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Edinboro Deaf Education
major to be discontinued;
administrative solutions
ongoing
WRITTEN BY JULIA CARDEN - EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR
Two women communicating
using sign language in library.
Photo by SHVETS production
Home News Features A&E Op-Ed Sports
Staff
EDINBORO, P.a. — Several academic programs may not be offered in the future at
Pennsylvania Western University due to a drop in student enrollment. One proposed change
that has sparked controversy throughout the campus community involves Edinboro’s
education offerings.
The Deaf Education major will no longer be available for incoming students. Although the
major is being discontinued, administrative officials are working with university faculty to find
a way for PennWest Edinboro to continue providing the coursework needed to certify
teachers of the deaf.
The university offers the Deaf/Hard of Hearing PA Certification for Birth-Grade 12 through the
Deaf Education major, a dual degree with Early Education. The certification provides students
with resources and innovative teacher training in communicating with and rehabilitating the
deaf and hard of hearing.
According to former Dean of the College of Education Dr. Gwyneth Price, “the population
seeking this [Deaf/Hard of Hearing] certification is proportionately lower than say, PreK-4 and
Secondary certifications. Given this reality, we are endeavoring to find a way to keep
certifying students in this area while being mindful of resources.”
Deaf Education was added to the curriculum of Edinboro University in 2020 as an extension
of the Deaf Studies minor implemented in 2017. Program Director and Professor Dr. Karen
Lindeman designed the program. Faculty complement at Edinboro allowed students to take
classes for the major through other programs including the Department of Communication
Sciences and Disorders.
Amy Bowden, the first student to graduate from Edinboro University with a degree in Deaf
Education, said the program was incredibly valuable: “The relationships I made and
knowledge I gained through this program were essential to securing a career in a
distinguished school.”
“Even as the first student in the program, I received quality training in both the theory and
practice of teaching students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. I received quality and
personalized instruction which formed my skills and my confidence to enter the working world
successfully,” Bowden said.
Senior Deaf Education student Melinda Crawford
shared similar thoughts on the program: “The Deaf
Education program has set me up with some
Home News Features
Op-Ed Sports
amazingA&E
experiences
to help my professional
Staff
development.”
Crawford stated further that she has
had multiple opportunities to improve her skills and
apply course material outside of the classroom,
including a recent trip to work with Deaf and Hard of
Hearing students in the Dominican Republic with the
PennWest Global Education Office.
The program budget Lindeman created showed a
Senior Deaf
Education
Student
Melinda
Crawford
communica
ting with
students in
the
Dominican
Republic
with sign
language.
Photo:
PennWest
deficit throughout the first four years. However, the
budget predicted financial growth in its fifth year,
when the program would break even and generate
profit. Without a new incoming freshman class of
declared Deaf Education majors, profit is unlikely.
“We just started the program three years ago. All
new programs will be small to start and take time to
grow,” she explained.
Shortly after being informed by university officials
that the Deaf Education major had been removed
from the application, Lindeman shared the news with
current and past students who began to advocate in
an attempt to save the program.
“Deaf and hard of hearing children are often
overlooked or viewed as just needing 'special
education' while their needs are language-based
and require a special skill set,” Lindeman explained.
“I train my future teachers to advocate for the
specific needs of deaf and hard of hearing children
so that these children get the best education
possible.”
Many students, alumni and community members
took to social media to voice confusion and
disappointment in response to the perceived
program cuts. One Facebook status, posted by
senior Angelina Scarnati, received over 200 shares
Global
Education
Office.
in less than 24 hours. In the caption, Scarnati
stressed that Deaf Education is a necessity in
educational institutions, but programs offering the
certification are not widely available.
Home News Features A&E Op-Ed Sports
“The program at PennWest is essential to the
Staff
communities even many miles away; we are in
serious need of qualified and passionate educators
to fulfill the needs of deaf children. I know through experience that PennWest will be capable
of supplying that need,” Bowden said.
PennWest Edinboro’s program is one of only two undergraduate Deaf Education degrees in
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Bloomsburg University has a
similar program in Early Childhood PreK-4/Deaf and Hard of Hearing and an American Sign
Language/Interpreting English degree. All other Deaf Education programs in the state are
offered at the graduate level.
According to Crawford, eliminating the program and the ability to gain certification at
PennWest would be “detrimental” to the deaf community in the regional area. “If those
[teaching] positions don’t get filled, many deaf students will end up in mainstream classes
with no support or worse – stuck in special education classes when they don’t need to be.”
Courses in Deaf Education will continue at PennWest Edinboro in the spring 2023 semester;
two of the three classes are currently low-enrolled, Lindeman said. Any students in the
current Deaf Education program may continue until they graduate.
“The College of Education supports the certification of students in this area, and we are
looking at every possibility for continuing to allow interested students to be able to add on
this certification,” Price explained. “These discussions will be ongoing to determine the best
path for the future of this program.”
A proposed solution would allow undergraduate students enrolled in any of PennWest’s
education programs, including Early Childhood, Middle Secondary or Special Education, to
add the Deaf Education certification to their degree.
Interim Provost Dr. Daniel Engstrom said he is “hopeful” the certificate proposal will be
developed and approved by the department and the curriculum committee by the fall of
2023.
The efforts made by students and alumni who contacted university officials, raised awareness
and spread the word through social media campaigns were an example of “advocacy at
work,” Lindeman said regarding the certification proposal. “I feel like our students, my partner
schools and donors advocated, and they were heard.”
“I would love to see this program continue to blossom,” Bowden shared. “I firmly believe that
it is necessary for the surrounding communities to have access to educators trained in such a
program.”
Home News Features A&E Op-Ed Sports
DEAF
EDUCATION
EDINBORO
PASSHE PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
Staff
Julia Carden - Executive Editor of The Spectator
Julia Carden (she/her) is a senior Journalism student at PennWest Edinboro with minors in
Communication Studies, Public Relations: Branding & Imaging, and Professional Writing. She is the
Executive Editor of PennWest Edinboro’s student newspaper, The Spectator. She can be reached at
jc182837@pennwest.edu.
Comments (0)
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Staff
Edinboro Deaf Education
major to be discontinued;
administrative solutions
ongoing
WRITTEN BY JULIA CARDEN - EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR
Two women communicating
using sign language in library.
Photo by SHVETS production
Home News Features A&E Op-Ed Sports
Staff
EDINBORO, P.a. — Several academic programs may not be offered in the future at
Pennsylvania Western University due to a drop in student enrollment. One proposed change
that has sparked controversy throughout the campus community involves Edinboro’s
education offerings.
The Deaf Education major will no longer be available for incoming students. Although the
major is being discontinued, administrative officials are working with university faculty to find
a way for PennWest Edinboro to continue providing the coursework needed to certify
teachers of the deaf.
The university offers the Deaf/Hard of Hearing PA Certification for Birth-Grade 12 through the
Deaf Education major, a dual degree with Early Education. The certification provides students
with resources and innovative teacher training in communicating with and rehabilitating the
deaf and hard of hearing.
According to former Dean of the College of Education Dr. Gwyneth Price, “the population
seeking this [Deaf/Hard of Hearing] certification is proportionately lower than say, PreK-4 and
Secondary certifications. Given this reality, we are endeavoring to find a way to keep
certifying students in this area while being mindful of resources.”
Deaf Education was added to the curriculum of Edinboro University in 2020 as an extension
of the Deaf Studies minor implemented in 2017. Program Director and Professor Dr. Karen
Lindeman designed the program. Faculty complement at Edinboro allowed students to take
classes for the major through other programs including the Department of Communication
Sciences and Disorders.
Amy Bowden, the first student to graduate from Edinboro University with a degree in Deaf
Education, said the program was incredibly valuable: “The relationships I made and
knowledge I gained through this program were essential to securing a career in a
distinguished school.”
“Even as the first student in the program, I received quality training in both the theory and
practice of teaching students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. I received quality and
personalized instruction which formed my skills and my confidence to enter the working world
successfully,” Bowden said.
Senior Deaf Education student Melinda Crawford
shared similar thoughts on the program: “The Deaf
Education program has set me up with some
Home News Features
Op-Ed Sports
amazingA&E
experiences
to help my professional
Staff
development.”
Crawford stated further that she has
had multiple opportunities to improve her skills and
apply course material outside of the classroom,
including a recent trip to work with Deaf and Hard of
Hearing students in the Dominican Republic with the
PennWest Global Education Office.
The program budget Lindeman created showed a
Senior Deaf
Education
Student
Melinda
Crawford
communica
ting with
students in
the
Dominican
Republic
with sign
language.
Photo:
PennWest
deficit throughout the first four years. However, the
budget predicted financial growth in its fifth year,
when the program would break even and generate
profit. Without a new incoming freshman class of
declared Deaf Education majors, profit is unlikely.
“We just started the program three years ago. All
new programs will be small to start and take time to
grow,” she explained.
Shortly after being informed by university officials
that the Deaf Education major had been removed
from the application, Lindeman shared the news with
current and past students who began to advocate in
an attempt to save the program.
“Deaf and hard of hearing children are often
overlooked or viewed as just needing 'special
education' while their needs are language-based
and require a special skill set,” Lindeman explained.
“I train my future teachers to advocate for the
specific needs of deaf and hard of hearing children
so that these children get the best education
possible.”
Many students, alumni and community members
took to social media to voice confusion and
disappointment in response to the perceived
program cuts. One Facebook status, posted by
senior Angelina Scarnati, received over 200 shares
Global
Education
Office.
in less than 24 hours. In the caption, Scarnati
stressed that Deaf Education is a necessity in
educational institutions, but programs offering the
certification are not widely available.
Home News Features A&E Op-Ed Sports
“The program at PennWest is essential to the
Staff
communities even many miles away; we are in
serious need of qualified and passionate educators
to fulfill the needs of deaf children. I know through experience that PennWest will be capable
of supplying that need,” Bowden said.
PennWest Edinboro’s program is one of only two undergraduate Deaf Education degrees in
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Bloomsburg University has a
similar program in Early Childhood PreK-4/Deaf and Hard of Hearing and an American Sign
Language/Interpreting English degree. All other Deaf Education programs in the state are
offered at the graduate level.
According to Crawford, eliminating the program and the ability to gain certification at
PennWest would be “detrimental” to the deaf community in the regional area. “If those
[teaching] positions don’t get filled, many deaf students will end up in mainstream classes
with no support or worse – stuck in special education classes when they don’t need to be.”
Courses in Deaf Education will continue at PennWest Edinboro in the spring 2023 semester;
two of the three classes are currently low-enrolled, Lindeman said. Any students in the
current Deaf Education program may continue until they graduate.
“The College of Education supports the certification of students in this area, and we are
looking at every possibility for continuing to allow interested students to be able to add on
this certification,” Price explained. “These discussions will be ongoing to determine the best
path for the future of this program.”
A proposed solution would allow undergraduate students enrolled in any of PennWest’s
education programs, including Early Childhood, Middle Secondary or Special Education, to
add the Deaf Education certification to their degree.
Interim Provost Dr. Daniel Engstrom said he is “hopeful” the certificate proposal will be
developed and approved by the department and the curriculum committee by the fall of
2023.
The efforts made by students and alumni who contacted university officials, raised awareness
and spread the word through social media campaigns were an example of “advocacy at
work,” Lindeman said regarding the certification proposal. “I feel like our students, my partner
schools and donors advocated, and they were heard.”
“I would love to see this program continue to blossom,” Bowden shared. “I firmly believe that
it is necessary for the surrounding communities to have access to educators trained in such a
program.”
Home News Features A&E Op-Ed Sports
DEAF
EDUCATION
EDINBORO
PASSHE PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
Staff
Julia Carden - Executive Editor of The Spectator
Julia Carden (she/her) is a senior Journalism student at PennWest Edinboro with minors in
Communication Studies, Public Relations: Branding & Imaging, and Professional Writing. She is the
Executive Editor of PennWest Edinboro’s student newspaper, The Spectator. She can be reached at
jc182837@pennwest.edu.
Comments (0)
Newest First
Yule Celebration — A Pagan View of the
Holiday Season