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

 

TO:

Committee on Higher Education and Professional Practice

 

FROM:

Johanna Duncan-Poitier

SUBJECT:

Master Plan Amendment: St. Joseph’s College, New York, Brooklyn Campus, Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Literacy and Cognition

 

DATE:

June 16, 2005

 

STRATEGIC GOAL:

Goals 2 and 4

 

AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Consent Agenda

 

Should the Regents authorize the amendment of the master plan of St. Joseph’s College, New York in order for the College to offer a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree program in Literacy and Cognition at its Brooklyn campus?

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

         
          Required by State Regulation.
         

Proposed Handling

           

This question will come before the Committee on Higher Education and Professional Practice on June 20, 2005 as a consent item and then will come before the full Board for final action on June 21, 2005.

 

Procedural History

 

Master plan amendment is required because this would be the College’s first master’s level program in the area of Education at the Brooklyn campus.

 

Background Information

 

St. Joseph’s College for Women, Brooklyn, New York was incorporated under a provisional charter in 1916. The Regents amended the charter in 1970, changing the corporate purpose to include men and removing Women from the name, changing it to St. Joseph’s College, New York.

 

          At the Brooklyn location, the College currently offers Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) programs leading to initial teacher certification in early childhood and childhood education; early childhood and childhood special education; and English, Spanish, mathematics, social studies, and chemistry 7-12. In addition, the College offers Bachelor of Science (B.S.) programs leading to initial teacher certification in mathematics and chemistry 7-12.

 

          St. Joseph’s College’s Brooklyn and Suffolk campuses received Regents Accreditation of Teacher Education (RATE) in June 2004 for a period of seven years.

 

Effect on Other Institutions

 

          A canvass was conducted of institutions of higher education in the New York City region.  Six responses were received, each indicating that this new program would not affect their institution.

 

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.

 

          VOTED:  That the master plan of St. Joseph’s College be amended authorizing the College to offer a Master of Arts (M.A.) program in Literacy and Cognition at its Brooklyn campus.  This amendment will be effective until June 30, 2006, unless the program is registered by the Department prior to that date, in which case master plan amendment shall be without term.