Meeting of the Board of Regents | February 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 College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Communication in Technology
DATE:	January 24, 2008
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 2 and 4
AUTHORIZATION(S):

SUMMARY

 

 

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

             

Should the Board of Regents approve an amendment to the master plan of the State University of New York authorizing the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill to offer the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Communication in Technology?

 

Reason for Consideration

 

              Required by State regulation

 

Proposed Handling

 

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

 

Procedural History

 

              Master plan amendment is required because this would be the College’s first baccalaureate degree program in the discipline of social science.

 

Background Information

 

At its October 26, 2007 meeting, the State University of New York Board of Trustees adopted a resolution to amend the State University Master Plan authorizing the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill to offer instruction leading to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Communication in Technology in the disciplinary area of social science. A master plan amendment is necessary as the proposed program will be the College’s first degree program in the discipline of social science at the baccalaureate level.

 

Recommendation

 

              The Department has determined that the proposed program, if approved, would meet the standards for registration set forth in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.

 

It is recommended that the Board of Regents approve the amendment to the master plan of the State University of New York authorizing the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill to offer the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Communication in Technology. 

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

              This amendment will be effective until February 12, 2009, unless the program is registered by the Department prior to that date, in which case master plan amendment shall be without term.

 

Information in Support of Recommendation

 

The proposed program leading to the B.S. degree in Communication in Technology is designed to prepare students for related graduate programs or for communication careers that incorporate writing, design, oral and visual presentation, and computing, such as those in the fields of Media, Advertising, Marketing, Technology, or Public Relations. It combines hands-on technical experience with communication literacy (writing, presenting, critical thinking, information gathering) and is guided by the principle that technology and fundamental communication skills are mutually supportive.  In addition to the required Liberal Arts and Sciences coursework, the 127 credit-hour program requires 30 credits of core requirements in English, Communication, Graphic Design, Business, and Journalism; 12 credits of upper-level Communication and Business courses; 12 credits in one area of specialization; an upper-level internship and a Senior Project.  Specialization areas include “Visual Media” - divided into Graphic Design and Production Tracks - and “Technical Writing and Communicating Through Interactive Media.” 

 

Students applying for admission directly out of high school will need a minimum high school average of 77 percent.  Transfer students will be expected to have a minimum 2.0 GPA, a requirement consistent with that of SUNY Cobleskill’s existing baccalaureate programs.  The College projects enrollment of 25 students in Year One of the program, growing to 35 students by Year Five.  These projections take into account enrollment in the College’s associate degree program in Communications and expressions of interest by current and prospective students in the proposed B.S. program.

 

In planning for the program over the past five years, the College has secured sufficient resources for the program, including faculty and library resources. All faculty teaching in the program hold graduate degrees, including four with earned doctorate degrees.  The College has committed significant funds to upgrading existing equipment and/or purchasing new equipment. 

 

According to U.S. Department of Labor data, the communication industry is continuing to experience significant growth, especially in the areas of Public Relations, Film and Video Editing, Graphic Design, Writing, Advertising and Promotion, Technical Communication, and Commercial and Industrial Design.  The New York State Department of Labor estimates to 2012 indicate that there will be annual growth statewide in fields related to the proposed degree as follows: technical writers - 36 new jobs and a total of 97 job openings; creative writers - 34 new jobs and a total of 263 job openings; public relations - 425 new jobs each year and a total of 661 job openings; and advertising and promotions managers - 132 new jobs and a total of 262 job openings.

 

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