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

 

 

TO:                                  The Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee

 

FROM:                             Johanna Duncan-Poitier

 

 

SUBJECT:                        Regents authorization for an institution to confer a new degree

 

DATE:                              April 22, 2005

 

STRATEGIC GOAL:         Goal 2

 

AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

 

Executive Summary

 

 

Issue for Decision

 

          Should the Regents authorize The City University of New York (CUNY) Trustees to confer the degree of Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) at the CUNY Graduate School and University Center?

 

Proposed Handling

 

          The question will come before the HE & PP Committee on May 16, 2005, on its consent agenda, where it will be voted on and final action taken.

 

Procedural History

 

          Approval by the Board of Regents for the CUNY Trustees to award a new degree is required by Subdivision (8) of Section 6206 of the Education Law.

 

Background Information

 

          The Trustees now award four types of doctoral degrees at the CUNY Graduate School and University Center.  CUNY has requested registration of a multi-institution, licensure-qualifying Audiology program to be offered by the Graduate School and University Center, Brooklyn College, and Hunter College with the Graduate School awarding the Doctor of Audiology degree. 

 

The proposed four-year Au.D. program will replace the current two-year registered MS program in Audiology at Brooklyn College and the Audiology track in the MS program in Communication Sciences at Hunter and the nine-month clinical fellowship experience as the entry level degree for the practice of audiology.  These programs have been registered since 1977 and 1985, respectively, and are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).  The CUNY Graduate School and University Center has offered M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs in Communication Sciences since the 1970s. 

 

Recommendation

 

          The Regents should approve authority for the CUNY Trustees to confer the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree on students completing registered programs at the CUNY Graduate School and University Center because:

 

·       The program meets the standards for registration in the Regulations of the Commissioner.

·       It will permit CUNY to continue to offer a program in audiology that will respond to the new ASHA accreditation standards and that will prepare graduates for ASHA certification (a credential required for audiology licensure).

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

          This approval will be effective May 17, 2005.