Ferris State University’s Board of Trustees approved a new Doctor of Education degree last month.
According to a statement from the university, the degree was approved on Dec. 18. The Doctor of Education Degree’s purpose is to help prepare the next generation of community college leaders to take on increasingly complex sets of educational challenges.
Courses in the Educational Doctorate in Community College Leadership are a combination of courses from the colleges of Business, Education, Arts and Sciences, and Professional and Technological studies.
“The unique emphasis of this program fits nicely with Ferris State University’s mission of preparing the state’s citizens for successful careers that will shape the future of Michigan,” Ferris Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Fritz Erickson said.
Erickson said Ferris is well suited to offer this degree based upon its career-oriented, broad-based approach to education.
The university expects to enroll its first class of students in the program beginning in summer 2010.
Roberta Teahen, an Associate Provost, said a former Ferris president suggested the idea for the degree. Dr. Robert Ewigleben mentioned the idea because “he has lots of friends who are community college presidents, and so was he,” said Teahen.
Teahen said President Eisler was intrigued by the idea and conducted a study of feasibility to determine if the degree was worth being implemented. After the study was completed, Eisler noticed there was potential for the degree.
The degree is aimed towards training future administrators, deans, directors, coordinators, vice presidents and presidents for community colleges, said Teahen.
Ferris faculty members, mainly from the College of Business and the College of Education and Human Services along with community college administrators, will instruct the classes.
“This will be the first non-medical, non-clinical degree for the university, that’s unique,” said Teahen.