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February 08, 2005
Task force to meet on degree-completion program
The task force set up by CLA dean Garvin Davenport to look into a degree-completion program through Hamline’s Graduate School of Public Administration will meet for the first time Tuesaay, task force member and psychology professor Kim Guenther said.
The new degree-completion program will first offer both bachelor of science and master of arts degrees to international students who already have degrees in their home countries, said William Joynes, dean of the Graduate School of Administration.
Such programs are not uncommon at comprehensive universities such as Hamline, which offers multiple bachelor’s degrees, Davenport said.
On the task force, in addition to Guenther, will be CLA faculty members Sharon Preves, associate professor of sociology, and Bonnie Ploger, associate professor of biology.
Representing the Graduate School of Administration will be Joynes and Associate Dean Nancy Hellerud, Guenther said.
Guenther said he was unsure if these six people were the complete group. He added that he was also unsure about the level of Davenport’s involvement, though he said he expects him to serve as committee chair.
As the Oracle reported on Dec. 14, some faculty were concerned that the program would diminish the value of a Hamline bachelor of arts degree.
“You run the risk of diminishing the value of a Hamline University bachelor’s degree if the graduate schools begins to issue B.S. degrees that don’t have the same general education requirements of the college B.A.,” said philosophy professor Duane Cady.
Guenther said that whatever the group decided, they will not hurt the CLA or “tarnish Hamline’s image.”
A time table is not currently set for the group; however, Guenther speculated that the group’s work would be completed before President-Elect Linda Hanson officially replaces current president Larry Osnes on June 1.
Posted by msveum at February 8, 2005 03:57 PM