Cal State Fullerton/UCI Developing Joint Doctorate Program

Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine are joining forces to develop a doctoral program in educational leadership with a concentration in administration and policy. It will be Cal State Fullerton's first joint doctorate.

"This is an example of Cal State Fullerton's partnerships with other educational institutions to prepare educational leaders for K-12 systems in Orange County and adjacent areas. The program also may be of interest to some rising educational leaders in community college settings," said Ephraim Smith, vice president for academic affairs, noting that the campus recommended more than 1,600 candidates for state teaching credentials during the 2001-2002 academic year. "It reaffirms our leadership in education and provides educators with a geographically accessible and affordable doctoral program."

Cal State Fullerton is part of a five-campus consortium developing the joint doctorates with the support of a $325,000 grant from the California State University/University of California Joint Ed.D. Board. Established in November, the board was created to produce joint doctoral programs in education to meet the state's educational leadership needs. Each university system has devoted $2 million to the effort.

"The program will respond to clear statewide policy that encourages California State University campuses to develop such programs in collaboration with University of California campuses," said Keith O. Boyum, associate vice president for academic programs. "We look forward to working with all of these campuses in the learning interests of students."

Boyum is developing the program in conjunction with Louise Adler, chair and professor of educational leadership, and Mickey Hollis, acting associate dean of the College of Human Development and Community Services and director of the School of Education.

"Participating in this collaborative effort provides us with a number of opportunities," said Hollis. "It further enables us to meet the growing need for school administrators and leaders; there are many well-qualified people in this area who want advanced preparation and, due to distances and finances, are unable to satisfy their desires by attending a UC campus. This program will help remedy that problem," he noted.

"This program will bring extra strength to the existing graduate programs at Cal State Fullerton," Hollis added. "The opportunity for our faculty to work with doctoral students and to expand their research interest will enrich our educational environment. In the final analysis, it is a win-win opportunity for our faculty, our students and the K-12 schools in this area, including their teachers and their students."

A degree proposal may be ready for campus review by the fall, Boyum noted. The proposal will be reviewed by the special joint CSU-UC board and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Courses could be offered as early as fall 2003.

Media Contacts:
Keith Boyum, associate vice president for academic programs, at (714) 278-4831 or kboyum@fullerton.edu
Mickey Hollis, director of the School of Education, at (714) 278-7350 or mhollis@fullerton.edu
Louise Adler, chair and professor of educational leadership, at (714) 278-7673 or ladler@fullerton.edu
Pamela McLaren of Public Affairs at (714) 278-4852 or pmclaren@fullerton.edu

NEWS RELEASE California State University, Fullerton
Public Affairs
(714) 278-2414 / Fax (714) 278-5226
www.fullerton.edu/paweb/news.html