FAQ's
What are VMG's Training Programs? VMG's Training Programs are designed for busy professionals, college students, and unemployed job-seekers who want to advance in their careers, or members of a Board or laypersons who would like more knowledge and information. You can participate by choosing the flexibility of an online learning experience or a classroom experience. VMG Training programs are shorter and less structured than a formal degree program and teach you knowledge and skills in a specialized area. You can earn a Certificate of Completion, issued from VMG, after completing a series of required training courses. What is an online course? An online course utilizes the Internet and a web browser as a means of creating a learning environment outside of the traditional classroom. The lectures and discussions will take place on a Distance Learning Center Web site. You will access the online lectures through WebEx and during class you can communicate with your classmates and instructors through the use of a chat feature. The online courses follow a classroom structure of covering a lesson a week. How does an online class work? Will I be watching videos? All VMG online classes are instructor-led meaning that there is an instructor online with the students to facilitate learning. The instructor is delivering a lecture and leading the class during the entire class time. The class is a combination of lecture utilizing a PowerPoint presentation and other supplemental online learning tools, and classroom discussion whereby students are encourage to ask questions and discuss a topic or viewpoint as put forth by the instructor. Is my online course an instructor led course? Like a traditional course, your online course has an instructor that will conduct the class by giving a lecture using a PowerPoint presentation, answering questions and leading discussions, and giving students a VMG Challenge assignment to work on in between classes. These are noncredit courses and grades are not given; however, constructive feedback and critique will be provided as it relates to a VMG Challenge assignment. Can the training program courses be applied to an undergraduate degree? No. The VMG Training program courses are non-credit, professional development opportunities for adult learners. As a result, participants can enroll at any time and do not need to go through a lengthy application and acceptance process. What is the registration process? There are no specific educational requisites for registering for a program. Students wishing to register should go to the Register Today link in the navigation bar on the VMG home page, then for your program of interest, select "online" or "classroom". Download the registration form for the series you are interested in, fill out the form and send in via fax or mail. Payment is accepted via check, credit card online. Payment must be received in full prior to participation in class. What are the similarities and differences between online learning and classroom learning? Similarities -Teaching objectives and course content are same -In general, the classroom instructors and online learning instructors are the same individuals. Differences -Online students do not appear in a classroom. -Online courses are eight weeks in length; classroom courses are eight consecutive Saturdays (excluding any holiday weekends) or 8 days if the 2-week summer intensive program. -Classroom courses are taught at University Settlement at the Houston Street Center, 273 Bowery, New York, NY; access to online courses is from anywhere in the world where a reliable, high-speed internet connection and a web browser is available. -Online courses place a premium on asynchronous online discussions; classroom courses use a more traditional approach to learning involving lecture and interactive group exercises. Who can benefit from training in volunteer program management? - An Executive Director or associate director of a nonprofit - Individuals considering a career change to the nonprofit sector - Undergraduate and graduate students trying to decide on a particular area of concentration in their studies - "Soon to be graduates" who want to get a leg up on the competition and be able to interview with broader knowledge about the field - A member or officer of a nonprofit board of directors - A program associate interested in a position of greater responsibility - A consultant currently or considering working with volunteering organizations - Unemployed individuals or those seeking employment that would like to enhance their knowledge and skills to set themselves apart in the job search and interview process Who facilitates VMG's courses? All trainings are facilitated by subject matter experts (SME's) in the respective field they are teaching. To learn more about VMG instructors, click the link on the navigation pane in the VMG Web titled "Instructors". How can I be sure that I am selecting the right training program? Each training program is specific an unique. Please read through the descriptions for courses each program and decide on the best fit for where you are at now in your career, as well as your professional goals, and give consideration to where you hope to be in another year or two after completing the program. If you are interested in the corporate side, it's pretty straightforward, you should register for the corporate philanthropy training. If you are on the non-profit side and would like the overall, big-picture view from a manager's perspective, we recommend you start out with the nonprofit management training and follow it up with other programs, such as the volunteer management or grant writing training. Volunteers and grants are critical needs to a nonprofit, and if you plan to manage a nonprofit, you should complete all three programs: Nonprofit Management, Volunteer Management and Grant Writing. In addition, if you are a college student and want to decide on a particular concentration within the nonprofit management field, the Nonprofit Management training will definitely help you. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Taylor, VMG Training Coordinator, at 917-829-8344. What are the technical requirements to participate in online classes? Technical requirements for participation in an online class are: - a computer with internet access - basic computer skills like Word processing and opening PDF documents using Adobe Acrobat Reader (available free online and already installed on newer computers) - must have an active, functional email account that will handle file attachments - For audio purposes, you will need a computer(or laptop) with speakers - To log in to class, you will be sent an email the day of the class indicating the link to class. Please be sure the email you have on file with us is the email that you check regularly, ie, at least once a day. What is the latest I can register? Registration is on a first-come first-served basis. To ensure you secure a seat in the class you want, we suggest you register as early as possible. Course registration cut-off is four business days prior to the date of the course. When will I receive my certificate of completion? After you complete the eight courses comprising the training program you will receive your Certificate of Completion in the mail within four to six weeks. Is financing or a payment plan available? For the online classes, VMG offers the VMG PayPlan whereby you make a deposit at the time of registration and then make weekly payments throughout your training. See registration form for further information. For the classroom, students can pay each week as they go by either going to the VMG website and paying online for the respective class, or leaving their credit card on file for VMG to run the card each week. Call VMG at 917-829-8344 with any questions or to set up your credit card pay-by-week arrangement. Who can benefit from training in nonprofit management? - An Executive Director or associate director of a nonprofit - Those considering a career change to the nonprofit sector - Undergraduate and graduate students trying to decide on a particular area of concentration in their studies - "Soon to be graduates" who want to get a leg up on the competition and be able to interview with broader knowledge about the field - A member or officer of a nonprofit board of directors - A program associate interested in a position of greater responsibility - A consultant currently or considering working with nonprofit organizations - Unemployed individuals or those seeking new employment who would like to enhance their knowledge and skills to set themselves apart in the job search and interview process Who can benefit from training in grant writing? - An Executive Director or associate director of a nonprofit - A Development Director of a nonprofit - Those considering a career change to the nonprofit sector - Undergraduate and graduate students trying to decide on a particular area of concentration in their studies - "Soon to be graduates" who want to get a leg up on the competition and be able to interview with broader knowledge about the field - A member or officer of a nonprofit board of directors - A program associate interested in a position of greater responsibility - A consultant currently or considering working on seeking funding for a nonprofit project - Unemployed individuals or those seeking new employment who would like to enhance their knowledge and skills to set themselves apart in the job search and interview process What is the registration cut-off date? Registration is accepted four business days prior to the date of the class. My employer will pay for my tuition. What do I need to provide with my registration so that you can bill my employer? When completing the registration form, in the PAYMENT METHOD area of the form, select "INVOICE" and VMG will invoice the appropriate party. Once a course is completed, can it count toward the acquisition of more than one certificate? Yes. You'll notice that some courses overlap among 2 different programs. If I have completed a course once, you do not have to repeat it. For example, if you completed the "Volunteer Program Management course as part of your enrollment in the the Nonprofit Management training program, and subsequently decide to enroll in the Volunteer Management Training program, you do not have to repeat the Volunteer Program Management course. What is the refund policy? Registration is first come, first served. Space is limited. Due to space arrangements all registrations are final. No refunds possible. Cancellations in writing 72 hours prior to the first class can transfer to the same program in the following session. Is there financial assistance or scholarships available? Financial assistance and scholarships are not available. Some suggestions to cover the program costs are: check with your manager to inquire about your workplace covering the costs, or if you work for a nonprofit seek out a sponsor or corporation to pay for your training. How many students are in an online class? In general, most classes are capped at 8 seats. When should I register? The earlier, the better so that you have a seat in class. Registration is on a first come first served basis. The registration deadline for each course is four days prior to the course date. What is the software utilized for the online course? All online classes are conducted using an online synchronous (synchronous meaning participants in these courses will be online and in the course at the same time) application called WebEx. For details on this platform, visit www.webex.com What materials come with this course? You will receive copies of the lectures for each course in addition to any links to articles or reference material that the instructors request you read for the purpose of class discussion. What kind of computer peripherals are needed for an online class? Students will need a laptop or computer with high speed internet connection. Synchronous sessions will be conducted using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), so you will need to have speakers to hear the audio on your computer. How much does the online training cost? Online training programs have various pricing schedules. Please see the details for the specific program you are interested in. Who can take online courses? Anyone can take an online course as long as they have access to a computer with Internet capabilities, have an active email account, and have a basic understanding of how a computer works. An online student also must actively participate in discussions during lecture and self-motivated to keep up with the course work. How will I benefit from VMG training? A great way to enhance your qualifications and resume, the VMG training programs allow you to demonstrate expertise in the growing fields of nonprofit management, volunteer management, grant writing and corporate philanthropy. The VMG training is designed to provide you with a core foundation of knowledge and skills in the respective subject matter of the program that you choose. Each required course is interactive and involves lecture, group activities(for classroom) and online discussion for the online courses, instructional activities, case studies, usage of video clips and the internet. VMG instructors will offer you a "Challenge Assignment" to maximize learning and skills building. Completing the Challenge Assignment is optional for each student. If you choose to work on the challenge assignment, you will be able to share your work and the instructor will provide feedback. An example of a Challenge Assignment would be: You completed the Prospect Research class which covers corporate foundations as a type of prospect. You are challenged to identify 3 corporate foundations that could serve as potential funders for your grant proposal. In a 2009 New York Association of Volunteer Administrators ("NYAVA") Professional Profile and Salary Survey of NYAVA member-volunteer resource managers in organizations in New York City, nearly 45 of 107 respondents indicated a salary of more than $40,000. Increase your qualifications with VMG training. NYAVA's web site is www.nyava.org. How many hours a week do I have to devote to my online course? Online courses require a 2-hour time commitment per week. Will I be able to see my online instructor or communicate with him/her via telephone? Unless there is an extreme instance, all communications with your instructor will be done during the online lecture or if needed, off-line through brief email. Please do not expect your instructor to telephone you or meet with you in person. Can I access my course from anywhere? You can access the course anywhere that you have Internet access. Some companies have firewalls that prevent you from participating in the chat sessions. Please check with your company before you attempt to access the course. Do I need to purchase books or any additional items? Some courses suggest supplemental reading. There is a book purchase requirement for the Corporate Philanthropy Training and the cost is approximately USD $25. Who do I contact if I have an issue with an instructor? Any instructor-related issues should be brought to the attention of Julie Marks, Founder and President of Volunteer Management Group. Julie can be reached at 917-829-8344 or you may send an email through the Contact Us page on the VMG web site. What are the requirements to earn the certificate of completion for a program? To earn a certificate of completion in any given training program, you must participate in the 8 required courses for that particular program. Participation means attending the live class in the classroom, or attending the virtual class online, whichever is applicable to the program you registered for.
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