DE Assistant Politics Reporter

The Illinois Board of Higher Education recently approved eight bachelor’s of science degrees at SIUC and one master’s of science degree at SIUE in part to reform the College of Technical Careers, IBHE officials say.

Kathleen Kelly, an IBHE deputy director, said the reason for creating the nine new degrees on the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses was threefold.

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It is part of a plan to reorganize the College of Technical Careers (at SIUC), workforce preparation for the people in Southern Illinois and as part of a statewide initiative to improve quality and productivity, Kelly said.

The programs include bachelor of science degrees in physician assisting, dental hygiene, radiological science, mortuary science and funeral services, architectural studies, automotive technology, aviation technology and industrial technology. IBHE also approved a master in science degree in nursing at SIUE.

John Haller, SIU vice president for Academic Affairs, said the new degrees are part of an effort implemented in the early 90s to reorganize the College of Technical Careers.

It goes back to Nov. 1991 when the Board of Higher Education recommended the College of Technical Careers be closed down and all programs eliminated, Haller said. We have re-engineered the college and sought to enhance the number of programs which were moving nationally to the baccalaureate level.

Haller said that with the reorganization of the College of Technical Careers, only two associate degree programs remain in the college. They are physical therapy assistant, which will eventually become a baccalaureate program and flight aviation, which will remain a two-year program.

Haller said the programs will have to be organized and will be implemented gradually.

He said that along with the approval of the degrees, the IBHE recommended the University consider eliminating the advanced technical studies program within the college.

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The program is a bachelor of science program including more than 60 areas, such as construction, drafting, photographic technology, commercial graphics, heating and air conditioning and marketing.

Haller said IBHE suggested eliminating the program and replacing it with a technical management program at the baccalaureate level which would meet the needs of community college graduates who are unable to come to SIUC for a baccalaureate degree. The technical management program would be offered at community colleges, he said.

Haller said eliminating the program is something the University should consider.

They’re (IBHE) being very reasonable, he said. We should take this opportunity and see what’s possible.

Haller said IBHE could not force SIUC to eliminate the program but had the right to ask the University to consider the removal.

Ross Hodel, also an IBHE deputy director, said the approval of new degrees for state colleges and universities is something that occurs annually.