Rural Interdisciplinary Interconnected Practitioner-Leader Project (Project RIIPL)

Collaborate with stakeholders and lead interdisciplinary efforts in education agencies

Lead the implementation of individualized and differentiated intervention to promote high expectations for students with significant social, emotional, and behavioral needs

Conduct high-quality, evidence-based assessment

About the Project

Project RIIPL will train 20 special education and school psychology practitioner-leaders with specific expertise in rural education settings, interdisciplinary collaboration, and integrating mental health, social, emotional and behavioral supports to students at-risk for and with high-intensity needs.

Benefits (for two years of the program)

EdS degree for SPE students plus MA for school psychology students
An average $14,175 annual substance stipend
Tuition and health insurance costs, with all students charged at in-state tuition rate
An average of $1,440 per year for conference travel
Funding forgiven after two-year commitment per year of funding to an educational setting after graduation

Please see the FAQs page for updated information on Project RIIPL! Information regarding employment and GRE requirements have changed since the filming of this info session.

Logic Model and Conceptual Framework

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Eligibility

Applicants to the special education program must have a master’s degree in special education and hold prior Class A special education certification. For special education applicants without prior Class A certification in collaborative or an approved area of special education, students must take the following additional courses (which are not covered by grant funding): SPE 590, SPE 591 or SPE 592, SPE 594, SPE 501 (or the equivalent), and SPE 596. School psychology applicants do not have to have a master’s degree or hold prior certification.
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Competitive GPA
Personal statement
References
GRE requirement has been waived

FAQs

Do I need to take the GRE to apply to Project RIIPL?
No, the GRE requirement has been waived!

When’s the deadline for applying?
The priority deadline is January 3, 2023 for consideration in the second cohort. We will review applications and schedule Zoom interviews with our top candidates and plan to notify accepted applicants by mid to late April 2023.

Can I keep working in a school while I’m a student?
For students enrolling in the Special Education EdS program, it’s possible to retain full time employment in a school while completing the program requirements, if working locally in Tuscaloosa or in a nearby area. Coursework will be online or in person during the evenings after regular school hours.

For students enrolling in the School Psychology EdS program, due to the requirements of the degree plan and coursework sequence, it will not be possible to additionally work in a school full time while completing the program. School Psychology students must also complete a 3rd year internship, which is not funded by the program.

There are Graduate Assistantships available to qualified students. Students interested in working as a GA while enrolled in RIIPL should contact Dr. Sara McDaniel (scmcdaniel@ua.edu) to find out more.

Is the program online or in person?
The special education program is online except for one in person class meeting in the evening per week in Tuscaloosa. School psychology is in person and full time (hence, not being able to also work).

When will the program start and how long will it take?
The second next cohort will start August 2023. Special education takes 2 years to complete. School psychology takes 3 years to complete due to a required year-long internship upon completion of the first two years of coursework. There is no 3rd year internship requirement for special education.

*Please note that project funding in school psychology is only provided for the first two years; school psychology students must cover tuition for the internship year.

Do I have to pay tuition?
Tuition is covered (not reimbursed) for two years of the program, and students receive a $500 book stipend each year, travel allowance for one conference and approximately $1,500 per month living stipend during the academic year. (See note above about the 3rd year internship requirement for school psychology students only.)

How is Project RIIPL different from other EdS programs?
Project RIIPL students will be trained to become leaders in the fields of special education and school psychology, with a focus on the interdisciplinary collaborations needed to effectively support students at-risk for and with high-intensity needs in underserved settings. In addition to working closely with Project Faculty at UA and specialized coursework and field experiences, you will have opportunities to benefit from the expertise of nationally recognized leaders in the fields of mental health, social emotional learning, and behavior support.

How to Apply

Submit your application through the UA Graduate School and indicate which program you are applying to within the application site (either School Psychology EdS or Special Education EdS in Collaborative). In your application materials, please note on your personal statement that you are applying to be considered for the Project RIIPL cohort. Please review our eligibility page for additional application requirements.

We are hosting an online scholar recruitment question and answer session on October 27, 2022 at 3:30 PM. Contact Dr. Sara McDaniel (scmcdaniel@ua.edu) for the link to attend.

Course Sequence

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Pre-Scholarship Agreement

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