Interest letters flow in after announcement

The School of Education has recently received approval for a doctoral program in Executive Leadership, along with the Pharm.D. program.
According to Dr. Arthur Walton, dean of the School of Education, the Ed.D. program is unlike any other doctoral curriculum grounded in education.
“[The Ed.D.] program is a unique and innovative doctoral program that is designed to provide senior managers and executives in education and related fields with the skills, knowledge and dispositions that are required to be productive in various organizations,” he said.
There has already been an enormous response since the announcement, with approximately 150 letters of interest coming in.  However, the program is highly competitive, and there are a mere 25 spots open for candidates in the first year which will commence this summer.
The application process is a rigorous one, requiring at least three years of successful experience at the management level, three letters of recommendation from practicing leaders, a minimum of a Master’s in education or another field, a personal interview and an on-demand writing sample where the candidate has to respond to a case study or problem and provide a written response in person.
There are many aspects of the Ed.D program which set it apart from most doctoral programs.
The Ed.D. prepares executive leaders who have a moral and ethical commitment to make a difference in the lives of children and families from distraught communities. 
Walton also stressed the importance of the increased participation of underrepresented groups in the doctoral level programs and positions of leadership.
Another perk is the allowance of professionals to continue working in their careers with minimal if any interruptions, and will meet every other weekend year-round for approximately 28 months.  Candidates for the program will be drawn from professions in the field of education, and not for profit and profit sectors.
Getting the doctoral program approved involved a process that took nearly three years and over 600 pages of proposals and reports to be sent to the New York State Board of Regents, and Walton is both pleased and relieved that the long process has produced the desired results.
“This is an important opportunity for the College and the community,” he said. “It continues Fisher’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence and service to the community.”

Walton indicated that this has been a great year of both challenges and opportunities.  The School of Education recently received official notification from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education that the unit has been nationally accredited.

Rachel Henderson
rbh1545@sjfc.edu