North Carolina Consortium for Distance Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Initially, the Consortium was funded to provide an opportunity for NC public school SLPs to upgrade to a masters degree. Two rounds of eleven distance courses were funded for that purpose, with a plan of offering enrollment in four student cohorts to those meeting eligibility requirements.
Enrollment in the degree program was restricted to those NC public school SLPs who had been continuously employed in that capacity since 1997. Eligible SLPs were encouraged to apply for admission to one or more of the five Consortium Universities.
To earn a masters degree, students admitted to the Consortium Distance Education program were required to complete the eleven core courses of the Consortium, plus meet all requirements of the university in which they were enrolled. Students completed clinical practicum requirements and some coursework through attendance (usually summer schools) at their university of enrollment. At least half of their required courses were completed through enrollment in Consortium distance courses.
Student cohorts 1, 2, and 3 began graduate studies in 1998, 1999, and 2000, respectively. Although most cohort 4 students began graduate work in summer 2001, that was not an absolute deadline for entry into the Consortium. However, entry after fall, 2002 would be very problematic for two reasons. Since there are no plans to offer core distance courses after summer, 2003, there would be little chance of getting enough distance courses to satisfy Consortium requirements. Another problem is the 2005 deadline imposed by a NC Court of Appeals ruling and upheld by the NC State Supreme Court; this ruling states that only masters degree SLPs may be employed in NC public schools beginning July 1, 2005.
You are welcome to call the Consortium office to obtain clarification of enrollment deadlines and eligibility requirements.