Committee Report | January 2011

To:                                           The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents

From:                                      Joseph P. Frey

Subject:                                   Master Plan Amendment:  Metropolitan College of New York - Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Health Systems Management

Date:                                       December 27, 2010

Authorizations:                       

SUMMARY

Issue for Decision (Consent  Agenda)

Should the Board of Regents approve a master plan amendment for Metropolitan College of New York to authorize the College to offer its first baccalaureate program in the disciplinary area of the health professions?

Reason(s) for Consideration

Required by State regulation.

           
Proposed Handling

The question will come before the full Board for consideration at its January 2011 meeting, where it will be voted on and action taken.

Background Information

Metropolitan College of New York (New York City) seeks Regents approval of a master plan amendment to authorize it to offer a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) program in Health Care Systems Management.  Master plan amendment is needed because the proposed program would be the College’s first baccalaureate program in the health professions disciplinary area.  At the baccalaureate level, Metropolitan College offers programs in the disciplinary areas of Business and the Social Sciences, including B.B.A. programs in business.

Purpose. The proposed program is designed to prepare students for management and policy positions in health care.  The focus would be on preparing current and future administrators to design, measure, and assess the impact of access and technology; to conduct and interpret research findings; to create policies and procedures to address new health care issues; to plan for strategic growth; to effectively manage health care organizations; and to communicate and interact with participants and stakeholders in an evolving and diverse consumer environment.   

Curriculum and Academic Resources.  The proposed 120-credit curriculum is designed to integrate theory and practice.  It would include courses in such areas as medical terminology, health services management, medical insurance, health information technology, ethical aspects of health care, community health services, pathophysiology, medical coding and billing procedures, and technology and innovation in health care.  Each semester would also feature a capstone course in which every student would undertake an action-focused project in a health-care related workplace, applying specific methodologies of problem-solving, critical thinking, and research.  A full-time program director with an appropriate terminal degree and significant, relevant professional experience has been engaged to guide and teach in the program.  In addition, the proposed program would draw on existing faculty and instructional resources.    

Students.  This fall, Metropolitan College has 837 undergraduate and 393 graduate students.  If the proposed program is approved, it plans to enroll up to 40 students in its summer term.  The College estimates the program will have about 160 students by its fifth year of operation.  At the undergraduate level, the College typically attracts adult students from the New York City area — predominately minority female students working full‑time and attending classes full‑time.  On the undergraduate level, 70 percent of the College’s students are Black, 21 percent Hispanic, 3.4 percent White, and 3.2 percent Non-Resident Alien (international) students.  Undergraduate students average about 32 years of age.  The College expects the proposed program would enroll a similar population.

The Department has determined that the proposed program meets the standards for registration set forth in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.

Need.  The College cites forecasts (e.g., Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-09) that health care in general will generate about 3 million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016.  Wage and salary employment in the health care industry is projected to increase 22 percent through 2016, compared with 11 percent for all industries combined. 

In New York City, eight higher education institutions offer baccalaureate programs in the Health Care Administration subject field.  The Department canvassed all degree-granting institutions in the City.  It received responses from nine institutions; none objected to the proposed program.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Board of Regents approve a master plan amendment for Metropolitan College of New York to authorize the College to offer its first baccalaureate program in the disciplinary area of the health professions (B.B.A. in Health Care Systems Management).  The amendment will be effective until January 31, 2012, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case master plan amendment will be without term.