Distance Credential Program
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM
Our VI Distance Program began in the Summer of 2000. The program is a part-time program providing course work leading to California Educational Specialist Credential in Visual Impairments. Due to state budget cuts, our distance program has been curtailed. We will be offering one distance class per semester until further notice.
Only our VI disability specific classes have been available through the distance program. Two general education and two general special education equivalent classes can be taken elsewhere. It is best to obtain preapproval for these non-disability specific classes to be certain that they meet SFSU equivalency requirements.
Fall and spring disability-specific classes will be offered via Interactive Video using Codec interactive video equipment. This system enables people at reception sites to participate in courses originating at SFSU. People at reception sites can see and talk to SFSU's broadcast site, while people at the broadcast site can see and hear those at each reception sites. Internet access and e-mail are required for all Interactive Video classes. On an experimental basis, some classes are videostreamed to select users via high speed DSL or Cable connections.
PLANNED SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Fall, 2007
SPED 749 Medical, Educational, and Rehabilitative Implications of Visual Impairments
Spring, 2008
SPED 757 Visual Impairments: Special Populations
Fall 2008
SPED 751 Instruction for Learners with Visual Impairments
Spring 2009
SPED 750 Assessment Learners with Visual Impairments
Fall 2009
SPED 655 Basic Orientation & Mobility for Learners with Visual Impairments
Spring 2010
SPED 753 Living Skills Assessment & Instruction for Learners with Visual Impairments
Fall, 2010
SPED 754 Beginning Communication Skills for Learners with Visual Impairments
Spring, 2011
SPED 758 Advanced Communication Skills
for Learners with Visual Impairments
APPLICATION
Contact Dr. Amanda Hall Lueck at (415)
338-1080 <amandal@sfsu.edu> for information and Department of Special
Education for an application (415) 338-1161 or http://www.sfsu.edu/~spedcd/.
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT
The CSU Concurrent Enrollment Program
is available to students who wish to take courses at other CSUs while taking
the Interactive Video courses at SFSU during Spring and Fall Semesters.
The program requires that students complete at least one term at SFSU.
Then students may enroll at SFSU and another CSU campus up to 15 units.
Students pay full time fees at SFSU and receive residence credit for all
course work at other CSUs. (There is no part-time enrollment with the Concurrent
Enrollment Program)
SFSU LIBRARY ACCESS
1. Log on to registration page in library web site to get a PIN number. You must be a registered student at SFSU to obtain a PIN number. Once you have your PIN number you can search SFSUís data bases from a remote site.
Click on https://opac.sfsu.edu/patroninfo.html to get a PIN
2. You will have to reconfigure your browser according to instructions on the Database Access from Internet Service Providers page. Go to the portion of the page that says "Instructions for Compatible Browsers".
Then you're set to go.
3. If you have questions or problems with you library search, Athena Nazario, an SFSU librarian will help you. She can be reached at anazario@sfsu.edu
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Is there a special phone line for
distance students, and what are appropriate questions for this line?
Regarding university procedures for this program, Ellayne Hurlbut in the Registrar's Office is the contact person. Her direct phone number is: (415) 338-7231. Her email is: ehurlbut@sfsu.edu. If she is unavailable, students may call the Registrar's Office switchboard at (415) 338-2350.
For advising questions specifically related to the Department of Special Education, contact (415) 338-1161.
For questions pertaining to specific courses in your program or course work leading to a credential or Masters degree, contact your area advisor.
2. Is there a quick reference list of phone numbers and e-mail addresses available to help distance students?
The phone numbers above will be the best numbers for students to call to get quick and concise information.
3. How do I register if I miss the touch tone registration dates?
Every evening there is open registration for eligible students to add classes. They can call Touch Tone between 7:00 pm and midnight Monday through Friday and on Sunday from 8:00 am to midnight.
4. What is the exact procedure to enroll concurrently at SFSU and another CSU campus?
The student must fill out a Concurrent Enrollment form, which is available on each CSU campus in the Registrar's Office. Ellayne Hurlbut (see #1 above) can provide a set of forms for Amanda Lueck to distribute to students, or students may request them individually from Ellayne. Each student must turn in the form to his/her Home campus (i.e., the campus where they are admitted--in this case, SFSU) to certify eligibility and residency status. Once the form is certified and signed by SFSU, it should be turned into the Host campus (i.e., the other CSU campus where the student is taking classes). The Host campus will put the student into its student database so he/she can register for classes, get a photo ID, and use the Host campus library. Fees are paid at the Home campus, SFSU.
5. Who signs the form at the SFSU campus for concurrent enrollment? Can students send the forms to Ellayne Hurlbut?
The concurrent enrollment forms are signed by the Registrar at SFSU. Ellayne works in the Registrar's Office at SFSU. She will use our signature stamp with the Registrar's signature after she has verified that a student is eligible and in good standing to be in the concurrent enrollment program.
6. Who do I mail my concurrent enrollment forms to at SFSU?
Ellayne Hurlbut, Registrar's Office, SFSU,1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco, CA 94132. In case time is a problem, students can also fax their certified form to the Registrar's Office (ATTN: Ellayne Hurlbut) at: (415) 338-0588.
7. How do I obtain course substitution approval from SFSUs Department of Special Education for courses taken at another university to meet credential or Masters requirements?
Ellayne Hurlbut at SFSU will have a list of CSU coordinators for other special programs and can give the name & phone number to students if they need help.
9. What are the regulations for eligibility for financial aid? (e.g., for Masters vs. credential candidates)
Students can receive financial aid if
they are conditionally admitted or classified masters degree students or
if they are admitted to a credential program. Masters students must
take at least 4 units to qualify for part-time financial aid, 8 units for
full-time aid.
Credential students must take at least
6 units to qualify for part-time financial aid, 12 units to qualify for
full-time financial aid. If this involves concurrent enrollment classes,
note that students may not receive aid from more than one school for the
same term. The financial aid offices at both campuses must complete
and authorize a concurrent enrollment agreement to ensure that only one
campus is paying financial aid for units taken at both campuses.
10. How do I arrange for financial aid if I am waiting for concurrent enrollment to come through?
Students receive financial aid only at the Home campus, i.e., the campus where they are admitted--in this case, SFSU. If the student is concurrently enrolled at another campus, SFSU needs an agreement with that school's financial aid office to ensure that only SFSU is awarding and disbursing aid. A student cannot receive any money until the concurrent enrollment at the other campus has been confirmed.
11. How do I register for courses in a semester in which I am only taking classes at a CSU Host campus and not at SFSU?
Since you are not taking any courses at your Home campus (SFSU), you are considered to be a "visitor" at the Host CSU campus and must use the CSU ìintrasystem visitor registrationî process. Ellayne Hurlbut can help you with the forms you must file.
12. Can I be enrolled in two credential programs, one at SFSU and one at another CSU?
No. As stated in the 2001-2002 SFSU Bulletin (page 92) a student may not be admitted at two campuses concurrently with two separate degree objectives.
13. How do I get a SFSU student ID card?
Once a student is in the University Student database, they may go to the One Stop Student Services Center & have a student Photo ID taken at the ONE CARD office (Student Services 103). The student must provide a photo ID. This SFSU student ID card will also allow them to use the SFSU library. Cards are issued to all currently enrolled students with no charge for the initial card. The replacement fee for lost or stolen cards is $2.00. For more information, call (415) 338-3619 or send an email to onecard@sfsu.edu.
We are investigating possibilities for providing ID cards for students who cannot get to campus, but so far there is no alternative to the instructions above.
14. How do I get a SFSU library card?
See question #12 above. Once you obtain your student ID card, it can be used to access all library services. Bring it with you whenever you want to check out materials.
Even without an SFSU ID card, SFSU students can access SFSU Library resources. In addition to your student number, you must establish a personal identification number (PIN) for library purposes. For further information and to establish a PIN, go to the Web at www.library.sfsu.edu and click on ìLibrary PIN/Patron Record.î
15. Can I use my library card at other CSUs?
Yes, as long as you are a CSU student, you can use your library card at any CSU library.
16. Can I use the online library search facilities at SFSU?
Yes, you can use any online computer at SFSU or anywhere to search for library materials.
17. Can I check out library books from the SFSU library from a distance?
Electronic materials are available online, but you must go to the SFSU library to check out printed materials if they are not also available at your Host CSU campus.
18. What do I do if there is a discrepancy between the printed schedule and the online schedule of courses?
The printed Class Schedule does not include any changes made after it is published. The most up-to-date information is on Touch Tone and the Web. These sources reflect the changes departments have made after the schedule is published. (Some departments make changes up until a couple of days before instruction begins.) When a department makes a change to the course schedule, the information is immediately put into the computer system, which is automatically linked with the schedule information on the Web.
19. What do I do if there is a registration problem, and I cannot come to campus to resolve it?
First call Ellayne Hurlbut (see #1 above). If she is not available, call the Touch Tone Help Line (415) 338-7000.
20. What do I do if I am disabled and
require assistance from the Disability Resource Center? What do I
do if I require local
readers
due to my disability?
In order to receive services from DRC,
students must come in and register with the office located in Student Services
110 (Monday-Friday 9:00-4:00) (415-338-2472 voice/TDD). Disability
verification must be provided when registering with DRC.
Students may be eligible for one or more
of these services depending on the specific nature of their disabilities:
admission assistance; priority registration; note-taking assistance; parking;
on campus shuttle; orientation and mobility; sign language interpreters;
real-time captioning; assistive listening devices; books on tape; large
print and Braille transcription; lab assistance; readers. Also, DRC
will provide eligible students with help understanding and managing access
to other campus resources.
21. How do I obtain necessary paperwork from a distance to complete my teacher credentialing and MA requirements from the College of Education?
Credential Requirements
1. Student Teaching Application Form: This must be obtained from the Department of Special Education by the end of January for Fall semester student teaching and by the middle of September for Spring semester student teaching. Contact the Department of Special Education, Burk Hall 154, (415) 338-1161. Send this completed form to your area advisor for approval. Your area advisor will submit it to the Department of Special Education.
2. Student Teaching: To qualify for student teaching, you must provide evidence of the following:
3. Application for the Credential: This can be obtained upon request from the Credentials Analyst at (415) 338-1758. Evidence of completion of the RICA is required to obtain a Preliminary Credential. A credential is obtained with verification of employment in the credential area.
For those students who already hold a California multiple or single subject credential, the RICA may not be necessary. Please contact the Credentials Analyst at (415) 338-1758 for more information.Myla L. Marcelino-Adeva" mlm@sfsu.edu serves students whose last names begin with A-K. Claudia Murcia-Chamorro marxel@sfsu.edu serves students whose last names begin with L-Z .
Masters Requirements
1. Graduate Essay Test application: This form is available from the testing center online at http://www.sfsu.edu/~testing/online.html.Contact the College of Education Graduate Office if you require additional information at (415) 338-2051.
2. Graduate Approved Program (GAP) form: This form is available from the Graduate Office of the College of Education. It should be filed the semester before expected graduation. Request this form via online from http://www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy/current-form.htm. Indicate the program in which you are enrolled when making your request (e.g., Visual Impairments). Send the completed form to your area advisor for signature. The area advisor will then send the signed and completed form to the Graduate Office.
3. Application for Graduation: This must be submitted during the first six weeks of the semester in which graduation is expected. It can be obtained from the Graduate Office of College of Education. Request this form via e-mail from Loretta Seva'aetasi at retta@sfsu.edu Indicate the program in which you are enrolled when making your request (e.g., Visual Impairments).
22. Is there a contact in the Bookstore where I can learn whether all books are in stock?
Yes, students can call the Bookstore, textbook department, at (415) 338-7054 to check on the status of a textbook, or visit their website at http://sfsubookstore.com/catalog/
Textbooks can be ordered online.
23. What do I do if a book is not in the Bookstore and I need it for a class?
You can call the textbook department (415-338-7054) to find out when the book will become available. Also contact the course instructor for advice. Faculty might be able to lend a book or make a copy of a selected chapter.
24. How far in advance should I order books from the Bookstore online for my classes?
If the books are in stock, it can take between 1-2 weeks from the order date for delivery.
25. For summer sessions, what are the dormitory regulations?
On-campus housing for SFSU students is usually available in double-occupancy residence hall rooms, on a first-come first-served basis. A choice of 3 meal plans (double occupancy room + 21 meal plan,15 meal plan or 10 meal plan) was required for all summer semester residents. As arrangements may vary each Summer, look for further information and updates on the Web at www.sfsu.edu/~housing. You can also contact Housing and Residential Services by email at housing@sfsu.edu, or by telephone at (415) 338-1067.
26. For summer sessions, what university facilities are available for use and what are the hours of the operation?
The quiet study room in the library is often open during library summer operating hours. (For up-to-date library hours,see www.library.sfsu.edu/general/hours/html.) The study and lounge area in the Student Center maybe available. Please chech hours. Recreational facilities available through the Kinesiology Department included the swimming pool, indoor basketball courts, running track, and tennis courts. Current information on recreational hours is available at http://www.sfsu.edu/~recsport/open_hours.html.
27. For summer sessions, what computer
facilities are provided on campus, and how available are they for students
to work on
major
class projects (i.e., are they in use by other students most of the time)?
Are there computer facilities accessible for
students
with visual impairments?
The computer lab located on the first floor of the library is open throughout the summer. The hours are posted on the Web (see #20 above). Access is on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a 2-hour time limit on these computers, which is enforced until 10:00 pm. There are additional computer labs in colleges and/or departments on campus. A complete listing of these labs, including locations restrictions on use, and hours of availability is on the Web at www.sfsu.edu/~doit/labs.htm.
Students with specific disabilities verified by Disability Resource Center (DRC) can obtain authorization to use the Schiffman Room in the Reserve Book Room (basement of the library). This site offers a PC and Macintosh with fully flexible workstations and adaptive software including Open Book, a CTV, Braillers, lockers and several individual rooms for study.