Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership

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highered@desales.edu

About the Programs

The DeSales University Graduate Programs in Higher Education Leadership prepare individuals for professional staff leadership roles in colleges, universities and related environments.

Programs (fully on-line):

Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership (30-credits) with concentrations in Management, Student Affairs Leadership, and a Self-Design option.

Higher Education Graduate Certificate (12-credits)

Post-Masters Certificate in Student Affairs Leadership (12-credits)

Concentrations:

Management (in parnership with the DeSales Univeristy MBA Program)

Prepares individuals as leaders in administrative, operational, and managerial-focused areas of higher education including advancement and development, admissions and financial aid, program management, marketing, auxiliary and business services, administration and finance, and human resources.

Student Affairs Leadership

Prepares individuals as leaders in student development-centered support services and campus life areas of higher education including academic resource and advising services, accessibility services, career services, new student programming/orientation, health and wellness, residence life and student housing, student engagement and leadership, Greek life, and multicultural services.

Self-Design

Allows students, in consultation with the program director, to design an individualized concentration based on the student’s prior experiences and unique professional goals. Courses may be selected from Higher Education courses, courses from the Management concentration, or any other graduate course pre-approved by the program director.

Mission Statement

The mission of the DeSales University Higher Education Graduate Programs is to prepare students to excel in leadership positions in higher education institutions and related organizations. These rigorous, innovative, and highly experiential professional practice-focused programs emphasize the Salesian values of gentleness, humility, gratitude,  hospitality, and wisdom.

Learning Outcomes

1. The ability to apply Salesian moral principles as well as the ethical principles and standards of the higher education profession to their personal and professional lives, in their decision-making, and in the execution of professional duties and responsibilities.
2. Knowledge of higher education law and the relevance of general legal statutes to higher education.
3. An understanding of the history and philosophy of higher education and an ability to critically analyze contemporary global and social issues for their impact and influence on the current and future status of higher education.
4. A commitment to providing access to higher education for students with diverse characteristics.
5. Knowledge of theories, principles, and skills of effective leadership and administration as applied to higher education.
6. Understanding of organizational development and change theories and the implication for the organizational structures and dynamics of higher education.
7. Knowledge of the economics and finance of higher education and preparation in financial decision-making and in the development of budgets.
8. Depth of understanding and skill in conducting assessment, evaluation, and research of relevance to professional practice in higher education.
9. A capacity for integrating theory and knowledge of higher education in professional.

Admissions Requirements

Applications for full-time and part-time study are evaluated on a rolling admissions basis, with start-terms of fall, spring, and summer. Requirements for admission to the Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership and the Higher Education Graduate Certificate Programs are:

• a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges) or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
• acceptable level of academic quality in undergraduate and any previous graduate work. Normally, this is defined as having achieved an undergraduate and graduate GPA of at least 3.0
• An interview with the Higher Education Program Director.

Otherwise qualified individuals who do not meet the 3.0 GPA criteria may appeal for provisional admission.

In addition to the above requirements, applicants for the Post-Masters Certificate in Student Affairs Leadership must have successfully completed a masters degree in a related field of study.

Applicants will be notified at the earliest possible date of their admission status.

Application Checklist Items

(Required for the M.Ed. and Certificate programs.)

• All Official Transcripts
• Resume​ 
• Interview with the Higher Education Program Director

International Applicants

• Transcript Evaluation is required through a NACES member Candidates who completed a degree outside of the US are considered upon review of an official transcript evaluation from a member of NACES. An international applicant with a degree awarded as the result of studies less than four years must show proof that such degree is equivalent with a comparable four-year long US study.
• Certificate of Finances demonstrating an ability to fund the degree

English Competency Exam is required: TOEFL, IELTS or CAE International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores as part of their application. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to further assess English-speaking and comprehension skills through a personal interview.
 

Internal Transfer

Students enrolled in a graduate program offered by the University may transfer to the M. Ed in Higher Education Leadership program with the appropriate written approval of both the original graduate program advisor/ director and the Higher Education Leadership program director. An additional application fee is not required and ordinarily admissions credentials need not be resubmitted, but the requestor must submit a formal letter of request for transfer, provide a resume and a new statement of goals, and be interviewed by the Higher Education Leadership program director. Depending upon the advisor/director’s approval, applicable credits earned in the original program may be applied toward the M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership program.

Transfer of Credit from Other Institutions Policy

Up to nine credits of graduate work (generally at a 500 level or greater), with grades of a “B” or better, and completed within eight years of the request for transfer may be transferred from graduate programs within the University or from other graduate programs of accredited institutions of higher education to partially fulfill requirements of any program. The course content must parallel DeSales course offerings or be relevant to the degree sought. Applicants must provide an official transcript, course description and any other documentation requested by the University.

All transfers must be approved by the director of the M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership program. Transfer of credits earned before admission must be requested in writing at the time of application for admission.

Students wishing to transfer courses taken at another institution during the completion of a program must receive prior approval from the Higher Education Leadership program director. Courses offered by DeSales University as part of a program cannot be taken elsewhere for transfer if a student has the opportunity to take them at DeSales University during the current or future semesters during a reasonable time frame for completion of the program. Approval of transfer will not be granted unless for extenuating circumstances and only if denial of request for transfer will deny student progress toward program completion. Courses in the Higher Education Leadership program have outcomes aligned with program outcomes and transferred courses rarely align exactly. Therefore, desire for a more rapid completion of a program will not constitute an extenuating circumstance or grounds for approval of transfer.

Academic Schedule

The academic year of the M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership program consists of eight sessions:

Fall

• Session 1 (8 weeks) mid-August - mid-October
• Session 2 (8 weeks) mid-October - early December
• 12-week session - mid-August - early November

Spring

• Session 3 (8 weeks) mid-January - early March
• Session 4 (8 weeks) early March - early May
• 12-week session - mid-January - early April

Summer

• Summer 1 (7 weeks) early May - late June
• Summer 2 (7 weeks) late June - mid-August

Courses are delivered online. The date-specific schedule of courses is available in the learning management system as soon as possible and in WebAdvisor Self-Service before registration. 

The Academic Calendar may be found at www.desales.edu/academics/academic-calendars.

Student Status

A full-time student is one who carries at least six credits.  Normally, students following the full-time plan of study will enroll in nine credits in the fall and spring semesters

A part-time student is one who carries at least three credits. 

A student will be deemed inactive after twelve months of non-enrollment.  The student must reapply to be reinstated to continue in the program. 

Student Categories

Applicants may be admitted to the Higher Education Leadership Program in one of the following categories: 

Regular Student Category

An applicant in this category is pursuing an M.Ed. or a certificate program and meets all admission requirements.

Special Student Category

Qualified students may enroll in courses of the Higher Education Leadership Program on a per-course basis up to a maximum of nine credits without formal admission to the M.Ed. or certificate program. The successful completion of the course does not imply acceptance into a degree program or certificate. However, courses taken under this status may be applied towards the degree program or certificate requirements provided all other criteria are met.

Provisional Student Category

A post-baccalaureate student who does not fully meet the GPA requirement but who has attained a minimum of a 2.5 GPA may be admitted provisionally into the M.Ed. or certificate program. Full admission is contingent upon meeting agreed-upon academic progress goals.

Post-masters Category

Students in this category have earned a graduate degree in Higher Education Leadership or a related field.

Academic Standing GPA Requirements

All admitted students must maintain a 3.0 GPA for each semester of enrollment. If a cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 for one semester the student will be deemed “on probation” and must meet with the Higher Education Leadership program director to formulate a remediation plan. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program. A student may be placed on probation only once. If the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 for a second semester, the graduate student will be withdrawn from the program.

Minimum Grade: Students must attain a C or higher in all courses required for the master’s degree. In order to be granted a master’s degree, a student must attain a B- or higher in all core master’s degree courses.

Program Progression: All students must meet with Higher Education Leadership program director once each year to review program progress. Students are expected to continuously enroll in the courses according to the course plan. Students who have not taken a course within a span of 12 months will be considered withdrawn from the program and must reapply in order to gain approval for reinstatement.

Incomplete Policy: An incomplete is given only after an acute and significant unforeseen event prevents a student from completing the course. An incomplete is given at the discretion of the instructor and with the approval of the Higher Education Leadership program director.

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to must meet participation requirements equal to class attendance. Students should refer to the course syllabus for specific participation requirements. For online class sessions, completion of all required viewing, discussion, and assignments constitutes an attended class. An incomplete will only be approved by the Higher Education Leadership program director if an unforeseen and acute circumstance occurs that hinders course completion. A student request for an incomplete with a rationale must be made in writing to the course instructor and the Higher Education Leadership program director prior to the Monday of final exam week. The instructor and Higher Education Leadership program director in consultation may approve the incomplete for a specified period not to exceed six months.

Registration

Registration normally begins eight weeks before the start of the class. The University reserves the right to limit enrollment, or cancel a course if registration is insufficient. Registration is done through WebAdvisor Self-Service, available through the DeSales student portal. New students work with the Higher Education Leadership program director/advisor to obtain registration information and instructions. 

Student Orientation

All students registered for courses in programs either before or after acceptance are encouraged to participate in a non-credit online Student Orientation available through the DeSales learning management system. There is no fee for this orientation. Students should also familiarize themselves with the Higher Education Leadership Programs area in the learning management system for up-to-date program information.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are available at www.desales.edu.

Tuition Refunds

Both on-campus and online course days constitute course sessions in the calculation of refunds.

Withdrawal during the add/drop period: 100% of tuition refunded.

Withdrawal up to one week after the close of the add drop period: 80% of tuition refunded.

Withdrawal up to two weeks after the close of the add drop period: 60% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal up to three weeks after the close of the add drop period: 40% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the beginning of the 4th week after the close of the add drop period: No refund.

Graduation Requirements, M.Ed. Program

The following graduation requirements apply to both MEd programs:

1. Completion of the 30-credit plan of study.
2. An overall 3.0 GPA for all coursework taken at DeSales towards completion of the degree.
3. Resolution of all incomplete grades.
4. Official transcripts and other required documentation for all courses approved for transfer credit.
5. Fulfillment of all financial obligations to the University.

Certificate Completion

The following is required for the completion and awarding of Certificates (Higher Education Graduate Certificate, Post-masters Certificate in Student Affairs): 

1. Completion of the 12-credit plan of study.
2. An overall 3.0 GPA for all coursework taken at DeSales towards completion of the certificate.
3. Resolution of all incomplete grades.
4. Fulfillment of all financial obligations to the University.

Computer Literacy and Technical Requirements

The University expects all incoming students to be familiar with and able to use basic word processing, Brightspace D2L navigation, digital file management, e-mail and Internet. Applicants lacking this background should acquire it through appropriate learning experiences before registration in the first course in the program. Only DeSales email addresses will be used for communication among students, instructors, and administrators.

All students are required to meet the Personal Computer Requirements for students taking online classes posted at www.desales.edu/academics, including:

• broadband access to the Internet
• a current Windows or Mac computer
• a headset with microphone (no open speakers with external mic)

• ability to run (all applications available from DeSales University)
  • D2L Brightspace learning management system
  • Microsoft Office 365
  • Zoom and Microsoft Teams video conferencing applications
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader DC or other application that reads PDF files
  • Respondus LockDown Browser with Monitor

Students are responsible for determining what specific technology is required for a specific course before registration.

Other Program Requirements

Mentorship

Students admitted into the M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership program and the Higher Education Graduate Certificate program are required to select a professional mentor.  As a requirement for the Law, Ethics, Standards course, students will be expected to provide the mentor’s name, title/position, department/unit/functional area, and institution, along with a statement of goals for the mentorship experience.

Professional Ethics Agreement

Higher Education is a professional practice field, to that end students are expected to abide by the ethical codes and standards of the higher education profession set forth by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA); American Association of University Administrators (AAUA); the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS); and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA).  The Law, Ethics, Standards course (MHE500) serves as an orientation to the profession of higher education.  As such, students will be introduced to and expected to demonstrate comprehension of the aforementioned ethical codes and standards and will be expected to sign an agreement of their willingness to abide by these codes and standards prior to completion of the course.

Practicum / Internship

A practicum experience is a curricular requirement of the M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership program and typically occurs in the fall and/or spring of year two of the program. Higher Education Practicum is a course linking an experience in the field to the graduate program curriculum in which topics salient to the experience are covered. In the case of formal internships, a DeSales University Higher Education Leadership program instructor and an on-site supervisor provide supervision.  Students select an internship site (public, private, two-year college or university or other approved post-secondary environment - department or functional area, e.g., admissions, career development center, alumni relations office) for a 12 to 15 hours a week experience during a 12-week session. Students with significant higher education or professional work experience complete a capstone project that does not require physically reporting to an internship site and which is compatible with ongoing employment outside of the program.

Programs

• Higher Education Leadership, Management (M.Ed.)
• Higher Education Leadership, Self-Design (M.Ed.)
• Higher Education Leadership, Student Affairs Leadership (M.Ed.)

• Post-Master’s Certificate in Student Affairs Leadership

• Higher Education Graduate Certificate

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