Springtime is our busiest admissions season at UVEI, and during this time I get a glimpse into the lives of educators. Just like the new growth outdoors, admissions season is an exciting, encouraging, and hopeful new beginning. At the registrar and admissions desk, I receive and process applications for our MEd degree pathways as well as our teacher, school leadership, and literacy licensure programs. The admissions process, though, goes far beyond the paperwork processing.
Supporting application materials
When our admissions committee considers a potential candidate for degree or licensure, we want to familiarize ourselves with the whole person. The supporting application materials – resumes, written essays, transcripts, letters of recommendation from people familiar with their capacities in education – aim to give a complete picture of the applicant’s experiences, abilities, and potential challenges. Conversations with faculty members – from the time someone first inquiries through the official admissions interview and beyond – further serve as a way to get to know the person, and for the applicant to get to know us as well. A decision to enroll should be based on a mutual recognition that this program is a good fit at this time.
A personal relationship
When the admissions committee convenes, we discuss not only the strengths and challenges the applicant brings to the program, but also their potential trajectory through the program and into their next career phase. What type of mentor and placement will help them grow and thrive? What additional support might they need? Are there any particular areas of focus for them as a new teacher or leader? The decision that results is a personalized commitment to each applicant, and this personalization carries through the program and beyond. The relationship is a priority – while it starts with an application, it will grow over the course of UVEI enrollment, and will continue beyond graduation as we will stay in touch, we will read and celebrate their accomplishments, and we will welcome our alumni back for additional training and conversation.
Prerequisite requirements
For our licensure programs, there are state requirements that apply to our candidates at various stages of admissions and enrollment. Notable admissions requirements include
- Licensure Exams: from the basic academic skills admissions requirement for our Teacher Intern Program, to subject-specific exams for new teachers (and also principals and literacy specialists in NH), we provide our candidates with up-to-date information on what is required and when it needs to be completed. (See uvei.edu/licensure-exams for more details.)
- Criminal Record Checks: The state of New Hampshire requires a Department of Education-administered criminal records check for all candidates who are admitted to an educator preparation program. Candidates being placed in school settings where they are not already employed will also need to do a background check through their school district. We provide our candidates with detailed instructions and timelines so that this does not become a barrier to participation.
- Degree and experiential requirements: In the admissions process, we make sure to give our candidates a complete understanding of their path to licensure. Potential complications can sometimes pop up based degree level, licensure, or experience. For example, an applicant to our Principal Internship Program may be an experienced school counselor – this experience meets the requirements for principal licensure in Vermont, but in New Hampshire they would also need to show evidence of meeting the Professional Teaching Standards – UVEI can help with this, but it impacts the cost and requirements of the program so we share that information upon admissions. Prospective applicants are encouraged to get in touch with us as soon as possible to understand whether they have the appropriate degree(s) and experience for the license(s) they seek.
Hope
When I meet our new cohorts during orientation seminars and events every August, I love putting faces to the names and the email conversations we’ve had. I feel hopeful hearing the buzz of energy during seminars as candidates get to know each other and share their experiences, building a network of support. I am committed to serving as a resource for questions about licensure and transcripts, throughout the program and beyond. The future is full of possibilities, and this is when it all starts.
Welcome to admissions season!
Marie McCormick is the Registrar and Operations Associate and a former math teacher. You can get in touch with her anytime.
