Tag Archives: MCalumni

http://www.regents.nysed.gov/meetings/2010Meetings/March2010/0310brca2.doc

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THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

TO: Full Board
FROM: Joseph P. Frey
SUBJECT: Permission to Operate in New York State: Saint Mary’s College of California
DATE: February 23, 2010
AUTHORIZATION(S):

Summary

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

Should the Board of Regents give Saint Mary’s College of California permission to offer courses from its Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program in Performing Arts in New York City?

Reason(s) for consideration

Required by State regulation.

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Saint Mary’s College of California, located in Moraga, CA, seeks Regents permission to offer 12 courses from its Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program in Performing Arts in New York City. These 12 Liberal Arts courses would be offered to professional dancers in the New York City area at convenient class locations, with scheduling that accommodates the dancers’ work obligations.

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Saint Mary’s College is seeking authorization to offer courses in New York City because it believes that it can serve a unique and underserved population of students: professional dancers, who often do not have an opportunity to pursue an academic education beyond secondary school due to the constraints inherent in their rigorous training, performing, and touring schedules. Consequently, the College has packaged this sub-set of courses from its B.A. degree program in Performing Arts, which it has designated the “LEAP Program” (Liberal Education for Arts Professionals), to enable professional dancers to pursue coursework within a flexible schedule and at locations convenient to their performance venues.

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Courses would be held in media-equipped conference rooms of conveniently located upscale hotels and would be taught by Saint Mary’s faculty (40 percent full-time, 60 percent adjunct). All full-time faculty are doctorally credentialed or have other terminal degrees in the subject which they would teach. Through an agreement with Manhattan College (Saint Mary’s sister college in the Lasallian tradition), students will have full access to the Manhattan College library as well as to the Saint Mary’s College library via delivery of books and materials to students’ homes, interlibrary loan, and comprehensive online services.

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Fordham’s response also described the resources and structures the University has established to accommodate professional dancers who enroll in the adult degree programs offered by the University’s College of Liberal Studies at each of the University’s campuses. According to its response, Fordham expects a class of about 40 dancers for fall 2010. Fordham’s response states that their program is growing and that they often attract students from Saint Mary’s program, in part because it doesn’t offer full services of a developed undergraduate program.

Saint Mary’s College provided a comprehensive response to Fordham’s objections. Key points and program attributes include the following:

When Saint Mary’s College was developing its LEAP model in 1998, Fordham generously provided data and support to Saint Mary’s. In addition, after the College was licensed to operate in New Jersey, the LEAP Director met with the Associate Dean of Fordham’s College of Liberal Studies. At this meeting, it was concluded that together, Saint Mary’s and Fordham could serve the New York dance community well.

Forty percent of LEAP’s students are retired, ethnic, freelance, or unemployed dancers, a population that was previously not being served.

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In addition, the College’s application for Permission to Operate in New York City included letters of support from the American Ballet Theatre, Steps on Broadway, and Career Transition for Dancers, a non-profit organization headquartered in New York City whose mission is to assist and counsel dancers through the transition they face when finishing their dance careers.

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Recommendation:

   It is recommended that permission be granted to Saint Mary’s College of California, to offer 12 courses from its Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts program, for a period beginning on March 9, 2010 and ending on March 8, 2015.

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[JR: And, YOU think I'm a tin foil hat nut that raves about the "gooferment" taking away our liberties? Can some one explain this one? Argh!]

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http://www.studentsreview.com/NY/MC.html

Manhattan College

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Overall Grade: C+(5.6)
Out of 47 Surveys
Education Quality
5.8, B-
Social Life
5.0, C
Extracurricular Activities
4.8, C
…
University Resource Use
5.3, C+

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MY COMMENT

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It’s not the depth of the well that determines how much water you carry away, but the size of the bucket you bring.

Looking back four decades, I can see how dumb I was. There are so many many opportunities if we are open to the possibilities. When I was a student, I wanted the data and information to succeed at my chosen field. The school offered so much more that I didn’t perceive the knowledge and wisdom of the ages. DO I blame the school for not force feeding me? Or do I thank them for getting as much as I could stomach into me? I think now that if I had more “life skills” its message would have been more effective. And I could been in a better place.

(This ignores my usual advice that “The Couldas, Wouldas, and Shouldas will kill you!” Meaning that the past is past and you can’t change it. To look back with anything but a historical recognition is a waste of effort. Take lessons from the past and bring them forward to get better results in the here and now.)

If I had ONE criticism of both the school, the alums, and the students, it would be that there is not a cohesive strategy to exploit the granfalloon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granfalloon that these three represent. The school doesn’t do enough to facilitate it; the alums don’t demand it; and the students don’t realize their role in it. TO everyone’s detriment.

(Even reading some of the comments, as some one who’s been on both sides of the hiring decision, I can see the incorrect mindset that I believe prevents the commentator from achieving what they want.)

Dona Nobis Pacem

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[JR: I strongly SUGGEST that alums add their experience to give the school a fair report. MC may not be an A+, but it's not a C-!]

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http://journelism.org/articles/education/a-shoulder-to-lean-on-support-programs-for-hispanic-students

A Shoulder to Lean on: Support Programs for Hispanic Students

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There are many colleges and universities with support programs that help assist students who lack preparation and financial resources to pursue a college degree. New York State established one such program in 1970; HEOP (Higher Education Opportunity Program) enabled me to attend a private college and successfully graduate. The program focuses on NYS residents and students who have already started the process of applying for colleges.

Emerging from an economically disadvantaged background myself, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to attend college until I heard about this program by chance 15 years ago. Back in 1992, I knew nothing about HEOP or what it offered. While many high-school students knew already which colleges they would go to, I was struggling with the fact that I might not have enough financial backing to attend any college. Neither my parents nor I were aware of the available help. I was lucky enough to hear about the program through a friend, and four years later I became the first in my family to earn a college degree.

Acceptance into the HEOP program is based on certain residency, school and financial requirements. The program offered by Manhattan College, where I attended in Riverdale, NY, provides testing, counseling, tutoring, academic advisement and financial assistance to prospective and accepted students throughout the four to five years they are in school.

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[JR: Testimony by an unknown Jasper alum to the MC's mission to be the education gateway for the "first college graduate in a family". Now, I just wish it had been signed.]

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