Meeting of the Board of Regents | May 2008

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

 

TO:	Higher Education Committee
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Master Plan Amendment: State University of New York, Broome Community College, Associate in Science (A.S.) degree in Music
DATE:	April 30, 2008
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 2 and 4
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

             

Should the Board of Regents authorize the amendment of the master plan of the State University of New York in order for Broome Community College, Binghamton, New York to offer the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree in Music?

 

Reason for Consideration

 

              Required by State regulation.

 

Proposed Handling

 

              The question will come before the Higher Education Committee at its May 2008 meeting where it will be voted on and action taken.  It will then come before the full Board at its May 2008 meeting for final action.

 

Procedural History

 

              Master plan amendment is required because this would be the College’s first Associate degree program in the discipline of fine arts.

 

 

 

Background Information

 

The proposed A.S. program in Music is intended to prepare students for transfer to baccalaureate institutions having programs in Music Education and Performance, Music Industry, Music Therapy, and Sound Engineering.  The proposed curriculum requires a minimum of 67 credits including 35 credits in Music and a Music Sequence, 31 credits in Liberal Arts and Sciences courses, and 1 credit in Physical Education.

 

The College anticipates that 60 full- and part-time students will matriculate in the proposed program during Year One.  This projection is based on the number of students matriculated in the Liberal Arts:  General Studies Music Sequence in fall 2007.  In five years, it is expected that at least 80 students will be matriculated in the program. 

 

One of the two full-time faculty members teaching in the program holds a doctorate degree.  All other faculty teaching in the program, full-time and adjunct, hold graduate degrees in field.

 

The College’s facilities are sufficient for the program.  It has installed a state-of-the-art sound engineering studio, equipped with Pro Tools.  BCC’s library holdings support the proposed program.

 

The U.S. Department of Labor Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) indicates that arts, entertainment and recreation are the industries that have seen the largest increase in jobs from the year 2001 to the present in Binghamton, rising by 14.1 percent.   In addition, the New York State Department of Labor employment outlook for music directors and composers is favorable, with an average of 130 openings in the state annually.  Some of BCC’s students aspire to be music teachers at the elementary, middle and secondary level where employment outlook is favorable as well.  According to State Education Department data for the years 2005-06, 55 percent of teaching positions in art, music, theatre and dance are held by teachers age 45 and older; 18 percent of these positions are held by teachers over 55 years of age with 89 of these positions in the Eastern Southern Tier region of the state.  Although the New York data indicates shortages in two of the big five cities only, it is anticipated that, due to the retirement of this population of teachers, employment opportunities will be available throughout New York.

 

A canvass was conducted of institutions of higher education in the Central region of New York.  There were no responses received for this canvass. 

 

Recommendation

 

It is recommended that the Board of Regents approve a master plan amendment authorizing Broome Community College to offer an Associate in Science degree program in Music.  This amendment will be effective until May 20, 2009, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case master plan amendment shall be without term.

 

 

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

              If the Board of Regents approves the master plan amendment, the Department will send it to the Governor for approval.  Upon gubernatorial approval, the Department will register the program.