UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 18, Page 1
February 4, 1993
Doctoral degree program added in Southern Delaware

     The College of Education's doctorate in educational leadership program
has been so successful since its inception 12 years ago that a similar
program has been established in Georgetown to serve the southern half of
the state, as part of the college's outreach effort, according to dean
Frank B. Murray.
     Robert Hampel, associate professor of educational development,
coordinates the Ed.D. program in educational leadership. Primo V.
Toccafondi, director of programming for the Southern Campus, is
coordinating the program for southern Delaware.
     Designed to meet the specific requirements of school administrators,
the three-year program is unique because it is tailored for people who have
full-time jobs, Murray said. To qualify, an applicant should hold a job in
school or college administration and have a master's degree. Six to 10
students will be accepted every other year for the class in southern
Delaware.
     During the first two years, students take six core courses in
improvement strategies, organizational theory, leadership, budgeting and
planning, policy and curriculum. In addition, research methods courses and
electives are offered. The third year is devoted to researching and writing
position papers.
     According to Murray, school administrators have a direct impact on
education in their districts or schools. The thrust of the program is to
help them make informed, significant educational decisions about schools,
school systems, classrooms and students.
     The traditional doctoral research training degree program does not
speak to the goals of the Ed.D. program, Murray said. The program is not
designed to prepare researchers, but rather to improve the quality of the
decisions administrators make. In place of the traditional dissertation
students focus on a significant educational decision or policy they will
formulate and make sure it is informed, coherent and feasible. In doing
this students study the literature, analyze the local situation, gather
local information, make recommendations and create plans to implement
decisions.
     Since it began, the Ed.D. program has graduated more than 40
educators, Murray said. The first graduate, in 1982, is a familiar name to
the campus, Maxine Colm, vice president for employee relations.
     "The program fulfills a genuine need, the feedback from students has
been excellent, and many graduates have gone on to higher positions,"
Murray said. "We are pleased that we now can offer educators in southern
Delaware the same opportunities as those closer to the Newark campus."
     For information, call Hampel at 831-1165 or Toccafondi at 855-1621.
     For applications, call program secretary Louise Stevens at 831-1165.
Completed applications are due by Feb. 28.
                                        -Sue Swyers Moncure