Committee Report | January 2011

Summary

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

            Should the Board of Regents approve the appointment of Kevin Smith, Deputy Commissioner for Adult Career and Continuing Education Services, to the Committee on the Professions?

Reason(s) for Consideration

            Required by Rules of the Board of Regents

Proposed Handling

            The question will come before the Board of Regents at its January 2011 meeting where it will be submitted for action.

Procedural History

Part 24 of the Rules of the Board of Regents establishes the Committee on the Professions and requires the appointment of members by the Board of Regents.

Background Information

The Committee on the Professions (COP) was established by the Board of Regents to assist the Board in supervising admission to and regulation of the licensed professions.  Composed of three Department officers designated by the Board, the COP considers atypical licensure cases wherein applicants seek to meet given requirements by submitting credentials that are the substantial equivalent in scope and content to those normally presented. The COP also makes final determinations concerning questions of moral character for purposes of initial licensure; hears, and makes recommendations to the Regents concerning requests for restoration of a professional license that has been revoked or surrendered; and reviews and makes recommendations to the Regents on proposed penalties in Consent Orders related to professional misconduct.

Due to the departure of several members of the Committee on the Professions and the substantial work loads carried by current Committee members, it has become more difficult to plan meetings of the COP for which the requisite 3-member panel must be selected.  In October 2009 and February 2010, the Board of Regents approved the appointments of Gayle Bowden and Lawrence De Mers to serve on the COP, but additional Committee members continue to be needed because of the busy schedules of all of the current members.  Accordingly, I am recommending the addition of Kevin Smith, Deputy Commissioner for Adult Career and Continuing Education Services, to the roster of COP members (attached). Mr. Smith has expressed interest in participating in the licensing and disciplinary processes by serving on the COP and would be a valuable addition to the Committee.

Recommendation

            VOTED: that the Board of Regents approve the attached roster of the Committee on the Professions, effective January 11, 2011.

Timetable for Implementation

            Immediately

Committee on the Professions

Roster of Members

(Effective January 11, 2011)

Robert G. Bentley, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Teaching Initiatives

Gayle Bowden, Director of the Office of Human Resources Management

Jeffrey Cannell, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Cultural Education

Rebecca H. Cort, Associate Commissioner for Special Education

Steven M. Earle, Director of the Office for Diversity, Ethics and Access

Joseph P. Frey, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Higher Education

Stanley S. Hansen, Jr., Executive Director of the Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs

Frank Munoz, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Professions

Erin O’Grady-Parent, Acting Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs

Kevin Smith, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services

Leslie Templeman, Assistant Counsel, Office of Innovative School Models