New Programs Announced

New degree programs in the behavioral sciences are on the immediate horizon at York College, President Wayne Baker announced Wednesday.  In a campus-wide meeting, Baker reported the college’s Board of Trustees approval of the proposed plan to offer two new bachelor degrees in Family Studies and Social Work.

The Family Studies’ program is to be launched in the fall of 2008 and will be under the direction of Becky Holton, Associate Professor of Psychology at the college.

“Due to family and societal needs, family education has become a profession in its own right,” said Holton.  “A degree offering in Family Studies at York College will be designed to assist students with the knowledge and skills to serve children, youth, and adults within the family system.”

It is hypothesized that family education information, on a college and university level, could possibly preempt some of the need for later marriage and family intervention and consequently support feelings of parental competency and adequacy.  In the long run, strengthening family relationships has the potential to strengthen society.

“Out of concern for the families of our world, this institution sees a portion of its role as being a facilitator of knowledge that informs and strengthens the family. A Family Studies bachelor’s degree program is a way for York College to support family systems through education, training, and research,” Holton said.

Holton is in her ninth year at York College and is the Director of the Counseling Center.

The approved Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree program is pursuing national accreditation through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).  Michael Becker, who chairs the college’s Department of Psychology and is in his thirteenth year as a professor, anticipates enrollment in this program will begin in 2009.

“The accreditation standards are exacting and follow a prescribed timetable,” said Becker.  “Students may not be enrolled in the Social Work program until candidacy is granted by the CSWE.”

After extensive program planning, the college will submit to the Council’s Commission on Accreditation (COA) a Letter of Institutional Intent and Commitment in February.

“Candidacy is the first step toward the initial accreditation process. The length of time a program spends in candidacy is contingent on the program’s rate of development,” stated Becker.

A federal grant of $95,305 was awarded to York College earlier this month for the implementation of the Social Work degree. The monies will be used in securing resources for developing the program and the hiring of needed faculty.

Initial accreditation for the Social Work program is a two-step process: (1) site visit authorization and (2) review for initial accreditation. When the program has completed its candidacy period and has submitted its self-study, the program is reviewed by the Commission to determine the program’s readiness for a site team visit. Following the visit, the team submits a report to which the program responds. The self-study, the site team’s report, and the program’s response to the site team’s report are submitted to the Commission for initial accreditation review. The college anticipates the earliest date for granted accreditation will be 2012.

Baker projected that the college’s enrollment would be enhanced significantly by the Family Studies and Social Work degrees. “These areas of discipline are in high demand by high school graduates as well as nontraditional students in continuing education,” said Baker. “Both of these programs are especially in tune with our mission and purposes and will strengthen the college’s position in the market place.”