Master degree leadership

BALTIMORE

Juanita Eagleson, a former associate dean at Southeastern University in Washington, was in the midst of a "career doldrums" when she heard that Dr. Howard Simmons, the former executive director of the Commission on Higher Education, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, was heading up the new doctoral program in higher education at Morgan State University. Eagleson, who had once worked with Simmons, was eager to expand her career options and decided to enroll in the new program.

"The opportunity to work with (Simmons) in an academic/research setting truly sparked my interest and enthusiasm," she says. Eagleson, a Howard University graduate, is looking to work in curriculum design and assessment to "explore new models of assessing outcomes, particularly as they might be applied to HBCUs."

When Barney Wilson, then a faculty member at Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) at Dundalk, heard about the Ed.D. program in community college leadership, he had been teaching for 13 years, was ready for something new and more entrepreneurial, and was considering leaving the field. While attending an organizational meeting about the Ed.D. program, he heard Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail's vision for the program and started thinking about the possibilities of leading an institution.

"She was excited about the program and the possibilities," he says. "I saw her as an incredible leader." When he learned that she had served as a community college president, he was sold. "I thought, what an opportunity to learn from a college president," he says. Wilson, a member of the program's first graduating cohort, since has moved into administration and is now the dean of learning and student development at CCBC.

Eagleson and Wilson represent the higher education leaders for the future that Morgan State University is seeking for its two unique doctoral programs in higher education.

The doctorate in higher education, the newest program, seeks to prepare students as researchers, policy analysts and administrators while the three-year-old Ed.D. in community college leadership seeks to prepare tomorrow's community college presidents. With more college presidents expected to retire soon, the Morgan State programs will likely play a key role in filling the pipeline.

"We're talking about the next generation of leaders for staffing the administration and management of universities," says Dr. Earl Richardson, president of Morgan State University. "For both HBCU and majority institutions as well. If they are going to achieve diversity in their staffing, they are going to have a larger pool from which to draw. Our objective is to broaden that pool," he says.

Such programs are needed because the percentage of African Americans on college and university faculty is very small, particularly in predominantly White institutions, says Dr. Anne Pruitt-Logan, scholar in residence and co-director of the Preparing Future Faculty program for the Council of Graduate Schools.

"The Ph.D. programs are going to produce the faculty," Pruitt-Logan says. "We need to bring the perspective of African Americans to research in education. The more we can do to prepare the large numbers needed, the better."

With nearly 45 percent of current community college presidents expected to retire within the next five years, and with a declining number of candidates seeking the presidency, programs such as Morgan's are crucial, says Dr. John E. Roueche, the Sid W. Richardson Regents Chair and director of the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas at Austin.

"The timing can not be better," Roueche says. He adds that Morgan's location in Baltimore and near Washington, and Philadelphia will help the university attract the population it is after. "They should find great success in placing these students who want to get in community college leadership work."

THE DOCTORATE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Morgan's new Ph.D. in higher education program, scheduled to enroll its first class this fall, will focus on higher education as a field of study and prepare faculty, researchers and administrators. It is the only Ph.D. program in higher education at an HBCU.

"The degree is different in that it is a research doctorate in higher education with the purpose to train people as faculty, policy analysts and for higher education management," says Dr. Howard L. Simmons, professor and coordinator of the program.

Simmons says Morgan's program is the only one at an HBCU with the focus of teaching higher education as a field of study. In general, most doctorates in higher education are Ed.D.s, he says, and prepare for higher education administration.

To fulfill part of Morgan's mission as an urban institution, one unique feature of the program will be the integration of the African American experience in higher education throughout the program, in particular in its historical foundations course. "Often the mainstream programs don't do this," Simmons says.

Another unique feature is that the program will put a great emphasis on and provide much support in preparing students to be researchers.

"We believe strongly that because people have been afraid of statistics and haven't had the opportunity to get involved in research--a lot of students will not have some of these experiences," Simmons says. "We feel that it is important to fortify their knowledge skills in research methodology. They also will need to learn how to do ethnographic research."

In addition to his 21 years with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Simmons brings experience in higher education that includes community college leadership, higher education strategic planning and management, accreditation and outcomes assessment and research on diversity in higher education issues.

Simmons says the Ph.D. in Higher Education program would also focus on diversity and multiculturalism in higher education.

"I think (Morgan) is positioned to do a great service not only in documenting the contributions of African Americans in higher education, but others as well," he says.

All students will be required to carry out at least one research project focusing on the African American experience in higher education, Simmons says. "We have to start producing people who are knowledgeable about our culture and focus," he says. "We have to unapologetically do some of this research ourselves."

One of the unique features about the program is that it is competency based, Simmons says. The program draws candidates who are working or have experience working in some aspect of higher education. The application process is designed to get a sense of the knowledge, skills and abilities candidates already possess.

For instance, lawyers pursuing the degree may choose to bypass elective courses dealing with legal issues; however, if they don't have a strong background in working in student administration, they can take a course to strengthen knowledge in that area.

Another unique feature will be the required collaborative field research project. Students will develop a research project in collaboration with an external institution or organization. The project should be related to students' research interests.

The first class, scheduled for this fall, will be made up of approximately 10 to 12 students, Simmons says. Because the program is developing, the focus is on quality and having the faculty available to meet students' needs, he says.

"We decided that we wouldn't concentrate on numbers," Simmons explains. "You have to make sure you have the faculty to attend to students' needs."

"We plan to add about five students a year in continuous enrollment--we will admit students each semester," he adds.

Simmons is in the process of recruiting faculty, primarily from other places. "You have to start with people who have experience directing dissertation and research," he says. "You have to find people who are already out there. We plan to add junior faculty as the program grows."

Thus far, the program, which has had minimal advertising, has attracted some very qualified students. Students admitted to the first class include a doctor of optometry, a J.D., and others who hold two masters' degrees. Classes will be held in the evenings to accommodate the students who are working professionals. Many classes also will incorporate a Web-based component.

Simmons says the experiences of these adult professionals will help make the program. "It's not just the faculty," he says. "The student quality adds to the program quality."

In August, the doctoral program will hold an open house to introduce students to the public and to recruit other students interested in the program. Plans are under way to create a master's program in higher education.

PREPARING TOMORROW'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERS