Summer 2007 FAQs

*AmeriCorps*

Teachers College Summer Principals Academy has a unique program in collaboration with AmeriCorps to provide funding for students who participate in the SPA and who serve in a high needs school for the next two years. The program, for those who work in a qualified school, will provide up to two AmeriCorps Awards ($4,750 per year) contingent upon completion of yearly teaching or administrative service and meeting program requirements. AmeriCorps awards can be applied toward tuition or loans that were used to pay for tuition of approved programs. More information will be provided during the summer regarding receiving AmeriCorps funding.

*Loan Forgiveness*

If you have a Federal (FFEL) or Direct Stafford Loan and you’re teaching full time in a teacher shortage area, you may be eligible for deferment (postponement of repayment) if you borrowed before July 1, 1993. If you borrowed on or after July 1, 1993, you might be eligible for forbearance (a temporary postponement, reduction, or suspension of payments). If you have a loan from the Federal Perkins Loan Program, you might be eligible for loan cancellation for full-time teaching at a low-income school or teaching in certain subject areas. To find out more, refer to http://studentaid.ed.gov/, click on the “repaying” tab. Then, click on the “cancellation and deferment option for teachers” link and the “Stafford loan deferment/forbearance provisions” link and/or the “canceling a Perkins loan” link.During the four terms you are enrolled in the SPA you will maintain part-time student status and your loans will be classified as in deferment. We will have further details of how to insure your status by filing a Certificate of Equivalency (COE) during the summer.

*Registration*

The SPA office will handle your course registration since all members of the cohort take the same classes. Do not register online! Your classes will be reserved for you by our office.

You will be registered for the following courses this summer:
ORLA 4001: Introduction to School Leadership and Decision Making
ORLA 5018: School Leadership for Adult Development
ORLA 6020: The Pro Seminar in Leadership
ORLJ 5340: Basic Practicum in Conflict Resolution
ORLA 5029: Supervision of Teaching and Learning

*Tuition/Fees*

The tuition due dates should not be ignored. You will be expected to pay tuition as indicated. SPA tuition is based upon a per-credit rate that is in place for courses at TC. The program cost is $34,085 which includes the 33 credit program of studies and associated student fees. You will be expected to pay the tuition in four equal installments as set up by the Student Accounts Office in the following payment schedule.

Payment Schedule:
Due Beginning of Summer Year 1 of Cohort (6/15/2007) - $ 8,521
Due End of Summer Year 1 of Cohort (9/1/2007) - $ 8,521
Due During the Academic Year of Cohort (1/15/2008) - $ 8,521
Due Beginning of Summer Year 2 of Cohort (6/15/2008) -$ 8,521

Students paying tuition after the due date will be charged a late fee. Tuition payments can be made by check (made out to Teachers College) and submitted to Student Accounts, or you can pay by credit card using the touch-tone service or on the web.The Teachers College Fee is included in the program fee for SPA students. The only added fees are: 1) if you choose to pay by the deferred payment plan, the College charges an additional $50 2) fee for late tuition payment. Please check the website for more information.

*Housekeeping Items*

TC Admitted Student Weekends (May 4th & 5th or June 15th & 16th)

We encourage you to take advantage of activities at the TC Admitted Students weekends. We understand work engagements make it difficult for most of you to attend many of the Friday events; however, if you are able to attend, we highly recommend it.

*Immunization/Health Coverage*

Please submit the appropriate immunization record in a timely fashion as requested. If you do not submit your record it will result in a hold on your registration for the fall term. You should receive this information from the Office of Insurance and Immunization Records. You will also receive information about health insurance coverage. Note that SPA students do not need to submit a waiver to avoid the health insurance fee. Only students with full-time status during the fall or spring semesters are subject to this requirement. If you find that the fees have been charged to your account, please contact Peter Casey at casey@tc.edu or (212) 678-3006.

*Laptop Requirements*

You will be required to have a laptop with wireless connection capabilities. Recommendations and additional information on laptops are available on the TC Computing & Technology website. Your laptop will have to be registered with TC for security purposes. There will be representatives available from TC’s computing and information systems office during registration on June 23rd to process laptops. Plan to bring your laptop to classes every day as there will be activities related to them woven into every lesson.

*Additional Information*

You will receive weekly emails with a link (http://spa2007.blogspot.com/) where updated information will be posted by the SPA office. You are encouraged to check this site often, but the weekly emails will serve as friendly reminders.We also suggest that you browse the Teachers College website for information on a variety of topics. Here are some suggestions:

Admitted Students: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions/admitted.htm
*This page is comprehensive

Office of Financial Aid: www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions/finaid.htm

Students Resources: www.tc.columbia.edu/users/students.htm

Office of Housing and Residence Life: www.tc.columbia.edu/housing

Student Activities & Programs: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/stlife/detail.asp