Thanks, Bill.
I seem to be out of the loop on this. I was under the impression that state agencies are not in the business of setting guidelines for specific academic programs, except programs that lead to state certification or license (e.g., teaching certificates). Structuring specific academic programs is the prerogative of academic departments (subject to general guidelines set by states, universities, and colleges). Are other academic disciplines besides education subject to this kind of state regulation? Has there been any challenge to this intrusion into academic freedom?
David
PS. XMCA respondents, please "reply to all" so that my LSU colleagues can keep abreast of this conversation. ...thanks.
_________________________
On 04/10/2003 07:28 PM AST Bill Barowy <wbarowy who-is-at attbi.com> said:
Lesley University offers a M.A. in education across 18 states, David, and
meeting state regulations has become a second uncompensated job.
http://www.lesley.edu/offcampus/map.html
The situation in Louisiana is indeed occuring in many other states. Academic
freedom seems a thing of the distant past.
_________________________________________
XMCA Colleagues.
In parallel with many other U.S. states, we in Louisiana recently have
undergone extensive revision of our teacher certification programs
(undergraduate and graduate) to make them conform to new licensure
requirements promulgated by the Louisiana Department of Education and the
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Now the Board of
Regents which oversees higher education in Louisiana, in conjunction with
BESE, has issued a set of prescriptive guidelines for our non-certification
masters programs. These guidelines are intrusive, including prescriptions
for the structuring of specializations (which currently are
unstructured--negotiated individually), and for the inclusion of
"performance indicators" for each course description.
Our Department is struggling with how to respond to what appears to be a
clear infringement of our academic freedom. We would appreciate finding out
if colleagues in other U.S. states or other national jurisdictions are
grappling with similar problems.
Thanks.
David
_____________________
David Kirshner
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge LA 70803-4728
(225) 578-2332 (225) 578-9135 (fax)
dkirsh@lsu.edu
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