VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY (VSU) AND UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN (UNILORIN): A GRADUATE

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP PARTNERSHIP

Informational Presentation for Colleagues at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

Justina O. Osa, Ed.D, MSLS, M.Ed.

Virginia State University

1

OutlineIntroduction

The Professional Education Programs Unit

The Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision

Comments, Contributions, Questions etc.

2

The Professional Education Programs Unit:Four Departments

Department of Teaching and Learning

Department of School and Community Counseling

Department of Administration and Organizational Leadership

Department of Doctoral Studies

.

3

ReflectionsPlain and simple, instructional leadership is second only to teaching among school-related factors in its impact on student learning.

(Leithwood, Seashore-Louis, Anderson, & Wahlstrom, 2004)

Accountability for student learning is readily and heavily placed on the shoulders of educational leaders. (Jazzar, M., & Algozzine, R. (2007).

4

Standard for School Leaders of the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLAC ) Standard Two

A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.

5

Some Crucial Questions

How are educational administration programs preparing leaders to meet the current demands of the 21st century on top of all other responsibilities?

What are educational administration and leadership programs doing to effectively prepare leaders to satisfactorily provide adequate leadership, on top of all other responsibilities, in an era of high-stakes testing?

How should educational administration programs be structured and what should be included in the curriculum plan to meet the 21st century expectations?

6

What Direction Educational Administration and Supervision Programs?

Prepare future school leaders for their jobs in the areas of Instructional leadership and supervision --

promote empowerment and student success Evaluation and Research Finance Policy and Law Relationship building Politics

7

Department Mission and VisionThe Ed.D. Program in Administration and Supervision is designedto develop competent and caring educational leaders who will be involved in the decision making processes and play substantial roles in shaping our societal structures. Our senior-level preparation program ensures that these educational leaders acquire the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that enable them to lead schools that are both efficient and effective and that promote and model integrity, fairness, and sound ethical practices.

8

Program OverviewTotal of 60 semester hours (Post Master’s Degree)

24 semester hours of core course work12 semester hours of research course work12 semester hours in area of academic

concentration6 semester hours of leadership internship6 semester hours for the dissertation (Minimum)

9

Requirements for the Completion of the Doctoral Program

Core Number Course Title Semester HoursEDAS 700 Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education 3EDAS 701 Multicultural Education 3EDAS 703 Planning and Management of Finance 3EDAS 704 Human Resources Management 3EDAS 705 School Law and Policy Studies 3EDAS 706 School, Community and Public

Relations in Education 3EDAS 707 Administrative and Instructional Leadership 3EDAS 739 Dissertation Seminar 3TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS 24 Research Semester

HoursEDAS 720 Educational Statistics 3EDAS 721 Research, Design, and Evaluation Methodology 3EDAS 722 Qualitative Research 3 EDAS 723 Quantitative Research 3TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS 12

10

Requirements for the Completion of the Doctoral Program Cont’d

Areas of Academic Concentration (AAC) * Semester Hours- Counselor Education- Special Education- Elementary Education- Educational Technology- Other as approved by advisorTOTAL SEMESTER HOURSLeadership Internship Total Semester Hours 6EDAS 730 Leadership Internship in Educational Administration and Supervision Dissertation Total Semester Hours 6EDAS 740 Dissertation in Educational Administration and Supervision

NOTE: Field experience is integrated into all courses.

*The purpose of this requirement is to provide opportunities for the students to develop their knowledge and skills in areas related to Educational Leadership. Typically, students will enroll in

9 hours of coursework in one area. With the permission of the Doctoral Committee, variations may be approved. In no case will fewer than six (6) hours in each of two areas be approved. Transfer of six (6) credit hours of graduate course work may be allowed in this area.

11

Curriculum Modification: Fall 2011

EDAS 708: Strategic Planning for Systemic Change and Reforms. 3 creditsCatalog Course Description:This course introduces students to the concept of systemic school reform and the challenges facing educational change initiatives. Candidates will develop a strategic plan utilizing data-driven decision making skills and relevant methods while addressing issues of planning large school interventions.

12

Additional Experiences Additional Academic Enrichment: International, national, regional & local

conferences and workshops.

Additional semester hours may be necessary for students whose background and experience need enrichment prior to being formally admitted into the doctoral program.

Students will earn only 6 credit hours for EDAS740. However, students will take EDAS740 as many times as necessary until the dissertation is completed.

Progress Examination -- after the first 18 semester hours of the program.

Comprehensive Examination

13

PROPOSED CURICULUM SEQUENCE

FALL SPRING SUMMER I SUMMER II

YEAR ONE

Core

EDAS 700EDAS 701

(6 sem. hrs.)

EDAS 705EDAS 707

(6 sem. hrs.)

EDAS 704(3 sem. hrs.)

EDAS 739EDAS 706

(6 sem. hrs.)

Research

EDAS 721(3 sem. hrs.)

EDAS 720(3 sem. hrs.)

EDAS 722(3 sem. hrs.)

YEAR TWO

Core

EDAS 703(3 sem. hrs.)

Research

EDAS 723(3 sem. hrs.)

Leadership

Internship

EDAS 730-I(3 sem. hrs.)

EDAS 730-II(3 sem. hrs.)

AAC

(6 sem. hrs.) (6 sem. hrs.)

Comprehensive Exam

YEAR THREE

Dissertation

EDAS 740(3 sem. hrs.)

EDAS 740(3 sem. hrs.)

EDAS 740

(3 sem hrs.)EDAS 740

(3 sem. hrs.)

Requirements and Transition Points Phase I: Admission • Submitted completed and signed application form• Master’s degree from a regionally accredited

institution• 3 years of administrative experience in a certified

position in a public or private school or equivalent leadership experience

• A minimum of three (3) years of documented leadership experience

• Minimum 3.3 GPA in all graduate work• 3 reference letters (1 from an employer, 1 from a

professor)• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and

graduate credits• Competitive GRE scores within 5 years• Writing Sample

Phase II: Midpoint – Advance to Candidacy• Maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA in all content and

course work• Complete the Program Progress Examination• Submit an application for Comprehensive

Examination

Phase III: Candidacy• Complete 54 credit hours (including 6 credit hours

of internship)• Earn a passing grade on the Comprehensive Exam• Submit an application for candidacy Phase VI: Program Completion• Successfully complete oral dissertation proposal

defense • Successfully complete oral dissertation defense • Earn a passing grade for 6 credit hours for the

dissertation• Complete 12 hrs. in Areas of Academic

Concentration (AAC) Phase V: Graduate Follow-up• Graduate follow-up survey• Employee follow-up survey

15

VSU and Unilorin Partnership: Areas of Collaboration in Educational Leadership Information sharing Collaboration on research activities Faculty from each institution serving on the others’ dissertation

committees Faculty from each institution serving as external

examiners/evaluators Guest lecturing for short courses Internships for students Enriching course content in graduate programs Establishing/presenting “best practices” in the preparation of high

level education administration A collaborative degree program via distance education (complete

part at Ilorin and part at VSU)

16

VSU and Unilorin Partnership: Project Activities: Guiding Questions

How do Unilorin and VSU prepare the target group for educational leadership in their official leadership positions?

What are the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that the academic programs seek to develop in the target group?

How do the Unilorin and VSU programs prepare their graduates to meet the particular needs of the community(ies) in which they will work?

What are the strengths/successes of these programs? What are the challenges/limitations of these programs? How do cultural factors and government mandates impact

program design and delivery? What program assessment activities have proved beneficial to

Unilorin and VSU?

17

VSU and Unilorin Partnership: Needed Information from Unilorin The role of Unilorin Faculty of Education in the development of

preparation of educational leaders in Nigeria, especially in Kwara State.

The expectations and/or objectives that the Unilorin Faculty of Education has for the partnership with Virginia State University.

Anticipated areas of development that would result from a partnership between VSU and Unilorin’s Faculty of Education faculty and students.

Resources that Unilorin deems necessary to improve the program, teaching and research.

Specific ways that Virginia State University can contribute to the Faculty of Education at the University of Ilorin. and

Specific ways that the Faculty of Education at Unilorin can contribute to Virginia State University.

18

ConclusionThe premise is that more effective leadership, a largely overlooked imperative of the educational reform movement, is a significant, even crucial, force in efforts to improve America’s and Nigeria’s schools.

Educational Administration and Supervision programfaculty have a vital role to play in:1. Exposing educational leaders to the knowledge, skills and

dispositions they need to adequately assist building level leaders and teachers to meet the educational needs of the nation in the 21st century and

2. Producing not just school managers, but instructional, visionary and community leaders.

19

Questions

20

Contact Information

Justina O. Osa, Ed.D., MSLS, M.Ed.,

Professor and ChairDepartment of Doctoral Studies

Professional Education Programs Unit Virginia State University

Petersburg, VA 23806

(804) 504-7516 (O) (804) 524-5757 (F) josa@vsu.edu

21