THE
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 |
TO: |
The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents |
FROM: |
Johanna Duncan-Poitier |
COMMITTEE: |
Higher Education and Professional Practice |
TITLE OF
ITEM: |
Master Plan Amendment: Katharine Gibbs School-NYC, A.A.S. Criminal Justice |
DATE OF
SUBMISSION: |
July 23, 2004 |
PROPOSED
HANDLING: |
Approval (Consent Agenda) |
RATIONALE FOR
ITEM: |
Master plan approval is required when an institution offers its first program in a new discipline |
STRATEGIC
GOAL: |
Goals 2 and 4 |
AUTHORIZATION(S): |
|
SUMMARY:
Katharine Gibbs School-New York City has requested an amendment of its master plan in order to offer an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in criminal justice. This action is required because this would be the institution’s first program in the discipline area of social sciences.
The Office of Higher Education has determined that the proposed program, if approved, would meet the standards of registration in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.
Recommendation: I recommend that the Board of Regents take the following action:
VOTED, that the master plan of Katharine Gibbs School-NYC be approved, effective September 10, 2004, authorizing the School to offer an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in criminal justice. This master plan amendment will be effective until September 30, 2005, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case the master plan amendment shall be without term.
Katharine
Gibbs School-New York City
Criminal
Justice, A.A.S
Katharine
Gibbs-New York City (KG-NYC) is a two-year college that offers associate degrees
and certificates for students interested in a wide variety of careers. The
School’s central location is at 50 West 40th street in midtown
Manhattan. The School is accredited
by the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools. The current
program offerings include Digital Design and Film, Business, Fashion Design and
Merchandising, Hotel and Restaurant Management, and Information Technology
Systems. The School proposes
increasing its offerings with an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in
Criminal Justice.
The
demand for personnel in criminal justice-related fields has risen dramatically
over the past three years as a result of the increased concern related to
terrorism and security, as well as the burgeoning prison population. The A.A.S. degree remains a popular
program option due to the larger proportion of occupationally - related courses.
New A.A.S. programs have been introduced in outlying areas such as Westchester
and Long Island, but not in the boroughs of New York City. Of the 223 students
enrolled in certificate programs at KG-NYC who were surveyed, 61 students (27
percent) expressed interest in enrolling in a criminal justice program, while
another 11 percent said they might be interested.
The
program will consist of six quarters of a day and evening program totaling
92-quarter credits. Fifty-two of
the credits will be in the program concentration; thirty credits will consist of
General Education credits; the remaining ten credits will be foundation courses
including Professional Development and Introduction to Computer Concepts.
Students will experience a mix of theory and application; their educational
experience will be rounded with a complement of academic courses in the social
sciences and humanities and will acquire proficiencies in communications and
mathematics.
The
program was developed with input from professionals in the field. All of the
advisors have had distinguished careers in criminal justice and are now
practicing academics and scholars in various institutions of higher learning.
The program represents the best thinking and experiences of those individuals.
Beyond
the foundational theories of crime prevention and security, the curriculum
design will prepare students for entry-level positions in both the private and
public sectors. The coursework is structured to prepare students for
entry-level, part-time positions in security while continuing their
studies. The second quarter Private
Security course will offer students the option of signing up for an 8-hour
certificate program and receiving a certificate from the American Society for
Industrial Security. The
certificate will qualify the students for employment in the security profession,
thus providing them with much-needed experience and a source of income while
they complete the program. Topical
focuses in the course offerings include terrorism, events planning and security
management – all of which are relative to the post 9/11 environment in New York
City. KG-NYC A.A.S. degree will
emphasize immediate placement.
Preparation for the Civil Service Examination will be integrated into the
foundational courses during the first and second quarters. Specifically, two courses --
professional development and career development -- will stress the importance of
the Civil Service Examination along with the other character elements essential
for success in the field. Finally, students will acquire a basic understanding
of cyber crimes and cyber security by studying system components, software,
networks, and related threats.
KG-NYC
is an open admissions institution. Entering students must have a high school
diploma or GED. Students enrolled in the Criminal Justice program will be
required to sign a regulatory statement attesting to their understanding of
certain limitations they may experience with employment opportunities due to
prior criminal or bankruptcy problems.
KG-NYC
is an urban institution with a diverse population. It is anticipated that 25
percent of the students in the program will come from the Regents Region of New
York City. Approximately 60 percent of the students will come from the remainder
of the Regents Regions in the vicinity of New York City: Bronx County, Richmond
County, Queens County and Kings County.
Prior
to opening the program, the School will hire a full-time department chair with
teaching duties. Initially the
program faculty will include the chair along with current and new part-time
faculty. An additional full-time faculty member will be hired at the beginning
of the program’s second year.
The
school is expanding its library holdings, both print and electronic, to support
the program; no additional facilities will be needed.
Enrollment
in the A.A.S. program is projected at 30 students during its initial quarter,
rising to 325 by the fifth year.
Eight
colleges responded to a canvass of all degree-granting institutions in New York
City. Six respondents stated they
had no objections to the proposed program.
Two institutions raised objections:
CUNY Bronx Community College and Hostos Community
College.
CUNY Bronx Community
College’s view is that their Associate in Arts (A.A.) programs in Criminal
Justice and Security Management, combined with Associate in Science (A.S.)
programs in Criminal Justice offered by John Jay College and Monroe College, and
other programs in the tri-state area already meet community needs. However, the audience for an A.A.S.
degree in Criminal Justice will be different from that for Associate in Science
(A.S.) programs in that field, and students interested in a program located in
Manhattan are not likely to be interested in programs elsewhere in a tri-state
area.
Bronx
Community College also states their programs have 100 percent articulation with
John Jay College, but that KG-NYC does not provide senior college transfer for
their students. KG-NYC responded
that their program is not intended as a transfer program. Rather, it is designed very specifically
to prepare students for immediate employment. KG-NYC students are strongly oriented
toward short-term job prospects.
Only a small number are expected to go on for a bachelor’s degree, and
KG-NYC indicates they will assist them with articulation on a one-to-one
basis.
Hostos
Community College stated that the proposed KG-NYC Criminal Justice program
closely parallels their A.A.S. program in Legal Studies. However, examination of the curricula
for the KG-NYC A.A.S. in Criminal Justice and the Hostos A.S. in Public Interest
Paralegal Program showed little overlap in content.
According
to the Hostos website, Hostos does offer an A.A.S. in Public
Administration. This degree has two
concentrations: Public Administration and Criminal Justice. Students are required to take 27 credits
representing 35% of the course load in their area of concentration. The course descriptions describe
theoretical constructs pertaining to institutions and their interactions. By comparison, the
KG-NYC proposal places a far greater emphasis on the applied in criminal justice
and the distribution of Criminal Justice courses is 56%. According to the Hostos website “…The
Public Administration curriculum is designed to prepare men and women with the
foundation for employment in management; supervisory, or executive positions in
one of the many career areas available in the public sector at the federal,
state, county, and municipal levels of government; in the private sector, in
various areas of small business and corporate and industrial organizations; and
in community organizations…” The KG-NYC program prepares students for careers in
law enforcement, public or private security, corrections, investigation,
probation and parole.