THE
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT /
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF |
TO: |
Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee |
FROM: |
Johanna Duncan-Poitier |
SUBJECT: |
Master Plan Amendment: State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Morrisville, Norwich Campus, Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree Program in Early Childhood |
DATE: |
May 1, 2006 |
STRATEGIC
GOAL: |
Goals 2 and 4 |
AUTHORIZATION(S): |
|
Issue for Decision (Consent
Agenda)
Should the Regents authorize the amendment of the master plan of the State University of New York in order for the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Morrisville, Norwich Campus, to offer an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Early Childhood?
Reason for
Consideration
Required by State
regulation.
Proposed
Handling
The question will come before
the Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee at its May 2006 meeting
where it will be voted on and action taken. It will then come before the full
Board at its May meeting for final action.
Procedural
History
Master plan amendment is
required because this would be the College’s first Associate degree program in
the discipline of Education offered at the
The State
University Board of Trustees, at its November 9, 2005 meeting, adopted a
resolution to amend the State University Master Plan to authorize the State
University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Morrisville,
Norwich Campus, to offer instruction leading to the Associate in Applied Science
(A.A.S.) degree in Early Childhood in the discipline area of Education. A master plan amendment is necessary as
the proposed program will be the College’s first degree program in the MPA
discipline of Education at the
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 Board of Regents
amend the master plan of the State University of New York authorizing the State
University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at
Morrisville, Norwich Campus, to offer an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)
degree in Early Childhood.
Timetable for
Implementation
This amendment will be effective
until May 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
The proposed program leading to the A.A.S.
degree in Early Childhood will prepare graduates to enter the workforce
as professionals in
the field of Early Childhood.
Students in the proposed
program will complete 65 credit hours of undergraduate coursework. The College reports that the
curriculum was developed using standards
proposed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
for Associate Degree programs for Early Childhood. The program requirements include courses in
the major, one-third of the courses in the liberal arts and sciences to fulfill
the A.A.S. degree requirement in this area, and two field
placement experiences. Students will be required to develop and maintain a
comprehensive portfolio during the course of their program of study to assist
them in their career planning and preparation.
Applicants to the proposed program must have
a minimum high
school average in the C to C+ range and placement into English 101 and Math
102. Students who do not meet
minimum requirements in the required math and language arts courses will be
required to successfully complete the recommended college preparatory courses
before being admitted to the program.
SUNY Morrisville anticipates a first year
enrollment of 10 students in the proposed program, growing to 25 to 30 students
by the fifth year. The College
expects the proposed program to attract students who
are primarily
residents of
SUNY
Morrisville has allocated appropriate resources for the implementation and
continuation of the program. The proposed program will be offered in the
College’s new
All faculty listed for the proposed program
have master’s degrees in education and experience in Early Childhood/Childhood
Education. The College expects to
hire one additional full-time faculty member with appropriate credentials to
coordinate the program. In keeping with standard practice, a canvass
was conducted of institutions of higher education in the Central region. There were five responses to the
canvass; all responses supported the program.
SUNY
Morrisville has offered “extension” classes in
There is evidence of demand for the proposed program. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs in childcare will continue to grow at a faster than average pace with 150 new openings per year in the Southern Tier region of the State. The Chenango County Child Care Coordinating Council expressed strong support for the program, stating that the demand for quality childcare far exceeds the supply in the community.