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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