For Immediate Release – Lawton, OK, July 20, 2004
Applications now being accepted at Cameron
for educational leadership graduate program
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have approved a new program at Cameron University
creating a graduate degree in educational leadership. The new program creates a convenient option for
area teachers who would like to become public school administrators.
Cameron’s School of Graduate Studies is now accepting candidates for the Master of Science degree in
Educational Leadership for the Fall 2004 semester.
“Cameron’s master’s program in educational leadership provides a framework of leadership skills that
prepares its participants for the challenges facing today’s school administrators,” said Dr. Lloyd Dawe,
Dean of the CU School of Graduate Studies. “This comprehensive, multi-disciplinary program is unique in
that it is made up of courses in both the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences and the School of
Business at Cameron.”
The program is specifically designed for professionals who wish to advance from teaching to take on the
responsibilities of a principal or superintendent in a school system. The four-part educational leadership
graduate program consists of demonstrated English usage proficiency; courses in educational leadership;
management training in finance, law, ethics and resources; and an internship.
(over)
new degree, ADD ONE
The new program is benefiting from last fall’s establishment of the McCasland Foundation Endowed Chair
in Educational Leadership. A supporter of Cameron’s graduate program since its inception in the late
1980s, the McCasland Foundation provided a gift of $250,000 to fund the chair in educational leadership.
This gift has been forwarded to State Regents for a dollar-for-dollar match through its endowment program,
creating a $500,000 corpus.
Earned income from the endowment will be used to hire an outstanding and experienced scholar in the field
of educational leadership, said Dr. Gary Buckley, CU Vice President for Academic Affairs.
“We are building a program in school administration around this chair that will meet a critical need in
Southwest Oklahoma communities,” Buckley said. “Currently, a person from Southwest Oklahoma has to
travel to Ada, Norman, Stillwater or Weatherford if they wish to be certified or obtain a master’s degree in
school administration. With more than 2,000 educators in our service area, it is important that Cameron
make these services available locally.”
In addition to providing leadership for establishing the curriculum, the chair will be directly involved with
area educators in helping improve all aspects of educational leadership through visitations, training
conferences and mentoring.
Two courses in educational leadership will be offered this fall.
“Fundamentals of Public School
Administration” (Education 5873, Call No. 0244) will meet on Tuesdays from 4:15-6:55 p.m. “School
Culture” (Education 5873, Call No. 7042), meets Tuesdays from 7:05-9:40 p.m. Both classes meet on CU’s
Lawton campus. CU’s fall semester begins Aug. 23.
For more information on Cameron’s Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership, contact Dr. Judy
Neale at 580/581-2339 or by e-mail at judyn@cameron.edu. Admission to the School of Graduate Studies
can be initiated by calling 580/581-2986 or by applying via the website at www.cameron.edu.
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PR#04-163
Editors and Broadcasters: For more information, contact CU Government & Community Relations at
580.581.2211.