Extra time and extra money are what some SIUC education students are complaining of when it comes to the Teacher Education Program that all education students must go through before they can take their core education classes.

Sandy Blaney, a junior in education from Villa Grove, said she had to wait a year while her application was being reviewed before she could get into the program. This waiting has set her back at least two semesters.

What made me angry is that I knew when I was a freshman I wanted to be a social studies teacher, Blaney said. Neither my adviser, nor did anyone else ever tell me that I would have to wait to get into the program. If I would have known, I could have changed my concentration.

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Nancy Quisenberry, associate dean of the College of Education, said this reviewing procedure is necessary so the receptionists can make sure everything that is needed is included with the application. An education major must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program before the student can begin to work in the basic professional education courses, which are a prerequisite to the professional semester of student teaching, according to the SIUC catalog.

Gale Clark, a senior in education from Mahomet, said he had trouble finding out what number he was on the TEP waiting list, so he had trouble determining when he would be able to graduate.

When you turn in your application they will give you a number, Clark said. Then when you go back to check on it, they say they cannot release your number on the waiting list.

If they truly have a waiting list, I should be able to get my specific number.

Jacquelyn Bailey, chief academic advisor for the College of Education, said she is unaware of students being moved down the waiting list.

In some cases there are five departments who review the applications, and in some cases it is a first-come, first-serve basis, Bailey said.

Other education students say they have never had a problem with the college or the program.

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Sara Schmidlkofer, a senior in elementary education from Spokane, Wash., said she applied in November and was accepted in December.

I didn’t have to wait at all, Schmidlkofer said. However, I know people in elementary ed. that have had to wait long periods of time.

Some education students said just getting into the program is not an easy task, and the waiting list only complicates the matter.

To be eligible for the program, a student must have completed 30 semester hours, have an overall grade point average of at least 2.5, complete GED 101 and GED 102 courses with a grade of C or better, three letters of recommendation from college or university faculty and an ACT score of at least 18.

The retention policy, which went into effect in August 1993, lets 320 students into the program each year. On Oct. 1, 160 students will be admitted and on March 1, 160 students will be admitted to begin in the following spring and fall semesters, respectively.

Lori Steber, a senior in elementary education and special education from Springfield, said she feels the retention policy is the reason why the wait list is so long.

The program only allows so many students in each year, and there are obviously more students than that who need to get in, Steber said.

At the end of a student’s first semester in the program, the department offering a student’s major is requested to submit a recommendation as to whether or not the students should be retained in the program.

Overall, Quisenberry said she does not think the waiting period is a problem.

It really depends on the major, she said. With the exception of three majors, most students who apply are admitted to TEP the next semester.

Blaney said she feels the college does not care what her goals are.

I feel that my goals are being ignored, Blaney said. I wanted to graduate in four years. That was my goal.

Now, because I was on a waiting list for a year, I am not only spending more money, I’m not able to fulfill my promise to myself.