UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 10
November 7, 1996
Selbyville resident's doctorate a UD 'first' in southern Delaware

     When Susan Bunting from Selbyville walks up to the podium to
receive her doctoral degree at Winter Commencement in January,
she will represent a "first" in University history.
     Enrolled in a three-year doctoral program on the Georgetown
campus leading to an Ed.D. in educational leadership, Bunting is
the first person from the southern Delaware program to complete
her degree requirements and successfully defend her dissertation.
     The supervisor of elementary instruction in the Indian River
School District, Bunting wrote her dissertation on the
effectiveness of the Chapter I program for students reading below
grade level and how it could be improved within the district. Her
adviser was Carol Vukelich, educational development.
     According to Primo Toccafondi, director of educational
development in southern Delaware, the doctorate in education
program answers a need and was established in response to
requests from educators in the area.
     Every other year, a cohort in policy and administration is
offered, and students take courses as a group. Currently, some 18
students are in the policy and administration cohort. An EdD in
educational leadership degree in curriculum and instruction also
is offered.