Admissions
What is this program about?
The Organizational Leadership program at Eureka College is designed to prepare students to assume management-focused leadership positions at organizations in both the public and private sectors. Through a dynamic curriculum that links theory with best practices, students are trained in the principles and skills of transformational leadership --- leadership that translates vision into change within the team-based management environments that characterize today’s organizations. At the heart of the program is an interdisciplinary sequence of courses crafted to foster an understanding of individual and group behavior that is essential for effective leadership. This sequence is complemented by a practicum component, a unique experiential opportunity through which students are challenged to solve real-world leadership problems faced by their own organizations as well as those faced by area groups, institutions, and companies. Organizational change in the 21st century calls for leaders who are committed to serving others. The Eureka College Organizational Leadership program is our response to that call.
When are the courses offered?
Each course for the Organizational Leadership cohort is offered in alternating, intensive weekends for approximately 20 months
(or 5 semesters). Due to the short duration, the courses have been put into an accelerated format, although individuals are only taking one course at a time. Courses are delivered during the weekends, from 5:30 to 9:30 pm on Fridays and 8 am to 5 pm on Saturdays. Snacks and meals are provided.
How do I apply to the program?
You apply in the same manner as any student who wishes to attend Eureka College. There is an online application whose submission is free. Simply complete the application and select "Individualized Major" and the weekend cohort as your program. (hopefully this will change with the addition of our new application for Org. Lead.) In addition, an official copy of transcripts from every college or university where course work has been taken must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.
What are the application deadlines?
For a cohort beginning in the Fall Semester, the application deadline is August 1. For a cohort beginning in the Spring Semester, the application deadline is November 15. And for a cohort beginning in the Summer Session, the application deadline is April 1.
Please contact the Director of Lifelong Learning for questions regarding specific application deadlines for future cohorts.
What are the requirements for admission?
Students must have one of the following: (1) an Associate’s Degree from an accredited two-year community college with transfer eligible course credit; or (2) a target minimum of 57 but not less than 51 hours credit hours of transferable course work (preferably satisfying the Illinois Articulation Initiative transfer agreement, (below) from an accredited two- or four-year institution. Applications will be evaluated on an on-going basis utilizing a rolling admission's process. Therefore, applicants are advised to apply early.
What is IAI?
IAI is the Illinois Articulation Initiative. It is a transfer agreement among Illinois colleges and universities that allows you to meet the bulk of your institution’s general education requirements by having completed the first two years of your higher education at another institution.
Academic
What are the goals of the program?
Knowledge
Leadership best practices
Behavioral dynamics of team-based organizations
Historical and contemporary theories of leadership
Management concepts and principles
Ethical dimensions of leadership
Skills
Articulation and promotion of organizational vision
Collaborative problem solving and consensus building
Critical and creative thinking
Team empowerment
Effective communication
Application
Servant leadership
Problem-based learning
Personal leadership philosophy
What are the program requirements?
Students complete 36 hours of major-area courses (in Leadership, Business, Communication, and Psychology), in addition to 16 Practicum hours, and 9 hours of mission-specific, general education courses.
What is a practicum and when does it take place?
The practicum hours are opportunities for experiential learning that take place out of the classroom. Students will engage in projects that require them to apply what they have learned to real-world problems faced by area organizations and by the companies or institutions at which the students themselves are employed. Practicum hours will be distributed across the five semesters.
Who will be teaching these courses?
The course instructors will be Eureka College professors, experts drawn from the Central Illinois region, and area business leaders.
Where will the classes meet?
Your classes are scheduled for Burgess Hall on the Eureka College campus.
Some of the program courses have pre-requisites.
Do I have to complete those pre-requisite courses first?
No. The only required courses are those listed in the five-semester schedule. Any needed pre-requisite concepts and skills will be addressed within the program courses themselves.
I’ve taken one of the program courses at another institution. Can I transfer in those hours and waive that requirement here?
The cohort model works best when you and your colleagues complete all courses in the sequence together. Each course will be taught in a way that is unique to an organizational leadership curriculum and that builds on the knowledge and skills that you’ve acquired in earlier courses in the sequence. Specific information regarding transfer of courses is handled by the Academic Advisor.
cohort model
What is a cohort model?
A cohort is a group of individuals who have gathered together to participate in a common goal. You will start and complete this program as a member of a cohort (determined by your start date in the program). You will work with the same individuals throughout the duration of the program. You will all take the same courses at the same time as a group and participate in all functions of the program together.
Why a cohort?
Individuals in cohorts have proven to provide unique support to one another. This group becomes your support network as you move through the program. As you build friendships and foster communication, the quality of the relationships developed among the group members during the progress of the course work will greatly increase. To encourage a high level of interaction among cohort members, participants are expected to use e-mail and the Internet to communicate with each other and/or faculty on a regular basis.
registration
How do I register for my courses?
Once you have been admitted to the program and your deposit has been received, you will be automatically registered. Because this is a cohort-based program, no further registration activity is required. Assuming satisfactory academic performance, you will progress from course to course with your fellow students in the cohort.
Do I receive grades in each course? What GPA is required to stay in the program? What if my GPA falls below that level?
Courses in the Organizational Leadership program are graded in the same manner as any other for-credit course in the Eureka College curriculum.
Academic requirements are the same for all degree-seeking students. The minimum cumulative grade point average for academic good standing is 2.00. To graduate with a bachelor’s degree, a student’s cumulative and major grade point averages must each be at least 2.00.
If your cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00, you will be subject to the same status conditions as any other degree-seeking student. See the Academic Requirements and Policies section of the Eureka College Catalog for more details.
Will I graduate with other Eureka College students?
Yes. As a graduate of the Organizational Leadership program, you will receive a Eureka College bachelor’s degree and are welcome to participate in the Commencement ceremonies in the May following your completion of the program.
Financial
How much will the program cost?
The price of the program for the cohorts beginning in August of 2008 and January 2009 is $28,620. The cost stays constant throughout the program. Click here for EC financial assistance.
What is included in that figure?
The program price includes tuition, fees, textbooks, supplies, lunches and snacks, and some course required travel.
How do I pay for the program and when?
You should make payment arrangements with our Business Office. Payment is expected at the beginning of each semester.
What about employer sponsored programs and/or tuition assistance?
Our billing office will work with students concerning their own individual employer situations. Eureka College is an Alliance Partner with Caterpillar and the College also works with many other businesses in the Central Illinois area.
Can I get financial aid?
Yes. The College will work with you to explore opportunities for state and federal financial aid in the form of MAP grants, Pell grants, and loans. You should start that process by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To receive the maximum possible funding given your financial circumstances, you should apply by April 15 prior to the academic year during which your program will be starting.
Support
Is there a student orientation for the program?
Yes. You will meet with your cohort before the date of your first class weekend. An orientation session will be scheduled within a month of your start date. Included in your orientation experience will be an explanation of program details, a tour of campus facilities, a presentation on campus services, and a financial aid interview. You will also receive at that time the textbook(s) for your first course and any assignments that are due by the first class session.
Will I be assigned an academic advisor?
Yes. The program’s academic coordinator, a Eureka College professor, will serve as your advisor throughout the program.
Will I have my own computer account and email address?
Yes, you will receive a campus network username and email address at orientation. You will be expected to utilize this account as the primary contact for your cohort and faculty. You will also receive a SONIS ID, which will enable you to have online access to your Eureka College records (e.g., courses, grades, transcripts).
Whom do I contact if I have questions?
|
