Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I am a coach in Germany for an all girl squad. I am totally interested in your online classes. Is there a possibility for an international coach to join those classes?
A: Yes. SpiritU classes are open for international students. We realize that many countries look to the U.S. for ideas on how to run squads in their own countries. We are seeing a proliferation of cheer squads and dance/drill teams across the globe and we are thrilled to be a part of that growth. Bear in mind that these classes are written by American instructors, and are thus written and taught with American rules, standards, and social traditions in mind. If you have questions about your own situations, I'm sure the instructors will try to assist you the best they can as long as the question is within the scope of the class. Also, currently the classes are only taught in the English language, though we are working on adding Spanish classes too. The fees due will be in US Dollars. See you there!
Q: How does this school work?
A: The basic procedure for this course is:
- You review the SpiritU info pages to learn how the classes work and what the SpiritU policies are.
- Visit the SpiritU catalog and click the links to the Course Info Pages of the courses that you are interested in.
- Contact the instructors if you have any questions. It is important that you read the course syllabi thoroughly and get any questions answered before you enroll, because once you have been issues the password to access your class, there will be no refunds or credits toward other classes.
- Prior to enrolling for classes, consider your personal schedule and any upcoming events like holidays, camps, competitions, etc. and make sure that you will have the time to commit yourself 100% to getting the most out of each class.
- Enroll for your class(es), and purchases any required textbooks, videos or other materials as posted on the Course Info Pages for your class(es).
- You will receive confirmation of your enrollment acceptance within two business days of your enrollment.
- Passwords and class access information will be emailed to you the weekend before class starts, though the link to your class(es) may not be accessible until Monday.
- Anytime on Monday, you may access your class. The class has a Course Homepage which has important information about your class, instructor contact info, due dates, links to chat and/or forums (if applicable to that class), and more. At the bottom of that page, new links will be posted each week for that week's lecture page along with the objectives for that week.
- Visit your lecture page and review the assignments and their due dates (if not already posted on the Course Homepage) so that you know how to plan your time for that week in order to get your assignments ready.
- At your convenience, read the lecture, prepare assignments, attend chat (if applicable) and do any other work as instructed for that week so long as your assignments are turned in by the due dates as specified.
- You may contact your instructor as necessary if you need assistance with your class material. Please keep questions related to the course you are taking. If you would like additional consulting with your instructor that falls outside the course syllabi, they are available at an hourly rate of $29.00 which is to be paid in advance. Please email us to schedule an individual consulting session.
- Assignments are graded and returned to you within one week of receipt.
- Once your final assignments have been received for the class, your final grades will be emailed to you within two weeks of the class's final date or receipt of your final assignment, whichever comes last. Certificates for certification classes will be mailed within three weeks.
Q: Will I get any type of proof that I am certified from the certification classes (like something to show a potential employer or a certificate to hang on my wall)?
A: Yes. You will get a very attractive, professional looking certificate stating that you have satisfactorily completed the certification course. You must register as a Full Student and purchase any required textbooks or materials in order to qualify for certification. The certificate would look nice framed on your wall next to your degrees or diplomas. Better yet, employers will feel confident that they did not hire some wannabe off the street who may come in and have a rough time. They will find that you are more confident and organized and equipped with essential skills necessary to run an efficient team. Many schools find certifications beneficial and will actually pay for their coaches or team leaders to take these classes, so be sure to ask your employer or school administrators if they will help fund your education.
Q: I am seeking a certification to be a coach. I am already teaching and coaching, but I just want to be official. How widely is your program recognized? What does it allow me to be able to do? I don't know how to go about getting a certificate and could really use some help! Thanks!
A: Our Coaching Principles certification class is not recognized in the same way as the Coaching Principles certification you take at a local college, because the company that offers those certifications will not back online certifications. However the program is based on the same criteria and uses the same textbook. So basically you are getting the same education, but the certificate may not be as "official." However because our website does receive 50,000 hits a day, and a lot of high schools and colleges are familiar with us and our reputation, we do hear coaches say that all of our certificates have given them an edge in interviewing when up against job candidates without coaching certifications. Basically, a school will know that you have at least been educated in important issues that are taught in those classes whereas who knows what type of quality education non-certified candidates may have. Employers are free to contact us if they have any questions regarding our certification requirements. Better yet, if you find that an employer has questions about it, it may benefit you to give them a copy of the class syllabus listed on the SpiritU® website). You may also want to read the input from other certification students so you can see how happy others have been with the class (input for each class is listed on the Course Info pages in the catalog).
Q: I have lost my certificate. Can I get a replacement mailed to me?
A: Yes. There is a $15 replacement fee plus you'll need to pay s/h which is $5.95 for regular shipping.
Q: How do you pay the tuition...check, credit card, etc.?
A: Please click the link at the bottom of any of the Course Info Pages (accessed through the SU Catalog)that says "Click here to enroll!" to go to the online order form. Then scroll down to the "Method of Payment" to read instructions on the various payment options.
Q: The requirement materials of word processing software...is there any certain kind and can you recommend any?
A: The most popular is Microsoft Word. If you use any other word processing software, we suggest that it be compatible with Microsoft Word. For example, it should be able to create files in .doc format. If this is a problem for you, we'll try to work with you. Some people have even sent their files in the body of an email, as long as it doesn't lose its formatting (ie: bold, italic, images, etc.). You may even be able to find freeware or inexpensive shareware on sites like www.moochers.com or www.nonags.com.
Q: When will I receive my password and information to access my classes once I've registered?
A: Please see How does this school work? above.
Q: Is there a certain time of day and certain days to take the class?
A: These classes are somewhat self paced in that there is no specific meeting time to take the class nor is there any specific meeeting day(s). However, depending on how busy your schedule is, we highly recommend checking your class home page sometime on Mondays of each week to review the lecture and assignments so you are able to plan your schedule each week to ensure that you are able to get any assignments in on time that may be due that week.
Q: At what times do I access my class(es), and how do I receive my course materials?
A: Each week's lecture and assignments are released each Monday and are there for viewing at times that are convenient to you. It depends on the course, but most students will find that they will need to access the class 2 to 5 times a week in order to keep up with class discussions, student questions and assignments.
The only things that may require specific times are quizzes, assignment due dates, or if a class has scheduled Chat conferences. If a class has a specific time for chat conferences, it will be listed in the Course Info Page which can be accessed through the SpiritU catalog. Once you enroll and receive your password, you will be able to access each class's homepage which lists important information about due dates, chats, and more. If you have problems making a scheduled Chat session, notify your instructor immediately to see if an alternate time can be arranged. Quizzes are posted on designated days but you may take it any time during that designated day.
Q: How does the student receive a grade?
A: Please see How does this school work? above.
Q: Is this a correspondence course?
A: It is similar to a correspondence course in that you take the class in the comfort of your home. The main difference is that this is called "distance education" which means that it is taken online.
Q: I am considering taking one of the Basics classes but I also want to take one of the coaching certification classes. Do the classes repeat the same topics or content?
A: SpiritU classes try not to repeat the same content though similar topics may be covered from different angles. For example, if you take the Dance/Drill Basics and the Colorguard basics courses, they will all cover the basics like getting organized, team building, and other basics, but they cover them from the perspective of a coach within each distinct discipline and any issues specific to that discipline. Another example, Small Town Teams covers budgets and fundraising, as do other some other courses, but the Small Town Teams deals with the unique issues a small town or low budget team has to deal with like lack of resources. We plan classes so that a student will not have to worry about taking any two classes and feeling like they repeated themselves.
Q: I am interested in your courses but I was wondering the difference between a full time student and a guest student. I know a full time student earns a grade but I was curious how you earn a grade. I would like more information on how all this works.
A: The main difference between a Full Student and a Guest Student is that, yes, a Full Student gets a grade (or certificate if it's a certificate course) plus if there is a required textbook, the Full Student must also get it. A guest student is not required to take the tests, get required textbooks, attend chat sessions or participate in any other activities or projects though they can certainly participate if they choose to and we highly recommend their participation. Basically the Guest Student is just what he or she is called...a "guest." They are there just to check out the class...no requirements, no pressure, no deadlines. The only thing about a guest student is that they may not learn as much if they do not participate in the activities because they may not push themselves as hard to learn as much. Many Full Students want a grade or certificate to be able to show potential employers that they have taken courses and met certain standards which can make them more marketable in a job search or more respected by their administration and peers. Once you register as a Full or Guest Student, you may not change your status after the class starts.
As for the grade, each class varies. Some of the evaluation methods that you may see may include projects, assignments, quizzes, essays, book reports, chat conferences, and other forms of evaluations. If you are curious as to the forms of evaluations used for a specific class you are considering registering for, please feel free to contact us. We will be adding the grading criteria for each class soon, so be sure to check the Course Info page for the course you are interested in.
Q: I am volunteering to coach for a team that basically has no budget for the dance team. Can I take you class for free or get a discount?
A: No. Sorry, but we have to be consistent for all students to be fair. Please keep in mind that these classes take a lot of our time and money to prepare and maintain.
Q: If I take a class as a guest student, do I have to pay?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I get the forms without taking the class?
A: Yes. We will be offering them for sale in SpiritU as a separate item very soon. They will be listed in the SpiritU catalog once we have them available.
Q: When will I receive my password and information to access my classes once I've registered?
A: Please see How does this school work? above.
Q: When is the next semester following this semester's classes?
A: The next semester will be posted to the SpiritU catalog as soon as late registration for the other semester ends. You will be able to see the dates that the semester runs as well as registration dates and deadlines.
Q: Do you have classes besides internet ones?
A: Currently we do not. SpiritU classes are only offered online at this time. If that ever changes, we will make a note in the SpiritU Catalog.
Q: Can you send me some more information about your classes, certifications, etc.?
A: We have comprehensive information on SpiritU and the classes listed on the SpiritU website. We highly recommend reading through the FAQs, Before U Begin, the Catalog as well as the Course Info link to each class (in the Catalog) you are considering enrollment in. Then if after reading through all that you still have questions, please feel free to contact us. we get a lot of emails asking questions that are already answered on these pages, so for those emails asking questions that are already addressed on the website, we simply refer you back to read those pages.
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