Samina Hadi-Tabassum, an associate professor of education at Dominican University, is working with Teach for America to help undocumented students become teachers.

Teach for America, a U.S. nonprofit organization, sends recent college graduates and professionals to teach in public schools serving underprivileged students. The program now includes “DREAMers,” or undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children.

Because of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, these students are eligible for work cards and Social Security numbers ­– documentation required for work eligibility.

U.S. News & World Report-ranked Dominican University, which offers 100% online graduate education, is one of Teach for America’s most significant Chicago-area partners.

Accepting undocumented students reflects “our belief that if you’re brought to the U.S. as a child, you should be able to pursue an education without fear of deportation and have a path to contribute to American society through achievement in education,” Hadi-Tabassum said.

Dominican University offers 100% online Master of Arts in Education degree programs with some courses taught by on-campus faculty.  The programs include Master of Arts in Education: Elementary Education; Master of Arts in Education: Reading; and Master of Arts in Education: English as a Second Language.

The ability to study anytime, anywhere allows students in Dominican’s online master’s degree programs to further their education while fulfilling professional and personal demands.

Professor-led courses are powered by University Alliance, which provides video-based lectures and video-based e-learning technology.

“Dominican University is dedicated to fostering students from a broad range of backgrounds,” said Colleen Reardon, EdD, Dean of the School of Education. “Our partnership with Teach for America is an example of that.”

For more details on how Dominican University can meet teaching professionals’ continuing education needs, call 1-800-441-5408 or visit www.dominicanu.com.

About Dominican University

Founded in 1901, Dominican University is located ten miles west of downtown Chicago.  The Catholic university consistently ranks in the top 20 regional universities in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report – which also repeatedly cited Dominican as a best value in higher education. The university is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools as a baccalaureate and master’s degree granting institution.

About University Alliance

University Alliance (UA) is a leader in facilitating the online delivery of associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as professional certificate programs from the nation’s leading traditional universities and institutions. Universities powered by UA’s technology and support services have surpassed 450,000 online enrollments – making UA one of the largest facilitators of e-learning in the country. Universities that collaborate with UA include Villanova University, the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, Florida Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, University of Florida, University of South Florida, Valparaiso University, New England College, University of St. Thomas, University of San Francisco, Jacksonville University, University of Vermont, The University of Scranton, and Dominican University.