Continuing Teacher Education

General Information

Continuing Teacher Education at Western provides a range of opportunities for teachers to engage in ongoing professional development.

Additional Qualification courses provide opportunities for teachers to gain information about and strategies for teaching in a particular subject area, to expand the repertoire of teaching subjects and to qualify for salary increments. AQ courses offered at Western meet the certification requirements of the Ontario College of Teachers and are recorded on the Certificate of Qualification. As well, the courses appear on the university transcript. We take pride in our program and welcome your comments on how our programs can better support your lifelong learning goals.

Professional Development courses at Western are designed to promote teachers' ongoing learning about best practices in teaching with the goal to improve student learning.  These courses are not accredited by the Ontario College of Teachers but will appear on a Western transcript for inclusion in a teacher's portfolio.

We offer two types of courses. AQ Courses are offered in two formats.

We offer courses in five sessions.

FEES

THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AMEND FEES.

The 2009/2010 tuition fee is $899.00.

Registration is dependent upon payment of fees and academic eligibility.

Payment of the full tuition amount is required to complete your registration. It is recommended that you provide your American Express, Visa or MasterCard number since your registration will NOT be processed until payment has been received. Note that the tuition amount includes a $100 non-refundable deposit. You should ensure that you meet the course prerequisites before you complete the registration process. A statement of account can be printed from the Registrar's Office website at http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/index.cfm

COURSE WITHDRAWAL/REFUND

Withdrawal from an AQ course has a corresponding financial implication. To withdraw from a course after registration, the student should notify the Continuing Teacher Education Office immediately by email at conted@uwo.ca.

If withdrawal is made prior to the commencement date of the session, a refund of fees less the $100 non-refundable deposit will be issued.

If withdrawal occurs after the commencement of the session, a refund in accordance with the "refund schedule" established by The University of Western Ontario, will be issued.

Full refunds are given if a course is cancelled by the University.

Refunds are only issued in the same tender used for payment. No interest is paid on refunded tuition.  Refunds take approximately 7-10 days to process.

Withdrawing from a course after its midpoint will result in a failing grade and no refund of tuition.


T2202A tax receipts for 2009 will be available from the Office of the Registrar's Website at the end of February 2010. Login using your student ID and 4-digit PIN; click on MY PAST. T2202As printed from the website will be accepted by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA). Please note that receipts are issued based on the year in which you have taken a course rather than when you have paid for it. Receipts for courses which start in January 2010 will not be available until February 2011.

Important Information

According to the Ontario College of Teachers’ guidelines, for all Additional Qualifications Courses there is a time commitment of 125 hours.
This time allotment includes ongoing and active participation in the online Discussion area, participation in Educational Rounds, and the completion of readings and assignments.
  You are expected to participate in the online discussion every other day (approximately 12.5 hours/week online) in the Summer Online Session and every second or third day (approximately 6.5 hours/week or 2 hours/3 days a week online) in all other online sessions.

All courses are subject to approval of the Ontario College of Teachers.

All AQ courses at Western have been accredited by the Ontario College of Teachers. Professional Development courses are not accredited by OCT but appear on a Western transcript.

Students who are completing an Additional Qualification course for the purpose of a salary category change should have the course pre-approved by QECO/OSSTF -- not all courses are credited toward a category change.

Before beginning your course, you must be aware of the following:

  • ATTENDANCE
    Online:   You are expected to participate in the online discussion every other day (approximately 12.5 hours/week online) in the Summer Online Session and every second or third day (approximately 6.5 hours/week or 2 hours/3 days a week online) in all other online sessions.
    Summer Blended:   It is expected that students will attend class every day.  Any absence beyond nine hours for a full course would necessitate placing a student on "Conditional Status" or requiring the student to leave the course.

  • PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS
    a) The progress of each student is subject to various forms of evaluation on a regular basis. Eligibility to remain registered in any program is contingent on each student's ability to maintain a satisfactory level of academic, professional and pedagogic performance in all components of the course (i.e., Educational Rounds, Electronic Portfolio, and Discussion).

    b) A student who, at the end of a Module, has not achieved a satisfactory level of performance shall, at the discretion of the Chair, in consultation with the student's instructors:
    (i) be required to withdraw; or,
    (ii) be placed on Conditional Status.

  • SCHOLASTIC OFFENCES
    Students are reminded of the scholastic offences and associated penalties listed in the University's undergraduate Calendar. Scholastic offences include plagiarism, submitting false or fraudulent assignments, or submitting for credit any academic work for which credit has previously been obtained.

The University of Western Ontario subscribes to the service at Turnitin to help professors identify internet plagiarism and help students maintain academic integrity.

CLASSROOM ASSISTANCE
Should you require classroom assistance (interpreters or assistive devices) related to special needs such as hearing or visual impairment, please contact Continuing Teacher Education at conted@uwo.ca as early as possible. Arrangements for interpreters, in particular, need to be made well in advance.

CORRECT ADDRESS
Please ensure that the University has a correct address, email address and telephone number on file.

COURSE CANCELLATION
Courses with fewer than 20 registrants will be cancelled. Decisions regarding cancellations will be made following the registration deadline. Candidates who are enrolled in a course that is cancelled will be notified by email.

EMAIL COMMUNICATION
The Continuing Teacher Education Office will communicate with you by email. Ensure that your email account is active and that you check your email regularly for important information and instructions.  Notify conted@uwo.ca immediately of changes to your email address.  Note: Some email programs automatically route business emails to 'spam' folders.

GRADES
Grade Reports will not be issued.  Final grades will be available via the Registrar's Office website by logging in to the Student Center approximately one month following the conclusion of a course.  Transcripts can also be ordered from the Registrar's Office site ONLY after verifying that your grade is available through the Grades Service.  Course completion information is automatically sent to the Ontario College of Teachers for certification purposes.

LIBRARY RESOURCES
Reciprocal borrowing agreements are in effect between the University of Waterloo, University of Guelph, Wilfrid Laurier University, York University, and The University of Western Ontario. All patrons holding a valid Western library card are permitted to borrow materials, according to the borrowing policy established by the particular library.

PRIVACY PROTECTION

The Faculty of Education at Western is committed to protecting the privacy of all individuals with whom it comes in contact.  Please see our Privacy Protection policy for further information.