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:	Dowling College: Master Plan Amendment to authorize a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program in Health Care Management at the main and Brookhaven campuses
DATE:	February 24, 2006
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 2 and 4
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

 

Should the Regents approve an amendment to the master plan of Dowling College to authorize the College to offer a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program in Health Care Management at each of its two campuses?

 

Reason for Consideration

 

Required by State regulation.

 

Proposed Handling

 

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

 

Procedural History

 

Master plan amendment is required because this would be the College’s first graduate program in the discipline of Health Professions at both its main and Brookhaven campuses.

 

Background Information

 

          Dowling College was chartered by the Regents in 1968, and is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Dowling proposes to offer a program in Health Care Management leading to a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) at each of its two campuses.

 

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 master plan of Dowling College, Suffolk County, be amended, effective March 21, 2006, to authorize the College to offer a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program in Health Care Management at the main and Brookhaven campuses.  This amendment will be effective until March 31, 2007, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case master plan amendment shall be without term.

Information in Support of Recommendation

 

Dowling College, Suffolk County, chartered by the Board of Regents in 1968, offers full- and part-time study leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Master of Science in Integrated Mathematics and Science Education, as well as Master of Business Administration and Doctorate of Education degree programs.  The College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.  Dowling College proposes to offer a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program in Health Care Management at both its main and Brookhaven campuses.

 

The College has all the resources required to mount the program, including 22 other M.B.A. programs. As the external evaluator comments, the College’s library and information technology resources are cutting edge. Existing faculty already offer the core M.B.A. courses and are in a position to teach the additional sections that the new program will generate. Two full-time faculty with expertise in the health care industry will teach the new health-related courses and will also supervise the capstone project. Adjunct faculty with special expertise have been identified to teach the new courses.

 

A 2003-2004 economic survey conducted by Long Island Business News reports that a 14 percent growth is expected in the health care industry on Long Island, which currently has 26 hospitals, five managed care facilities and 84 nursing homes and related agencies employing over 70,000 people. This extremely large segment of the Long Island economy requires the graduate level education the new program will provide.

 

          A canvass was conducted of colleges and universities in the Long Island Region of New York State. Five responses were received. One offered support for the proposed program. Three stated the program would have no impact on their institutions. One institution objected on the grounds that the proposed program would duplicate their existing program. This institution was provided information about the differences between the proposed program and their program, as well as labor market information. There was no further objection.