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Fort Valley State University Revives Grad-Level Programs

Posted on: Friday, 29 July 2005, 21:00 CDT

Jul. 29--FORT VALLEY -- Fort Valley State University student Wanda Jackson breathed a sigh of relief Thursday when she heard about the reactivation of her graduate-level program.

"I am elated. I am so excited. I feel so much better," said Jackson.

At an afternoon news conference FVSU's interim President William H. Harris announced that the rehabilitation counseling and case-management program and mental-health counseling program have been reactivated. Harris also said FVSU would re-establish its College of Education. Nearly 100 people in attendance erupted in applause.

The decision came after the Professional Standards Commission, which regulates teaching in Georgia, reprimanded the school's education department in March for not meeting statewide requirements. Students currently in the program have to complete their coursework by spring 2006 and no new students can be admitted into the program.

Students and administrators didn't understand why the two non-teacher education programs also were being punished.

When the two graduate-level programs were initially approved by the Board of Regents, they were in the education department, said John Millsaps, spokesman for the Board of Regents.

But after further review, it has been determined that the programs were "outside of the purview of the issues related to the teacher-education certification-degree programs," Millsaps said. University System Chancellor Thomas Meredith notified Harris of the news Wednesday.

Before the announcement, Seyoum Gelaye, the dean who oversees the programs, had concerns about retaining faculty and losing students who didn't know whether they would be able to complete their coursework in time.

He's feeling some relief now.

"It's going to make a big difference to our graduate programs," Gelaye said after the news conference. "Our students have been in a very difficult situation. I am glad the reactivation took place."

About 260 students are in graduate-studies programs, Gelaye said, and about 80 of them are in the reactivated programs, which are both more than 30 years old. The mental-health counseling program isn't offered at any other school in the state and the rehabilitation counseling and case-management program is only offered at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Gelaye said.

Also at the crowded news conference, Harris announced that FVSU would have a College of Education with its own dean, instead of being a program within the College of Arts, Sciences and Education.

FVSU had a College of Education for decades, and at one time it housed graduate-level programs.

"I chose this path because I don't think there ought to be a question about the strength of the department," Harris told the crowd of administrators, faculty and alumni inside the C.W. Pettigrew Farm and Community Life Center.

It's important for the program to be visible to the public and recognized as part of an important mission for the university, Harris said. He said a dean will be chosen by December.

"We're talking about a wide and deep search, but not a long one," Harris said.

In the spring, Meredith appointed a four-member team with diverse educational backgrounds to clean up the teacher education program. Officials said the program is going to be revamped and able to admit students by fall 2006.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Macon Telegraph, Ga.

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Source: The Macon Telegraph (Macon, Ga.)

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