Beginning the Program If you would like to participate in The Online Academy for Teachers, you must begin by emailing the Program Director, Dr. Priscilla Norton (pnorton@gmu.edu). At that time, you will begin receiving information from the Program Administrator, Dawn Hathaway (dhathawa@gmu.edu). You will be assigned an online mentor and referred to this page. Applying for Admissions to the Program If you would like to complete the entire Online Academy for Teachers and earn the University Certificate, you will need to complete an application for admissions. Fortunately, the University does not require the full application for admissions to certificate programs. Instead, you may complete only the abbreviated application. Below are the components you will need to complete: 1. You may either complete the online application form by clicking on this link. Or you may download the Admissions Package by clicking on this link. The four page application form is included in this package. If you complete the online application form, you must be prepared to pay the application fee of $60 online using a credit card. If you elect to download the Admissions Package, print the application, and submit by mail, you will need to attach a check for $60 made payable to George Mason University. 2. Request two official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions of higher education including community college work. Even if you have transferred hours from one institution to another and those hours appear on a different transcript, you must submit original transcripts from all institutions. Request that transcripts be mailed to your home and do not open them. Place them in a mailing envelope. 3. If you completed the online Application Form, address the mailing envelope and send all transcripts to the address below. If you printed and completed the application form, attach a $60 check and place it in the envelope with your transcripts. Send to the address below. You will be notified when you have been formally admitted.
Registering for Program Courses Registering for courses depends on who is paying for your course work: you or a sponsoring institution or school division. A Sponsoring Institution: If your enrollment in this Program is sponsored by your employer, the Program Administrator will handle all enrollment and billing issues. All you need to do is let her and your mentor know when you are ready to begin the next course. Of course, you will also need to comply with processes within your sponsoring institution. An Independent Student: If you are participating in The Online Academy for Teachers without the sponsorship of your employer, you will need to handle your own registration and tuition once you have been formally admitted. Until that time, the Program Administrator will work with you to complete registration. When you are formally admitted, you will register for courses on the GMU Self Service Patriot Web site. The site is accessible by clicking on the link or by entering the URL: https://patriotweb.gmu.edu. Please notice that the address begins with https:// not the traditional http:// - that is because the site is a secure site. It might be a good idea to bookmark the site since you will use it often. When you login to that site, you are required to use your official GMU ID number (called a G number) and your PIN (personal identification number). Your PIN serves as your password. You will also be able to pay for your tuition on the site using a credit card. Of course, you will also be able to send a check made payable to George Mason University directly to the Cashier's Office. You will be notified by regular mail when you have been formally admitted, and you will be informed about your G number and your PIN at the same time. Then, each time you are ready to register for a course, let the Program Administrator and your online mentor know. The Program Administrator will send the required class registration number (CRN) as well as an short tutorial for using the Patriot Web. Obtaining Grades and Transcripts George Mason University is moving rapidly toward the goal of becoming a paperless University. As you will learn later, GMU uses your GMU email address to notify you about policy changes, schedule deadlines, new events, and any number of other business related topics. In addition, all grades must be accessed online using the Patriot Web described above. While your online mentor will let you know about your grade as you complete each course, your "official" grade record must be obtained on the web. Transcripts are also available online using the Patriot Web site. These transcripts are "unofficial" but generally serve most purposes including salary increases. If you need to obtain an "official" transcript, you must access the request for transcript form online, print and complete the form, and then fax it to the number provided. At this time, official transcripts are free. Be sure to ask your online mentor and/or the Program Administrator for help using these systems. Completing the Program When you enroll in the final course of the Program, you will need to notify the University that you intend to graduate. This is done online. Click on the link provided here to access the online Intent to Graduate site. Select the month that signifies end of the semester in which you will complete the last class. If you have registered for the last class in the Fall semester, select January. If you registered for your last class in the Spring semester, select May. If you have registered for the last class in the Summer semester, select August. Complete ALL the information as you progress through the screens including the exit survey. Navigation of this site is on the top green banner.
If you fail to complete this site successfully while you are actively enrolled in a course, you will be charged a fee. So, don't forget to do this when you register for your last course!
|
