June 14, Dr. Danette Howard Secretary of Higher Education Maryland Higher Education Commission 6 N. Liberty Street Baltimore, MD 21201

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1 June 14, 2013 Dr. Danette Howard Secretary of Higher Education Maryland Higher Education Commission 6 N. Liberty Street Baltimore, MD Re: Response to the University of Baltimore s objection to the proposal submitted by Walden University to offer the following degree programs to students in the state of Maryland; Master of Science in Forensic Psychology Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling Master s of Public Health (MPH) Master s in Health Administration (MHA) Dear Dr. Howard, Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the University of Baltimore s objections to the proposal submitted by Walden University to offer the M.S. in Forensic Psychology,M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, MPH and MHA programs to students in the state of Maryland. In this response Walden University will demonstrate that there is sufficient need for multiple M.S. in Forensic Psychology,M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, MPH and MHA programs and graduates in the state of Maryland. 1. Response to the University of Baltimore s statement concerning unreasonable program duplication and COMAR regulation 13B related to duplication which would cause demonstrable harm to another institution. Walden University has been offering its M.S. in ForensicPsychology,M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, MPH and MHA programs to residents of the state of Maryland for many years. During this time, Walden has produced numerous successful graduates in all four of these programs. It is important to note that theses programs are not new to residents of the state of Maryland and Walden has not been informed of any demonstrable harm that the operation of these programs has had on the University of Baltimore or its students to date. Additionally, Walden is committed to serving a working adult population through its flexible and fully online M.S. in Forensic Psychology, M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, MPH and MHA programs. According to the University of Baltimore s website, while the University of Baltimore offers someonline and asynchronous programs, their M.S. in ForensicPsychology, M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, MPH and MHA programs do not appear on the list of fully online and asynchronous programs. (Source: programs.cfm)

2 2. Response to the University of Baltimore s statement concerning the, relatively small margins of growth in some fields and COMAR regulation 13B demonstrating that the program meets a regional or statewide need. The University of Baltimore objects to these four Walden programs due to lack of growth in the fields, yet they cite job growth in all occupational areas relating to these programs. While some margins of growth are below 5%, the University of Baltimore cited data from only 5 of the 24 counties in the state of Maryland. Walden University enrolls students from the entire state of Maryland, which includes all 24 Maryland counties, not just the 5 counties displayed in the University of Baltimore s objection letter. Further, the job fields cited by the University of Baltimore are very narrow and do not span the wide range of jobs for which students with degrees in healthcare, counseling and forensic psychology may be employed. The below screen shot displays the chart shown in the University of Baltimore s objection letter with respect to job growth;

3 The below displays a robust list of careers appropriate for graduates who have earned the following degrees; Students who have earned professions: MHA may pursue careers in the following Assistant administrator Business operations specialist Computer systems analyst Data communications analyst Database administrator Health information management director Health services manager Health services project administrator Hospital administration practice manager Medical services manager Network systems administrator for healthcard Network systems and data communications analyst for healthcare Quality and accountability initiatives director Students who have earned professions: MPH may pursue careers in the following Medical and Health Services Managers Managers, All Other Health Educators Community Health Workers Students who have earned the following professions: M.S. in Forensic Psychology may pursue careers in Case manager Clinical and program director Correctional officer Court liaison Expert witness Forensic treatment specialist Jury consultant Law enforcement advocate Researcher Victims advocate

4 Students who have earned a M.S. in Mental Health Counseling may pursue careers in the following professions: Mental Health Counselors Counselors, All Other Additionally, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), industries and occupations related to health care, personal care and social assistance, and construction are projected to have the fastest job growth between 2010 and (Source: Further, the BLS cites that one- third of the projected fastest growing occupations are related to health care, reflecting expected increases in demand as the population ages and the health care and social assistance industry grows. The health care and social assistance sector is projected to gain the most jobs (5.6 million). (Source: ) 3. Response to the University of Baltimore s statement concerning Walden s comparative degree analysis which ignores the University of Baltimore s programs. The programs cited in the University of Baltimore s objection letter are Walden s M.S. in ForensicPsychology,M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, MPH and MHA programs. The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) provides a taxonomic scheme that supports the accurate tracking and reporting of fields of study and program completions activity. The CIP codes assigned to Walden s programs do not match the University of Baltimore s M.S. in ForensicPsychology,M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, MPH, or MHA. As demonstrated in the tables below, some of the CIP codes assigned to Walden s programs are also assigned to other Maryland programs, however the University of Baltimore is not included in that list and thus not deemed a match by CIP code taxonomy. PROGRAM CIP CODE MS Forensic Psychology MS Mental Health Counseling Master of Public Health (MPH) Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) Mental Health Counseling/Counselor: CIP Code

5 Public Health General/MPH/DPH: CIP Code

6 Health/Health Care Administration/Management: CIP Code M.S. Forensic Psychology: CIP Code No program matches in the state of Maryland Conclusion In closing, there is a compelling need to increase access to higher education. Walden is committed to providing access to higher education, especially for students who are nontraditional, representing underserved populations, and those who are located outside of major metropolitan areas without access to an on- the- ground campus. Additionally, the College Readiness and Completion Act of 2013 will require Maryland to increase the percentage of working- age adults who hold a college degree from 45.4 percent to 55 percent. Sen. Paul G. Pinsky who chairs the Senate's Education Subcommittee and Anne R. Kaiser who chairs the House of Delegates' Education Subcommittee state that our future economy will require many more credentialed workers. By 2018, two- thirds of jobs in Maryland will require some postsecondary education or training.

7 Finally, as we ve stated, Walden has produced numerous successful graduates in the programs for which the University of Baltimore has raised an objection. These programs are not new to residents of the state of Maryland and we have not been informed of any demonstrable harm that the operation of these programs has had on the University of Baltimore or its students to date. Walden University shares your commitment to ensuring the highest quality education for the residents of the state of Maryland. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Kind regards, Cynthia G. Baum, PhD. President, Walden University