Meeting of the Board of Regents | July 2008

SUMMARY

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

Should the Board of Regents authorize the State University College (SUC) at Old Westbury to confer the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree on students successfully completing registered programs at the College?

Reason(s) for Consideration

Required by State statute.

Proposed Handling

The question will come before the full Board at its July 2008 meeting where it will be voted on and action taken.

Procedural History

On May 13, 2008, the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees adopted the following resolution:

Resolved that the Chancellor be, and hereby is, directed to seek the authorization of the Board of Regents for the State University College at Old Westbury to award the Master of Arts in Teaching degree. On June 5, 2008, the Department received SUNY’s request, together with the proposal to register M.A.T. programs in Adolescence Education.

Background Information

Paragraph (f) of subdivision (2) of §355 of the Education Law authorizes the State University Board of Trustees:

To grant all degrees, diplomas and certificates which heretofore [i.e., July 1, 1948] have been granted or have been authorized to be granted upon the completion of courses of study in any state-operated institution which now is or hereafter may be in the state university, prior to the acquisition of such institution by the state university, and also such other degrees as the regents may hereafter specifically authorize them to grant.

At the State University College at Old Westbury, SUNY Trustees are authorized to confer the degrees of Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.), and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees on students successfully completing registered programs.  Since SUC Old Westbury now seeks to offer an M.A.T. program in Teaching, Regents authorization is required because this will be the institution's first Master of Arts in Teaching degree program. 

The proposed M.A.T. program is intended to prepare students for adolescent certification in mathematics, chemistry, biology, Spanish, English and social studies.  Candidates will enter the program with completion of a General Education undergraduate degree that includes at least six credits of English and six credits of a foreign language.  To support enrollment predictions of 179 by year five, Old Westbury plans a phased addition of new doctorally qualified faculty in the six program areas.

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

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Board of Regents authorize the State University College at Old Westbury to confer the Master of Arts in Teaching degree on students successfully completing registered M.A.T. programs at the State University College at Old Westbury, effective July 31, 2008.

Timetable for Implementation

If the Board authorizes the State University College at Old Westbury to confer the Master of Arts in Teaching degree, the Department will proceed to register the proposed M.A.T. programs in Adolescence Education and the institution will proceed to recruit and enroll students.