M E M O R A N D U M

							
							September 12, 2012


To:	           Members of the Board of Trustees

From:		Nancy L. Zimpher, Chancellor

Subject:	Degree Authorization for the State University of New York 
Empire State College
	

	I recommend that the Board of Trustees adopt 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 of New York Empire State College to confer the degree of Master of Education (M.Ed.).

Background

	Approval of this resolution will authorize the State University of New York Empire State College to confer the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree, subject to the approval of the Board of Regents.  Degree authorization is necessary as the award represents the College’s first use of the M.Ed.  The College is currently authorized to offer M.A., M.B.A, and M.A.T. graduate degrees.

      The M.Ed. degree is consistent with the mission of Empire State College to create access for adult learners to flexible programs of study that lead to undergraduate and graduate college degrees.  It also supports the Power of SUNY Education Pipeline expectations to create capacity and access to programs with innovative delivery strategies.  The flexible, online M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning: Principles and Pedagogy will enhance access to affordable graduate study in education and extend the College’s commitment to offer a recognizable degree to professional educators. 
      
      The College has a number of traditional, alternative, and clinically rich M.A.T. programs leading to New York State teacher certification. The College’s teacher education programs earned seven-year accreditation with no stipulation from the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) in June 2012.  The

M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning: Principles and Pedagogy is a logical extension of the College’s commitment to professional teacher development. It will expand the college’s capacity to assist in-place teachers from diverse backgrounds and geographic locations who need the flexibility offered by the fully online program. It is designed to also support students who are interested in a research-based master’s degree in education.
      
      The College offers a robust online course management system, extensive online learning resources and supports, well-developed instructional design and faculty orientation resources, and excellent facilities.  Sufficient experienced faculty members are currently in place. 
      
      Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, articulate an understanding of the program’s goals, the relationship of those goals to their educational and career objectives, and discuss ideas for a capstone project that will encompass program, educational, and career objectives. The M.Ed. program is designed for part-time, online study, but exceptional students who need to enroll full-time will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. The program will start with 45 new students in the fall term of 2013 and will grow to approximately 300 students in the spring term of year five. 
      
      The purpose of the 36-credit M.Ed. curriculum is to challenge educators to be more inclusive, more innovative, and more interactive in their practices. After completing 12 core credits, students will choose an area of specialization in adolescent literacy or educational foundations or develop another individualized focus. A key element of the program is a required three-course research sequence designed for practitioners. Through collaboration with New York State United Teachers Education and Learning Trust (NYSUT ELT), an established initiative to support teachers and school-related professionals, up to nine credits of electives that have been evaluated by the College’s education faculty as worthy of graduate level credit may be included in the program. The external reviewers commented, “The collaboration with NYSUT provides rich opportunities for future research and collaboration far beyond the current courses approved as electives for the program. The potential for stronger partnerships with the local education agencies can yield externally funded projects, publications, and other collaborative and mutually beneficial endeavors.”
       
      The program will serve K-12 teachers and others interested in education foundations, principles, and practices for teaching and learning. The College’s strong connection with the NYSUT will help the College connect with a diverse pool of students across New York State.




Board Resolution0-2-		September 12, 2012