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For Immediate
Release
1/19/12
Senate Approves Senator White's SSHE Modernization Bill
SB 1133 would allow for applied doctorates at state
universities
The Senate unanimously approved legislation introduced by Senator Don White
(R-Indiana) that would provide new opportunities for Pennsylvania's 14-member
State System of Higher Education (SSHE) to offer advanced degrees.
Senate Bill 1133, approved by the Senate on Tuesday, would allow the member
universities to offer applied doctorate degrees, a level of education currently
only available at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Senator White and SSHE
officials stress the expansion will not impact IUP, but rather augment and
modernize the entire system to make it more competitive and attract more
students.
"SSHE argued, and IUP agreed, that this change is necessary and would be for
the benefit of Pennsylvania's state universities," Senator White said. "This
would modernize the state system and enable it to provide a new level of
education that will make the individual schools more appealing for prospective
students. This flexibility will enable SSHE to attract and keep more
high-quality students who are looking toward these advanced degrees."
SB 1133 would set defined standards for establishing applied doctorate
programs – a degree for working professionals who must be licensed to practice
in their field of expertise -- under the direct control and oversight of SSHE.
IUP will remain the only SSHE-member university to offer PhD programs, which
are for those pursing research and engaging in scholarship.
The proposal has been met with some apprehension from IUP staff and faculty,
which SSHE Chancellor John Cavanaugh addressed during a visit to campus last
October. He cited the high quality of the advance degree programs offered by IUP
as a guarantee of continued success at the school.
In a letter to Senator White, Aaron A. Walton, Chairman of SSHE's Academic
and Student Affairs Board, said the system plans to set defined standards and
safeguards for the establishment of applied doctorate programs.
Specifically, he said universities would have to demonstrate the cost-benefit
and need for the proposed programs and provide a capacity analysis when the
proposed degree program is offered at another member university. If established,
the applied doctorate programs would be subject to an annual evaluation to
determine if they are meeting their objectives.
"We have been assured that these programs will not adversely impact the
integrity of the programs offered by IUP," Senator White said.
Contact:
Joe Pittman
(724) 357-0151
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