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Graduate Credit

NESC/VCSU Cafeteria Plan

One graduate credit can be earned for every 15 hours of attendance and engagement at designated NESC workshops during the 2025-26 school year:

  • NESC sponsored or facilitated professional learning (regional and district offerings)
  • Regional Fall In-service (August 15, 2025)
  • Technology Learning Cooperative Workshops
  • Beginning Teacher Workshops

The NESC Graduate Credit Cafeteria Plan gives professionals an opportunity to accumulate the necessary hours for graduate credits offered from Valley City State University (VCSU) during the fall, spring, or summer semesters (up to four credits maximum in a 12 month period). A total of 15 hours of direct instruction must be completed for each graduate credit.

Instructions:

  1. Download credit verification form: Cafeteria-Verification-form_updatedDec2024.
  2. Participate in NESC sponsored or facilitated professional development (15 hours per credit).
  3. On the verification form, answer briefly:
    • How will this PD activity help you improve your teaching?
    • How will this PD activity promote increases in student achievement?
  4. Using the form from Step 1, obtain an administrator signature.
  5. Register for credit using the link, https://www.vcsu.edu/academics/extended-learning/course-availability-and-registration/

    • Search: “EDUC 2000” and choose the semester in which you want your credits registered (Keep credits as “All”)
    • Find “EDUC 2000 ST: Professional Development (NESC members only)”
    • Select the number of credits you want to purchase in the dropdown
    • Click “Choose credits” and then add them to your cart
    • Click “Check out” to complete registration
    • Pay for your credits ($65 per credit)
  6. Send verification forms to Dave Bass at VCSU School of Education, 101 College St., Valley City, ND 58072

VCSU Credit Registration Deadlines:
Fall 2025 – November 21, 2025
Spring 2026 – April 17, 2026
Summer 2026 – July 10, 2026

Statewide professional learning offered within the NESC area and/or in partnership with the NESC may have separate graduate credit opportunities with credit registration information distributed during the workshop(s).

Questions? 

Contact Erin Lacina, NESC Director of Professional Learning & Operations, at erin.lacina@nescnd.org or 888-701-NESC (6372).

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“

NESC has provided me with invaluable resources and knowledge to refine my craft and keep our school district competitive and progressive in twenty first century learning. They have provided professional development that has changed the direction of our district and helped us to refocus our school improvement goals (Marzano High Reliability Schools training). They have been available for support on every level for our administration and staff, and provided some of the best training I’ve ever attended in my 25 years of teaching (Steve Dunn Writing Workshop). Without their expertise and commitment to our schools, we would not have the resources and strategies available for effective instructional practices. I can’t imagine not having the NESC as our main professional development support system. They are the solid foundation of collaboration and excellence that small rural districts in North Dakota need.

Melissa HiltnerFormer K-12 Instructional Coach, Langdon Area Public Schools
“

As the former High School Principal and current Superintendent at Dakota Prairie Schools, I have witnessed first-hand the benefits of the NESC’s Succeed 2020 program. These benefits range from technology assistance, data retrieval, professional development analyzing data, and support. In the time I have been at DP, we have transitioned to a one-to-one school, implemented data teams at both campuses, implemented a data intervention time with our students, and begun wrestling with best practices in regards to classroom teaching and data usage. All of these improvements are due directly to the assistance and guidance allowed to us by the NESC’s Succeed 2020 Grant.

Jay SladeSuperintendent, Dakota Prairie Public Schools