■  Ready to Student Teach Spring 2016: Students who have completed required coursework in general education by the end of December 2015 are qualified to apply to student teach in Spring 2016.  You must attend a mandatory Information Session to learn the process and instructions how to apply.  Attend on one of these dates:

• Wednesday September 16 from 6:00-7:30pm (OGC 100)
• Saturday September 26 from 12:00-1:30pm (OGC 100)

Please contact Barbara West if you have conflict with work or class: <westb@augsburg.edu>.

 ■  Attention Spring 2016 Special Education Student Teachers: This is friendly reminder of the information session you are required to attend. Come find out all you need to know for student teaching in the spring of 2016.  Please attend the meeting on Wednesday. The Saturday meeting is a make up session for those unable to attend on Wednesday.

• Wednesday September 23, 6:00-7:30pm, 100 Oren Gateway Center
• Make Up Session Saturday September 26, 2:00 – 3:30pm, 100 Oren Gateway Center

Contact Gretchen Guenter at once if you have a work or class conflict: <guenter@augsburg.edu>.

 ■  Interested in Student Teaching Abroad? If you have ever considered teaching internationally, a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship is a great opportunity to gain this experience.  This prestigious grant pays your salary to live abroad for a year to serve as an English Teaching Assistant in a school or university. There are Fulbright grants in hundreds of countries, and you can chose which country you would like to apply to based on location and grade-level placement preferences.  As an MAE student, you have strong qualifications because of your extensive experience in the classroom and methods training.  In fact, Augsburg MAE alum, Roselind Sybrant, spent a year teaching in Ecuador in 2012-2013. 

You can find more information regarding the ETA program at the Fulbright website: <http://us.fulbrightonline.org/>.

If interested in applying, please contact the URGO office at <urgo@augsburg.edu> as soon as possible.  The application due date is in late September.

 ■  MAE students interested in degree completion (finishing your masters), please plan on attending the group advising session led by Dr. Vicki Olson, director, MAE Program. We’ll convene in OGC 100 on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 from 12:10pm-12:50pm. You’re welcome to bring your lunch with you as this is the lunch hour. An RSVP is appreciated, please let Caren Custer know if you’ll attend: <custer@augsburg.edu>.

 ■  MPS Research, Evaluation, and Assessment (REA) department is looking for volunteers to assist with administering our beginning kindergarten assessments during the month of September.

• Who: Pre-Service Teachers
• What: Administer online reading and math assessments to kindergarten students. You would be responsible for supervising and supporting kindergarten students as they complete online reading and math assessments. The assessments take approximately 45 minutes to complete and you would work with 3 kindergarten students at a time. Training will be provided.
• When: They need help Mondays-Fridays all day, from August 31-September 25. The schedule is flexible, though an ideal volunteer will be free for a 2-3 hour shift.
• Where: All elementary schools in Minneapolis Public Schools

How to sign up: Please fill out our interest form at: <http://volmps.mpls.k12.mn.us/> with your contact information and schedule availability. You will be contacted directly regarding specific volunteer opportunities.

 ■  Volunteer English Language Learner Reading Buddy at Learning for Leadership k-12 Charter School:  Learning for Leadership Charter School, 3300 5th St NE # 150, Minneapolis, MN 55418, is seeking volunteer ELL reading tutors. Volunteers need to complete a background check, be able to spend at least one hour per week for a full semester, and attend a mandatory orientation and tutor training (usually 20-30 minutes in length) before volunteer work begins. For more information, contact::   Patricia Hampton <phampton@learningforleadership.org> or 612-735-8698.

 ■  Frog Tutoring: Frog Tutoring provides one on one private paid tutoring (minimum of $30 per session) to students in the community (K-12 & College). Anyone interested in applying for the tutor position should submit their application and unofficial transcript at our website: <http://frogtutoring.com/jobs/>.

Obtain more information from: Cathy Nji, Tutor Recruiting Associate at FrogTutoring, LLC, Office: 817 717 7235.

■  Advising and Admissions Up-Dates:

Testing requirements—The MN Basic Skills requirement must be met by providing passing scores on one of the three test batteries (MTLE, SAT or ACT Plus writing.)

ACT Plus Writing will be required for admissions into Augsburg beginning fall 2016.  This is a requirement for incoming first year students.  It is not required for transfers or AU students.

The Department of Education at Augsburg requires evidence of taking one of these test batteries for admissions into the Department.  Students must be admitted into the Department before enrolling in a 300 level class.  It does not permitted to take 300 level courses before you are admitted.

As of July 1, (POLICY CHANGE AT MN Board of Teaching, BOT) Augsburg can recommend students who have completed our programs in good standing if they have not completed testing requirements.  These students will receive a standard one-year license at the time that they are our program completers.  They can extend their one year teaching license for three years.  Within that 3 year period, teachers must successfully pass the testing requirements.

The BOT is currently seeking new vendors for basic skills test batteries.

Advising—Day students in their final two years at Augsburg may enroll in AU courses if it is the only way that they can graduate in a timely manner.  Registration forms must be signed by Vicki Olson or Peg Finders.

Students in SPE and ESL may switch from Day to AU to finish SPE or ESL licenses.  Day students who need to switch to AU to finish out their SPE or ESL licenses can maintain campus housing.

If you have concerns or questions about the financial impact of this type of change please contact a Student Financial Services counselor immediately about the financial impact of the change. Students can schedule appointments online via the Advising link in Records and Registration, at the service window, or by phone or email.

■ Education Department Office is Also Open Certain Non-Business Hours:

• Tuesday and Thursday until 6 p.m. every week.

Turn things in; pick things up; leave messages or materials for faculty; check your department file – we are here for you.

Submitting news to Augsburg:

• To the Education Department News: Send your news to Joseph Erickson at C.B. 312 or erickson-AT-augsburg.edu.
• To the Augsburg Now published by the Augsburg College Office of Public Relations and Communication: Send your news to C.B. 145 or now@augsburg.edu.
• To the daily A-Mail electronic newsletter: Go to AugNet Home Page and login. Then click on “Submit News and Announcements” link.

Connecting with Alumni and Friends:

Augsburg College provides several ways to stay connected with Alumni and friends. Here are some links to get you started:

• Alumni Information Update: Submit news and contact information changes to the college’s Alumni Office.
• TC2 New Teachers’ Blog

Other Sources of News for K-12 Teachers:

Here are links to some of the very best online news sources for K-12 teachers:

• Education Week
• Teacher Magazine
• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (also, subscribe to ASCD SmartBrief, a daily email news resource delivered right to your inbox).