Memorandum

Date: 13 November 2007

To: Prof. Richard Naslund, Chair of Faculty Senate

Prof. Gary James, Chair of FSEC

Prof. Alvin Vos, Chair of EPPC

From: Nancy Stamp, Vice Provost & Dean of the Graduate School

Subject: Proposal for Master of Science in Student Affairs Administration

The College of Community & Public Affairs has submitted a proposal for a Master of Science in Student Affairs Administration. After recommendation by the Curriculum Committee and then discussion with faculty (Profs. Sharon Holmes, Rodger Summers and Dina Maramba) and Dean Ingraham representing the proposed program, the Graduate Council approved the proposal unanimously on 11-12-07.

The Graduate Council’s main questions and the responses by the representatives of the MSA program were:

• Are there enough faculty for this program? There are three faculty now and another being hired now. Thus, salary commitment for faculty is already in place. This is an average number of faculty for a Student Affairs program. Such programs appropriately make use of practitioners, and the Division of Student Affairs at BU has many such well-qualified people.

• How will students be supported? The Graduate School is not providing stipends. Instead and already, there are 15 graduate assistantships funded by student-affairs-type offices at BU; partial tuition scholarships already accompany those, as per a long-standing arrangement between the Division of Student Affairs and the Graduate School. Some students may obtain assistantships elsewhere, too. And part-time students are likely to work already in student-affairs-type offices at other institutions. All of this is typical student support in such programs.

The attachments include the “Letter of intent to submit a proposal for a new graduate program” which was approved by SUNY-system last summer. Although the estimates in the LOI are out-dated, it is included because it contains a detailed rationale and market-analysis, as required by SUNY-system. The second attachment is the formal proposal in the format required by SUNY-system.

I respectfully request that Faculty Senate and its committees expedite review of the MSA proposal. This program and proposal have been methodically developed over the last four years by faculty in CCPA, which included obtaining the guidance of a consultant early in the process. The faculty would like to enroll students officially for fall 2008. There already is a great deal of interest by potential applicants, including BU undergraduates. Approval by SUNY-system requires about two months; then approval by NYSED takes another 2-18 months. None of this reflects problems with BU’s proposals but rather the backlogs at those agencies. And our “down-time” between semesters reduces the window of opportunity with these agencies. Consequently, the sooner the MSA proposal gets in the cue at SUNY-system, the sooner it will be approved.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Prof. Sharon Holmes in CCPA.

If you have any questions about the process, please contact me.

Cc:

Sharon Holmes, Prof. and Director of MSA

Patricia Ingraham, Dean of CCPA

State University of New York

College of Community and Public Affairs

FORMAL PROPOSAL for a NEW PROGRAM:

Student Affairs Administration

Master of Science

Prepared for

SUNY System Administration

in accordance with the

2005 Guidelines for the Submission of Graduate Academic Program Proposals

October, 2007
Appendix: Cover Sheet

A. Name of institution:	Binghamton University – Main Campus
Specify campus where program will be offered, if other than the main campus:
B. Campus President or Chief Academic Officer
Name and title:	Dr. Mary Ann Swain, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
Signature and date:
C. Contact person, if different
Name and title:	Dr. Sharon L. Holmes, Associate Professor & Director of MSA
Telephone :	607-777-9219
Fax:	607-777- 9237
E-mail:	slholmes@binghamton.edu
D. Proposed program title:	Student Affairs Administration Program
E. Proposed degree or other award:	Master of Science
E. Proposed HEGIS code:	0826	G. Total program credits: 45
H. If the program will be offered jointly with another institution, name and address of the institution/branch below: N/A
If the other institution is degree-granting, attach a contract or letter of agreement signed by that institution’s President or CEO. If it is non-degree granting, refer to SED Memorandum to Chief Executive Officers No. 94-04 (http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/ceo%20memorandum.htm).

I. If the program will lead to teacher certification as other than a classroom teacher, list the intended: N/A
Certification title(s) and type(s): (e.g., English 7-12, Professional; Childhood 1-6, Initial/Professional)
J. If specialized accreditation will be sought indicate: N/A
Accrediting group
Expected date of accreditation:
K. Anticipated enrollment:
Initial: 18	Maximum within first five years: 42
L. If this program will be offered in a special format, please specify (See Appendix H for definitions.): N/A
M. If this program will be offered in an atypical schedule that may affect program financial aid eligibility, please describe: N/A
N. Brief Program Summary (300 words), describing academic content, structure and duration. Academic Content: The purpose of the proposed Master of Science in Student Affairs Administration is to prepare practitioners for careers in student affairs administration in both two-and four-year institutions of higher education. Our primary goal is to prepare professionals who have a thorough understanding of how students grow and develop during the college years and how colleges and universities can be intentional in facilitating their students’ growth. A secondary goal is to prepare professionals who understand what constitutes effective leadership in