Overview
The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and Native American Student Services in Greeley, Colorado, and Fort Lewis College (FLC) in Durango, Colorado, have collaborated and received an $873,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education's and the Office of Indian Education to establish a master's degree program in Native American leadership beginning in spring 2006.
The project, called "Native American Innovative Leadership Project: Master of Arts in Administration Dual-Licensure Preparation Program," with the goal increase Native American Educational Leaders using Distance Learning Technology and varied site-based activities for certification as a special education director and school principal.
Participants form two cohort groups of 24 students with a possible goal of 40 graduate administrator trainees. This program uses Online Hybrid Content Delivery Methods drawn from the School of Educational Research Leadership and Technology, and the School of Special Education.
The three-year program is supplemented with a one-year induction period where student will be paired with a practicing Native American administrator and a university faculty member to further develop expertise and professional growth through a mentoring relationship. This relationship will also provide extended in-service professional development in a variety of formats. The curricula will use materials that specifically address Native American student learning styles, language and culture to increase the instructional leadership capabilities of participants. The Project Leaders anticipate a ripple effect where the newly trained principal will mentor other professionals in their own schools. Additionally, the undergraduate Native American students will be encouraged to consider K-12 school leadership as a part of their career path.
Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class should contact the Disability Access Center (970-351-2289) as soon as possible after the start of class to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
The program is a three-year Distance Education Program with students divided into two cohorts, 15-20 students, followed by a induction period. The first cohort will start the Spring of 2006 and the second the Spring of 2007. Coursework will lead to a Master of Arts Degree with dual licensure as a Special Education Director and Principal. The program is a collaborative effort of faculty and staff from the departments of special education, educational leadership, educational technology, with UNC's Native American Student Services (NASS) and in partnership with Fort Lewis University.