Resolution Supporting the Proposal for a Bachelor of Education in Special Education

Presented to the Mānoa Faculty Senate by the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning (CAPP) for a vote of the full Senate on November 17, 2021, a resolution supporting the proposal for a Bachelor of Education in Special Education.  Approved by the Mānoa Faculty Senate on November 17, 2021 with 43 votes (95.56%) in support; 2 votes (4.44%) opposed; and 0 abstentions.

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PROPOSAL FOR A BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION: 

(a) Mild/Moderate  Disabilities – Secondary Education, and (b) Severe Disabilities/Autism – PreK – 12:

WHEREAS, the College of Education currently offers Bachelor’s of Education Special Education focused degree tracks at the Elementary Undergraduate level; and

WHEREAS, licensure for the areas of Mild/Moderate Disabilities – Secondary Education and Severe Disabilities/Autism – PreK-12 is currently offered only at the Post Baccalaureate or MEd levels in the UHM College of Education; and

WHEREAS, the BEd in Special Education is a priority for the UHM Department of Special Education  because this will fill a gap in avenues for teacher licensure by creating an undergraduate option for the areas of Mild/Moderate Disabilities – Secondary Education and Severe Disabilities/Autism – PreK-12; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. and Hawai’i have experienced a shortage of licensed special education teachers for decades; and

WHEREAS, most program graduates will seek employment with the Hawai‘i Department of Education (or be placed as part of a pay back tuition program), and may also seek employment elsewhere due to the nationwide shortage of licensed special education teachers ; and

WHEREAS, the UH System does not currently offer a teacher-licensure program at the Bachelor’s degree level in these two specialty areas; and

WHEREAS, it is requested that a New Academic Program: BEd in Special Education with two tracks leading to teacher licensure: (a) Mild/Moderate  Disabilities – Secondary Education, and (b) Severe Disabilities/Autism – PreK – 12 be established; and

WHEREAS, the UHM College of Education Department of Special Education and Office of Student Academic Services will work with the community colleges to modify existing Memorandum of Agreements  to articulate with the BEd in Special Education; and

WHEREAS, this proposed program will be assessed by the existing assessment committee of the UHM College of Education; and

WHEREAS, the UHM College of Education will leverage existing resources, thus requiring minimal additional resources to be needed for this program; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate recommends approval of the proposal to establish a new academic program: BEd in Special Education with two tracks leading to teacher licensure: (a) Mild/Moderate  Disabilities – Secondary Education, and (b) Severe Disabilities/Autism – PreK – 12 at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.

• Supporting documents:

           Proposal for New Academic Program: Bachelor’s of Education (BEd) in Special Education

           Response to CAPP on the BEd in SPED New Degree Proposal dated October 11, 2001