C.W. Post Launches Program in Higher Education Administration

May 21, 2004 -- A young woman works in a university admissions office, but dreams of a promotion. A mid-career manager at a Manhattan law firm wants to work on a college campus. He needs to find a way to make that possible.

Both have recently placed calls to the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville, eager to learn about the campus’s new Higher Education Program, designed to train professionals for leadership positions in college administration.

Aspiring college administrators are prepared for critical roles in higher education settings, such as public and private institutions, community colleges, four-year colleges, and specialized institutes and universities. This program, the only one of its kind on Long Island, is designed for those who currently hold a managerial position at a college or university, professionals and executives who are interested in a career change into higher education or recent master’s graduates seeking meaningful careers at a college or university. Upon completion of the program, graduates will have the credentials to move up in the ranks of higher education or to begin a new career in some 20 areas of administration ranging from admissions to fund-raising, student activities to career placement, athletics to fiscal affairs, and housing to public safety.

The program, which is open to students who already hold a master’s degree, provides an understanding of the history, culture, organization, policies, administrative positions and leadership challenges of higher education in America. Courses cover areas such as leadership, organizational development, legal affairs, budgeting, fundraising and development, grants management, planning and evaluation and assessment.

"Effective leadership in American higher education requires far more than technical skills or advanced knowledge," said Program Director R.H. Red Owl. "Today’s leaders in colleges and universities must also possess a deep understanding of the unique culture and traditions of higher education and must also demonstrate the vision to think systemically and strategically."

Students may choose from a 15-credit Advanced Certificate or 24-credit Advanced Diploma, which includes supervised field experience. To accommodate the schedules of working professionals, courses are offered on alternate Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and in a one-week format during the summer. Students can register now for classes, which begin September 11, 2004.

Classes are taught by full-time faculty from the C.W. Post School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Administration and by scholar-administrators with expertise and experience in higher education. The program’s distinguished faculty includes current and former college and university presidents, vice presidents and deans. Many classes will benefit from guest lecturers who provide leadership at the highest levels of colleges and universities and whose insights can help students integrate theory with practice.

Many of the prospective students view the new Higher Education Program as a pathway to a long-held dream. C.W. Post Provost Joseph Shenker agrees. "Most people in college administration start at an entry-level position and then gradually work their way up. Our program gives them a competitive advantage," he said.

For more information, visit the C.W. Post website at www.liu.edu/higher or call (516) 299-2900.