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By Sheila Anderson
Valley City Times-Record Opposition from other state universities is turning Valley City State University's attempt to create a fourth master's concentration into a struggle to defend its mission.
“There's been a big battle,” Vice President for Academic Affairs Joe Bessie said. “Initially the University of North Dakota asserted we were duplicating a program they were already offering. The main battle is about the university mission.”
VCSU currently has three concentration areas in the master's of education program, and hopes to add a new concentration in Teaching English Language Learners.
UND does not offer a graduate degree in ELL, although it does offer coursework in the subject area.
VCSU made a first-stage request for approval of the proposed ELL graduate program at the February 2008 meeting of the Academic Affairs Council of the North Dakota University System.
The ELL program proposal was tabled several times, and didn't pass the initial vote. Although Bessie was able to persuade enough members to pass the proposal the second time it came up for a vote, objections remain.
“Since that time, some of the other schools in the system think we shouldn't be allowed to grow,” Bessie said. “That's the nature of the political battle.”
Michel Hillman, who is the vice chancellor for academic and student affairs in the North Dakota University System, was at the meeting when VCSU's program was approved in 2005. He said there are a number of internal discussions going on over VCSU's request for a fourth master's concentration.
“I think it is fair to say there are differences of opinion,” Hillman said. “We're still in the process of discussing it.”
The University of North Dakota disputes VCSU's change in status to a graduate-degree granting university, and claims the local university is hounding in on a degree already offered at UND.
UND Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Greg Weisenstein said UND and other universities question whether the proposed program fits within the mission of VCSU.
“I think we support programs that are within the mission of the institution,” Weisenstein said. “We're a little bit concerned as were the others at the Academic Affairs Council.
“Because Valley City has an undergraduate mission, the AAC is considering how that might fit or not fit with the mission.”
According to the minutes of the Jan. 27, 2005, State Board of Higher Education meeting, a resolution was approved to change VCSU's status from an
undergraduate to a graduate-degree granting institution, allowing VCSU to award a master of education with two new concentrations. A third concentration was later added.
When asked about this resolution, Weisenstein said that was a specific case.
“That was a specific exemption as we all understood that,” Weisenstein said. “I wasn't here at the time, though.”
Dickinson State University joined those who assert VCSU is trying to change its mission. Minot State University and Mayville State University are also opposing the program.
“The SBHE is taking on the mission,” Bessie said. “The world has changed, the needs of the state and the needs of the world have changed. It's clear we have picked a program that meets the needs students are looking for.”
Hillman said the request could be on the agenda of an upcoming State Board of Higher Education meeting.
“I think there is a possibility it will be on the November board agenda,” Hillman said. Williston is the site of the Nov. 6 meeting.
If approved by the Chancellor's Cabinet, and the State Higher Board of Education, the request would go through a second-stage approval process by the Academic Affairs Council.
Professors behind the push for the program
Two VCSU professors, Joan Aus and Margaret Dahlberg, were behind the push for the new program.
Aus said the needs for ELL teachers in the state of North Dakota are great. Fargo schools currently have a diverse population of students from African countries and Balkan states. The Native American population in the state has tremendous needs in the ELL area. Aus is the program coordinator for ELL studies at VCSU.
“We try to be responsive,” Aus said. “Margaret and I saw a need for a graduate program. For 10 years, we've had a self-sustaining ELL program.”
For full story, see Wednesday's edition of the Valley City Times-Record.
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