Senate approves Senator White's SSHE modernization bill

SB 1133 would allow for applied doctorates at state universities

The Senate unanimously approved legislation introduced by Senator Don White (R-Indiana) that would provide new opportunities for Pennsylvania's 14-member State System of Higher Education (SSHE) to offer advanced degrees.

Senate Bill 1133, approved by the Senate on Tuesday, would allow the member universities to offer applied doctorate degrees, a level of education currently only available at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Senator White and SSHE officials stress the expansion will not impact IUP, but rather augment and modernize the entire system to make it more competitive and attract more students.

"SSHE argued, and IUP agreed, that this change is necessary and would be for the benefit of Pennsylvania's state universities," Senator White said. "This would modernize the state system and enable it to provide a new level of education that will make the individual schools more appealing for prospective students. This flexibility will enable SSHE to attract and keep more high-quality students who are looking toward these advanced degrees."

SB 1133 would set defined standards for establishing applied doctorate programs – a degree for working professionals who must be licensed to practice in their field of expertise -- under the direct control and oversight of SSHE.

IUP will remain the only SSHE-member university to offer PhD programs, which are for those pursing research and engaging in scholarship.

The proposal has been met with some apprehension from IUP staff and faculty, which SSHE Chancellor John Cavanaugh addressed during a visit to campus last October. He cited the high quality of the advance degree programs offered by IUP as a guarantee of continued success at the school.

In a letter to Senator White, Aaron A. Walton, Chairman of SSHE's Academic and Student Affairs Board, said the system plans to set defined standards and safeguards for the establishment of applied doctorate programs.

Specifically, he said universities would have to demonstrate the cost-benefit and need for the proposed programs and provide a capacity analysis when the proposed degree program is offered at another member university. If established, the applied doctorate programs would be subject to an annual evaluation to determine if they are meeting their objectives.

"We have been assured that these programs will not adversely impact the integrity of the programs offered by IUP," Senator White said.

Contact:

Joe Pittman
(724) 357-0151