Program Policies

International Education Program Policies:

1.Course Registration

2.Transfer of Credits

3.Grading System

4.Incompletes and Withdrawals

5.Academic Standing

6.University Policy Regarding Academic Honesty

7.Change of Degree Program Status

8.Program Schedule

9.Course Organization
Pre-Class Work
On-Site Instruction
Class Work

10.Portfolio Requirements

11.The Standard Program

12.Requests for Transcripts



Course Registration

  1. Registration for courses will be handled by the C. Louis Cedrone International Education Center on site at the overseas school where the program is to be held. Registration forms will be provided by Framingham State University.
  2. The course kit will be distributed through the overseas school where the educator is employed approximately thirty days prior to the first day of class.
  3. The International Education Committee and the Dean at Framingham State University will process all applications and will be responsible for notifying students of their acceptance or rejection.

Transfer of Credits
Courses recently completed at another regionally accredited college or university prior to official admission may be approved at the time of admission if a course description is provided with the student’s application. Courses undertaken for transfer credit after admission must have prior approval in writing from the Executive Director of IEP. Courses accepted in transfer must meet academic criteria similar to those established for Framingham State University courses. Professional development courses, even at the graduate level, will not be accepted in transfer toward a master’s degree. Transfer credit is limited to two graduate courses (eight semester hours) passed with a grade of B- or better. A course description and official transcript of courses requested for transfer must be on file prior to approval. Courses used to fulfill the requirements of another degree cannot be accepted.

Transfer credit may be allowed on a course basis as opposed to a credit hour basis for courses carrying three semester hours of credit (or their equivalent in quarter hours) when the advisor believes that the content of the course is generally comparable in scope and depth with the four credit courses provided by Framingham State University. Approval of the Executive Director of IEP is also required.

Students wishing to transfer courses valued at less than three semester hours may do so at the discretion of the Dean and the program advisor but in a ratio that guarantees that the total credit hours of the transfer courses equal or exceed those of the Framingham State courses replaced.

 

GRADING SYSTEM
Framingham State University uses the following marking system:
              Grade                                                 Quality Points
              A ........................................................... 4.0
              A- ..........................................................3.7
              B+ ......................................................... 3.3
              B ........................................................... 3.0
              B- ..........................................................2.7
              C+ ......................................................... 2.3
              C ........................................................... 2.0
              F ........................................................... 0.0
              WF ........................................................ 0.0

 

Incompletes and Withdrawals
A grade of Incomplete (Inc) will be given only under extenuating circumstances. Incompletes must be resolved prior to the end of the next semester, including the summer semester. Unless an extension is granted, all incomplete grades automatically become Fs at this time. Responsibility for completing remaining course requirements and for removal of an Incomplete rests entirely with the student. Should there be need for communication, the student should write directly to the C. Louis Cedrone International Education Center. Withdrawal (W) is allowed when compelling reasons make a student’s continuation in the course impossible. If withdrawal is necessary during the on-site instructional phase, the student should notify the instructor/s of the course/s from which he/she withdraws. If withdrawal becomes necessary at any other time the student should inform the C. Louis Cedrone International Education Center in writing. Withdrawal may also be imposed (or mandated) by the Dean when a student fails to meet course and/or program requirements.

 

Academic Standing

Completion of a graduate degree program or graduate certificate at Framingham State University requires that all students achieve a minimum of 3.00 grade point average in graduate courses taken to satisfy program requirements. Only credits received from Framingham State University are included in this calculation. Students are expected to monitor their academic progress and will receive an academic warning if their grade point average falls below 3.00.

Academic Warning
A student shall receive a warning the first time the cumulative grade point average falls below 3.00.

Academic Dismissal
A student may be dismissed from the program if they are placed on Academic Warning for a second semester (consecutive or otherwise).

Upon notification of dismissal, students will have up to one semester from the date of notification to make a formal written appeal for readmission. Students must submit appeals using the online form provided on the University’s website.

 

 

University Policy Regarding Academic Honesty
Integrity is essential to academic life. Consequently, students who enroll at Framingham State University agree to maintain high standards of academic honesty and scholarly practice. They shall be responsible for familiarizing themselves with the published policies and procedures regarding academic honesty. Academic honesty requires but is not limited to the following practices: appropriately crediting all published and unpublished sources, whether quoted, paraphrased, or otherwise expressed, in all of the student's oral and written, technical and artistic work; and observing the policies regarding the use of technical facilities. Infractions of the Policy on Academic Honesty include, but are not limited to:

  1. Plagiarism: claiming as one's own work the published or unpublished literal or a paraphrased work of another. It should be recognized that plagiarism is not only academically dishonest but also illegal.
  2. Cheating on exams, tests, quizzes, assignments, and papers, including the giving or acceptance of these materials and other sources of information, without the permission of the instructor(s).
  3. Unauthorized collaboration with other individuals in the preparation of course assignments.
  4. Submitting without authorization the same assignment for credit in more than one course.
  5. Use of dishonest procedures in computer, laboratory, studio, or field work. Further clarification on academic honesty will be provided, when appropriate, in individual courses.
  6. Misuse of the University's technical facilities (computer machinery, laboratories, media equipment, etc.), either maliciously or for personal gain. Examples include but are not necessarily limited to:
    • Accessing the private files of another person or agency without express permission.
    • The unauthorized use of technical facilities for purposes not connected with academic pursuits. When evidence indicates that a student has improperly used a technical facility, an appropriate supervisor (faculty or staff member) may take appropriate action reflecting the seriousness of the infraction, ranging from a verbal warning to, but not beyond, denial of use of the facility. If coursework has been plagiarized, the supervisor will also inform all concerned faculty members, who may take action as described in the procedures for handling cases of alleged infractions of academic honesty.

Change of Degree Program Status
Candidates who have successfully completed six 4-credit courses overseas may petition the Dean of Graduate Studies and Executive Director at Framingham State University, to complete their degree requirements at Framingham State University at the tuition rate applicable to home campus graduate students. 

Candidates who have completed less than six 4-credit courses overseas and are either 1) unable to complete the degree requirements overseas or 2) elect to continue their graduate education at Framingham State University, may petition the Dean for a change of degree program status.

Although all course credits completed as part of the Master of Education Degree Program for Educators Living and Working Overseas are accepted by Framingham State University, a change of M.Ed. Degree Program status may place the transferring student under a different set of program requirements and tuition rates. Transferability of courses from the M.Ed. Degree Program for Educators Living and Working Overseas to another M.Ed. Degree Program will be governed by the course requirements of the M.Ed. Program to which the student transfers.

All materials necessary for a change in degree program status should be forwarded via the overseas school in which the candidate teaches to the C. Louis Cedrone International Education Center at Framingham State University, 100 State Street, Framingham, MA 01701-9101.

Program Schedule
The degree program offers four required courses annually to coincide with administrative school closings, normally during January and summer months. Each nine course cycle (36 semester hours of credit), is given during four consecutive sessions extending over two years.  Courses may also be offered in an after-school format during the school year.

Course Organization
To maximize the value for participants, each course will be developed through the following three phases:

Pre-Class Work
Instructors for each course prepare course materials to be available to each student approximately four to six weeks prior to the first day of class.  Utilizing the university's online resources such as Canvas and the off-campus databases of the Whittemore Library, the pre-course assignments will contain specific instructions for their use in preparation for the first class meeting.  Some assignments may necessitate writing short research papers, answering topical questions, defining issues and problems or raising questions to be dealt with during the course.  

On-Site Instruction
The course instructor will be on-site at the American/International overseas school for approximately two weeks. During this period each student must organize their own out of class commitments so that there is ample time available to attend all classes and complete the required assignments. This provides an excellent opportunity for students and faculty to work with one another in a wide range of situations. The availability of the instructor for counseling and one-on-one discussion during much of the day is a unique feature.

 

Class Work
All students must complete a project approved by the course instructor during the on-site instruction phase. This activity will be a direct outgrowth of the course, utilizing the concepts, techniques, and course materials for the improvement of learning experiences at the classroom, division or school level where the teacher is assigned.

Portfolio Requirements

Framingham State University

International Education Programs

Portfolio Requirement for a master’s degree in the International Education Programs

As a culminating experience, each matriculated student, in the International Education Program (IEP) and Framingham State University is required to complete a portfolio to be submitted at the end of the final course and sent to the C Louis Cedrone Center at Framingham State University. 

The portfolio is reviewed by a faculty committee of The International Education Program to determine if it has met the requirements stated above and will receive a Pass/Fail grade. It will be filed in the C. Louis Cedrone International Education Center at Framingham State University.  Students should submit the portfolio within thirty days after their final course.  The degree will not be granted until the portfolio has been graded and approved.  

The Standard Program
Candidates for the degree take all courses in succession. Each course requires completion of a project which is a direct outgrowth of the course and is completed during the class phase of the instructional program. The purpose of the project is to utilize course materials, concepts, and techniques in improving the learning experience at the classroom, department, or school level. The project must be approved by the course instructor.

Requests for Transcripts
In order to request an academic transcript, please order online.