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

 

TO:	Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Master Plan Amendment:  Medaille College - Proposed Move of M.S.Ed. program in Education Preparation to Amherst Campus
DATE:	December 16, 2005
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 2 and 4
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

 

Should the Regents authorize the amendment of the master plan of Medaille College to allow the institution to move its M.S.Ed. program in Education Preparation to its Amherst campus?

 

Reason for Consideration

 

Required by State regulation.

         

Proposed Handling

 

This question will come before the Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee at its January 2006 meeting, where it will be voted on and action taken.  It will then come before the full Board at its January 2006 meeting for final action.

 

Procedural History

 

The Department registered this program at Medaille College's main campus in 2001. The institution seeks to move the program to its Amherst campus. 

 

 

 

 

 

Background Information

 

Medaille College, Buffalo, Erie County, seeks to move its M.S.Ed. program in Education Preparation to its Amherst campus.  Master plan amendment is required because this would be the institution's first program in the area of education at the Amherst campus. 

 

An independent college chartered by the Regents in 1892 as the Institute of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Diocese of Buffalo, Medaille College offers associate degree, baccalaureate, and/or master’s degree programs on its main campus in a variety of disciplines, including education.  The institution's first graduate program, approved in 1948, was in the field of education.  In 1967, the Regents approved a charter amendment to change the institution's name from Mount St. Joseph College to Medaille College, and Board action in 1998 authorized the Amherst branch campus.  According to the College, its fall 2005 enrollment includes 2,599 full-time students (1,554 undergraduate and 1,045 graduate) and 323 part-time students (150 undergraduate and 173 graduate).

 

Recommendation

 

It is recommended that the Board of Regents amend the master plan of Medaille College to authorize the institution to relocate its M.S.Ed. in Education Preparation program for teacher certification to its Amherst campus.  This amendment will be effective until January 31, 2007, 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

 

At its main campus, Medaille College offers B.S.Ed. programs that prepare students for Generalist 5-9 and Childhood 1-6 Initial certifications, as well as M.S.Ed. programs that prepare students for Initial/Professional certifications in Childhood 1-6, Literacy Birth-6, and Special Education (Childhood 1-6, as well as Middle Childhood generalist and various content specialties).  The program proposed for relocation to the Amherst campus - the M.S.Ed. in Education Preparation - was first registered in September 2001, and prepares holders of undergraduate degrees in one of the liberal arts and sciences for Childhood 1-6 certification.

 

In the 2003-04 reporting year, all 235 Medaille College candidates who took the State's ATS-W certification exam passed.  Likewise, all 235 candidates who attempted the LAST exam passed.  Overall, 98 percent of the College's 2003-04 candidates passed the State certification exams they attempted - even as the number of Medaille students attempting the exams grew by over 30 percent, compared to just the prior year.  The 2003-04 pass rates represent a slight improvement over recent, prior-year performances.

 

Medaille College proposes the relocation of the program to both create space on the main campus for new programs and to expand the facilities and delivery options available to the Education Preparation program.  The College projects that, within five years, the program will grow from the current 400 students to over 600 students.  According to the College, this growth will be driven by the continuing demand from Canadian students seeking teacher education placements.

 

The Amherst branch campus has eight wireless classrooms, a study area, and computer and copying facilities available to students.  Students will also have full access to all library resources and academic and student services located on the main campus.  The Amherst campus is about nine miles from the main campus.

 

In keeping with standard practice, the Department canvassed other institutions of higher education in the region for their views of the proposal.  Three institutions replied; none requested a public hearing, nor do any anticipate the change will impact their programs.