashland.edu/documents/pdf/good-moral-character-form

     *fees and letters can be submitted after meeting with an advisor.

4. When all of the above is submitted & you have received a copy of your transcript evaluation, please call the Graduate programs office (614) 794-0803, ext. 1133 to schedule an appointment with an advisor. (If still unsure about completing an application for admission, please contact the Admissions office (614) 794-0803, ext. 1123 to speak with an Admissions counselor).

New students can apply at any time. In order to register for the upcoming semester, the admissions process needs to be fully completed 2 weeks prior to the first day of class. It is recommended that you have all of your paperwork completed 4 weeks prior to the start of class to increase your class availability.

Send all materials to the Columbus Center if this is where you intend to take the coursework for the Masters, Licensure or Endorsement Program. Please address all information to:

Ashland University – Columbus Center
Admissions Office
1900 East Dublin-Granville Road
Columbus, Ohio 43229

Current Education students can receive a voucher of $300 towards tuition for referring another student. The $300 credit will appear on recruiting student’s account after the drop date of the referred students’ first class. A referral form is available for printing at: www.ashland.edu/voucher-300. Submit completed form to the Columbus Center main office for processing.

For newly enrolled M. Ed students, a voucher is given for a complimentary second course (3-hour graduate education course) after paying for the first course.

The average completion time is 18 – 24 months, but the length of time will vary by individual. You will be advised as to which courses are needed and how long your program could take to complete to achieve your goal.

An average course load is 1-2 classes per semester. However, in summer, additional classes may be taken each session.

Ashland University participates in the Federal Stafford Loan Program. To apply, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) online. Secondly, students must complete Ashland University’s Financial Aid Application for Graduate Students. Summer loans require a separate application, available in mid-February. Refunds on excess loan monies may be requested from Student Accounts after attending at least one class. All forms and answers to frequently asked financial aid questions are located online at: www.ashland.edu/finaid. For more information, contact the Financial Aid office at 1-800-822-1548, ext. 5002 or visit: http://www.ashland.edu/operations/graduate-financial-aid/faq.

The minimum number of hours to be eligible for financial aid will vary by program:

• M.Ed. – 3 hours
• Teacher Certification (TC) – 6 hours
• Graduate Certification (GC) – ineligible for financial aid

Toby Russell is the Financial Aid Advisor at the Columbus Center. Students wishing to correspond or make an appointment with Toby on financial aid questions can do so by contacting Tracey Campbell at tcampbe7@ashland.edu or ext. 1133 for an appointment, or Toby at trussel1@ashland.edu (The last two characters in Toby’s email address are the lowercase l and the number 1).

The website of www.finaid.org allows access to scholarship searches from outside sources. We encourage you to apply for as many scholarships as possible.

Billing statements sometimes are printed between semesters and may run before your financial aid has been credited to your account. Federal law states that student loans cannot be applied to a student’s account until 10 days prior to the first day of the term. If this scenario does not fit your situation, and you have questions, please contact Student Accounts Office at: 419-289-5958 or 1-800-882-1548, ext. 5958.

Yes, through a service called Tuition Pay. More information can be found on their website: https://ashland.afford.com. Their direct phone number is 800-356-8329.

See the Graduate Tuition and Fees web site at: http://www.ashland.edu/graduate/about-graduate-school/tuition-fees. Unlike many other universities, Ashland does not charge numerous other general fees.

Registration begins in late March for the Summer term, in July for the Fall and in late October for the Spring semester. Students may register up to the first day of class or until all seats in a class are filled. First time students must register in person at the front office.

Online registration is available for students who have completed at least one term in the program (except for field placements, student teaching and internships). Online registration closes one week prior to the start of any semester, or during Summer, one week prior to the start of each session.

Yes, by taking masters courses or professional development classes, subject to your LPDC approval. If you are not interested in pursuing a degree and would prefer graduate credit for licensure renewal, please contact Professional Development Services at 614-794-0803, ext. 1108.

You can work on a license in Intervention Specialist Mild/Moderate or add an endorsement in Reading, Talent Development, Technology Facilitator, or Teacher Leader to your current license. You may also obtain an additional licensure for a different grade level or subject matter.

You can work on a Principal, Administrative Specialist, or Superintendent license.

You have the option of being admitted as Licensure Renewal student and are permitted to take up to twelve (12) hours of coursework.

A maximum of twelve (12) semester hours may be transferred from other institutions if the course work was taken at the graduate level and completed within five years prior to the time of admission. We cannot transfer course work listed as “continuing education” or “professional certification.” To substitute for one or more of our major professional courses, the transferred course(s) needs to match the course description and specifications.

Six (6) semester hours of professional development classes may be used as electives in Teaching & Learning in 21st Century and three (3) semester for Literacy and Talent Development. There are no electives in all other programs.

The capstone experience consists of an Inquiry, an Internship or a Practicum. It is the final requirement before graduation. The first step is to request an audit by sending an email to columbus-graduate@ashland.edu to ensure that you have completed all prerequisites including a minimum of 21 hours. You must complete an intent form and register for the capstone including a $50 intent fee. Additional capstone requirements will be provided by your advisor.

All students in the M.Ed. Program must apply for graduation and pay the application fee of $100.00 whether or not they plan to attend the ceremony.

Deadlines for application are listed below. A late fee of $25.00 will be charged if an application is submitted after these deadlines.

November 1st for May graduation May 1st for August and December graduation (no ceremony for August)

All coursework must be completed before a student is permitted to graduate. August graduates may choose to participate in the December ceremony.

• PreK-3
• 4-9 Middle Grades (Select two concentration areas from Math, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies)
• 7-12 Secondary
  
  • Integrated Language Arts
  • Integrated Mathematics
  • Integrated Science
  • Integrated Social Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Science
  • Life Science: Biology
  • Physical Science: Chemistry and Physics
• 4-12 Integrated Business
• PreK-12 (Art, Spanish, French, and Music)
• K-12 Intervention Specialist Mild/Moderate

For information on course requirements for each program, refer to the Graduate Programs Catalog: https://www.ashland.edu/documents/pdf/2012-2013-graduate-catalog.

1. Regular Admission - GPA of 2.75 or higher
2. Conditional Admission – Below 2.75 contact the admissions office (614) 794-0803, ext. 1123 for additional requirements
3. Provisional Admission – Individuals who expect to graduate with a 4-year degree within 6 months, may be admitted for one semester pending receipt of undergraduate degree transcript

1. Complete a request for transcript evaluation by sending an email to columbus-admissions@ashland.edu
2. Complete the B+ application online: http://www.ashland.edu/graduate/about-graduate-school/admission
3. Submit the following to the Columbus Center:
   
   • a. $30.00 non- refundable application fee*
   • b. Official transcripts
   • c. Two letters of recommendation*
   • d. Signed Good Moral Character statement: http://www.ashland.edu/documents/pdf/good-moral-character-form
     *fees and letters of recommendation can be submitted after meeting with advisor
4. When all of the above is submitted & you have received a copy of your transcript evaluation, please call the Graduate programs office (614) 794-0803, ext. 1133 to schedule an appointment with an advisor at (614) 794-0803, ext. 1133. (If still unsure about completing an application for admission, please contact the Admissions Office at ext. 1123).
5. Test score requirements – Take and receive a passing score of 172 or higher on each of the three PRAXIS I tests (Reading, Writing & Math) during the first semester in the program and before doing the first field experience. The PRAXIS I requirements may be met by having a high enough score on the ACT, GRE or SAT. OPI/OPIC test results are also a requirement for foreign language licensure candidates.

New students can apply at any time. In order to register for the upcoming semester, the admissions process needs to be fully completed 2 weeks prior to the first day of class. It is recommended that you have all of your paperwork completed 4 weeks prior to the start of class to increase class availability.

Send all admissions materials to the Columbus Center if this is where you intend to take the coursework for the Bachelors Plus Program. Please address all information to:

Ashland University – Columbus Center
Admissions Office
1900 East Dublin-Granville Road
Columbus, Ohio 43229

Current education students can receive a voucher of $300 towards tuition for referring another student. The $300 credit will appear on recruiting student’s account after the drop date of the referred students’ first class. A referral form is available for printing at: www.ashland.edu/voucher-300. Submit completed form to the Columbus Center main office for processing.

The average completion time is 18 – 24 months, but the length of time will vary by individual. You will be advised as to which courses are needed and how long your program could take to complete.

An average course load is 2-3 classes per semester. In summer, additional classes may be taken.

Ashland University participates in the Federal Stafford Loan Program. To apply, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. Secondly, students must complete Ashland University’s Financial Aid Application for Graduate Students. Summer loans require a separate application, available in mid-February. Refunds on excess loan monies may be requested from Student Accounts after attending at least one class. All forms and answers to frequently asked financial aid questions are located online at: www.ashland.edu/finaid. For more information, contact the Financial Aid office at 1-800-822-1548, ext. 5002, or visit: http://www.ashland.edu/operations/graduate-financial-aid/faq.

The minimum number of hours to be eligible for financial aid in the Bachelor’s Plus program is six (6) semester hours; three (3) semester hours of which must be taken at Ashland. Correspondence courses do not qualify for financial aid.

Toby Russell is the Financial Aid Advisor at the Columbus Center. Students wishing to correspond or make an appointment with Toby on financial aid questions can do so by contacting Tracey Campbell at tcampbe7@ashland.edu or ext. 1133 for an appointment, or Toby at trussel1@ashland.edu. (The last two characters in Toby’s email address are the lowercase l and the number 1).

See the Graduate Tuition and Fees website at: http://www.ashland.edu/graduate/about-graduate-school/tuition-fees. Bachelor’s plus students pay the same semester hour tuition rate for undergraduate and graduate courses. Unlike many other universities, Ashland does not charge numerous general fees.

Billing statements sometimes are printed between semesters and may run before your financial aid has been credited to your account. Federal law states that student loans cannot be applied to a student’s account until 10 days prior to the first day of the term. If this scenario does not fit your situation, and you have questions, please contact the Student Accounts Office at: 419-289-5958 or 1-800-882-1548, ext. 5958.

Yes, through a service called Tuition Pay. More information can be found on their website: https://ashland.afford.com. Their direct phone number is 800-356-8329.

Registration begins in late March for the Summer term, in July for the Fall and in late October for the Spring semester. Students may register up to the first day of class or until all seats in a class are filled. First time students must register in person at the front office.

Online registration is available for students who have completed at least one term in the program (except for field placements, student teaching and internships). Online registration closes one week prior to the start of any semester, or during Summer, one week prior to the start of each session.

Content courses for grades 7-12 and middle school are required in addition to graduate teacher preparation courses. Specific details will be provided by an advisor.

Applications for field/student teaching are available on the Ashland University website at: http://www.ashland.edu. Applications must be received by February 15 for a Fall placement or October 1 for a Spring placement.

In some circumstances, your substitute teaching experience may provide you with a credit for one field experience. The basic requirements include at least 15 days of substitute teaching in no more than two assignments which are appropriate for your area of licensure. You will need to complete a Work Experience Request form, which will be reviewed by an advisor, the Program Director and the Executive Director for approval. A student may only receive credit for one field experience either through a Work Experience Credit or through credit for previous college coursework.

1. Praxis Study Booklets – Praxis study booklets are available for check-out in the Instructional Resource Center.
2. Praxis I Tutoring – A graduate assistant is available to provide Praxis I Tutoring. The tutoring schedule is posted on all bulletin boards. Appointments for tutoring can be made at (614) 794-0803, ext. 1133.
3. Praxis II Test Preparation – Test preparation seminars are periodically held throughout the year. Seminar dates are posted on bulletin boards.
4. Praxis Testing – Individuals can register for Praxis test through: www.ets.org.

We provide centralized, comprehensive and coordinated career development, experiential learning and employer relations programs and services. We will not place you in a job, but rather provide tools and individualized guidance to support your on-going career development. Visit our website at www.ashland.edu/career for further details on services, which include:

Individual Appointments: Areas often addressed include self assessment, career decision making, document preparation, portfolio reviews, personalized job search strategies, and mock interviews.

• Seminars: Presentations are conducted at the request of faculty and staff to address topics including document development, interviewing skills, career fair readiness, and job search techniques.
• Career Exploration: Eagle Exploration is an on-line career assessment that helps students to investigate possible careers. Hard copy self-assessment tools are also available in appointments.
• Ashland University Career Connect Student and Alumni Employment Database: This online job board allows students to view and apply for positions advertised specifically to Ashland University.
• Going Global: This database contains country specific career and employment resources for more than 80 locations.
• Career Shift: This set of integrated applications is designed to help jobseekers from all fields cross-reference jobs and contacts, then tailor and organize documents.
• Reference USA: This comprehensive database includes over 14 million businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. It is a superb tool for research on prospective employers.
• Career Fairs: Career fairs are held throughout the year and alumni are welcome to participate.
• Manuals: Career Services creates handouts to assist with career development needs, all of which are available on our website under the tab “Handbooks and Guides.”
• Career Development Literature: Books are available for check out from the Instructional Resource Center, room D9.
• Directory of Candidates for Teaching and Administration: The DCTA is a listing of Ashland University students who have been enrolled during the current academic year and who are receiving a new teaching license during that same year. It is available via website to school district personnel with hiring authority in the state of Ohio and interested out-of-state districts. This is a supplemental job search strategies for K-12 teachers and administrators.

For personalized assistance please dial 794-0803 x1133 to schedule an appointment with Natalie Fike, the Career Specialist in Columbus. Available times include 10, 11, noon, 1, and 2 o'clock on Tuesdays/Thursdays and 6, 7, 8 o'clock on Wednesday evenings, by appointment only. Building doors will be locked at the start of appointments held at 7 and 8 PM, so please meet at the B-side entrance at the appointment start time. For those scheduled earlier in the day, please come to room B-21.

Students are encouraged to seek guidance at any point during their program. Don’t wait until the months leading to graduation or program completion to begin preparation for the job search. Career Services assistance is available to all students, staff, and alumni free of charge.

Critiques of resumes and cover letters can be done via e-mail. Please send documents as Microsoft Word attachments to Natalie Fike at nfike@ashland.edu and allow up to 3 business days for a reply. (If you do not hear back within that window, your message was not received so please resend.) A number of resources for job searching, interviewing, and other career preparation are available at www.ashland.edu/career. If you need assistance but are unable to come to the Columbus Center, telephone appointments are available.

Cover letters, or "letters of intent," typically accompany resumes as part of the job application. While you may not receive a specific request to draft one, inclusion of this document will help you stay competitive. Please limit the letter to 1 page in length, address it to a specific individual when possible, write in a proper business letter format, and tailor content to the specific organization and position you seek. Sample cover letters can be viewed on the Career Services website (www.ashland.edu/career) under "Handbooks & Guides."