ED ADMIN DOCTORATE TO BE OFFERED ON SUNY NEW PALTZ CAMPUS

NEW PALTZ — Beginning in the fall of 2000, a doctoral degree in educational administration and policy studies will be offered on the SUNY New Paltz campus in collaboration with the University at Albany. The program will draw upon the strengths of the faculty at both institutions, and students will enroll in courses offered at New Paltz as well as at Albany.

“The Albany research focus and the New Paltz field-based focus will create an excellent combination,” said David K. Lavallee, provost and vice president for academic affairs at SUNY New Paltz. “The relationship between the two campuses, which have received state, national and international recognition, is certain to be a winning combination.”

SUNY New Paltz President Roger W. Bowen said, “We are particularly excited about this new venture. It will have a major impact on meeting the higher education needs of hundreds of principals and other school administrators in the Valley. The program offers an opportunity for our institutions to reach out to students in a geographic area that is largely underserved at the doctoral level but already receives excellent instruction from the New Paltz faculty at the master’s level. It was a natural partnership.”

Currently, individuals interested in pursuing a doctorate in educational administration must travel either to Albany or New York City in order to obtain the necessary course work. For most, this travel and study is in addition to holding down a full- time, education-related job.

The doctoral program is designed for practicing school and college administrators and others in the Hudson Valley corridor who have completed the certificate of advanced study (CAS) or master of science in educational administration or a related field.

“The program of study will not be new,” said Robert Michael, dean of the School of Education at SUNY New Paltz. “Courses and substantive requirements will be the same as those currently taught at the University at Albany. Admission standards, required courses, and qualifying and comprehensive examinations will not change. The doctoral degree will be awarded by the University at Albany.”

According to Michael, the program will be taught using traditional and non- traditional formats. There will be cross-campus cooperation in teaching and doctoral research, as well as distance learning via video teleconferencing.

Tuition will be the same for students whether or not the course is taught in Albany or New Paltz. The program in educational administration and policy studies offers three possible areas of concentration: school administration, higher education administration, and educational policy studies. Depending on the interests of the initial class, only one will be offered in the first year of the program at SUNY New Paltz.

“The first group of students to enter the program will number between 20 and 25 students,” said Michael. “The first advisory session for individuals who may be interested in pursuing the program will be held on October 13, at 4 p.m. in Lecture Center 100.”