June 2003
Available in PDF Format for printing
| TO: |
Approved Preschool Program Directors |
|
Approved School-Age Program Directors |
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Other State Agency Education Directors |
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|
Superintendents, Special Act School Districts |
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4201 School Superintendents |
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| FROM: | Joseph Frey |
| Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Quality Assurance | |
| Rebecca Cort | |
| Statewide Coordinator of Special Education Quality Assurance and Support Services | |
| SUBJECT: |
Alternate Strategies Approved to Meet Teacher Certification Requirements |
As you know, all 2002-2003 temporary teaching licenses will expire on August 31, 2003 and are not renewable. The following is information to assist you with teacher certification issues as the new provisions for certification take effect.
This memorandum:
The survey will also be useful in assisting the provider agency to develop its own workforce development plan by identifying areas of need that should be addressed by the agency. It is recommended that each provider and agency develop its own long-term plan to address personnel needs. Such plans could and should be developed in partnership with Big Five City School Districts, BOCES and LEAs served by the provider since the LEA is ultimately responsible for the education of children served by these programs.
- provides information about alternative certification strategies that could be used as a basis for recruitment, particularly for individuals who may be interested in changing careers. It is further recommended that providers initiate contacts with appropriate institutions of higher education with teacher preparation programs as a preliminary step in establishing Transitional B certification programs. The Transitional B Certificate provides a long-term strategy for recruitment that the Department strongly endorses. (Attachment C includes a listing of all IHEs with registered Transitional B programs. Also included, in Attachment D, is a listing of colleges with teacher education programs that could initiate Transitional B certificate programs.)
ALTERNATE ROUTES TO CERTIFICATION
There are three options for alternative routes to teacher certification. Each of the certificates targets different groups of people and varies with respect to the prerequisites necessary for qualification and the ongoing occupational and academic requirements leading to provisional or permanent certification. Each case should be considered on an individual basis when determining the most appropriate alternative route to certification.
A. Limited Certificate
The limited certificate is designed for teachers who are currently employed under a temporary license. Temporary licenses will no longer be available nor effective as of September 1, 2003. As of that date, those with a temporary license must have a limited certificate to teach in public schools or private schools funded with public monies. The limited certificate is a one-year, non-renewable certificate, valid only for the period September 1, 2003 through August 31, 2004. To receive a limited certificate, an individual must:
As the limited certificate is valid only for a year, individuals satisfying all of the above requirements must complete the remaining college coursework deficiencies by August 31, 2004 to meet the requirements for provisional certification or enroll in a Transitional B Program (see below) and eventually obtain professional certification.
B. Renewing Expired Provisional Certificates
This strategy is intended for persons who were previously awarded a provisional certification that has now expired. It can be used to recruit new candidates as well as support those in the existing workforce. Those who previously qualified for the provisional certificate who are interested in entering or re-entering the profession would be excellent candidates for this route to certification. To be eligible for this alternative route to certification, and prior to teaching in public schools or private schools funded with public monies, an individual must:
Those interested in renewing their expired provisional certificates must apply and qualify for this one time opportunity prior to February 2, 2004. Individuals can renew their certificate for a period of five years. To continue to be eligible to teach beyond the five-year period, individuals must qualify for a permanent certificate.
C. Transitional B Certificate
The Transitional B Certificate is designed for those individuals who may lack training in educational theory and methodology yet have content expertise. This strategy can be used to recruit new teachers as well as support those in the existing workforce. New graduates and those changing careers are appropriate candidates for this route to certification. The Transitional B Certificate, granted in conjunction with the Alternative Teacher Certification (ATC) Program, involves a partnership between institutions of higher education (IHE's) and school districts. It is critical that schools with teachers interested in pursuing a Transitional B Certificate initiate this relationship and begin planning for providing required components as quickly as possible.
To obtain a Transitional B Certificate, individuals must meet specific academic and occupational eligibility requirements as well as participate in preservice components prior to teaching in public schools or private schools funded with public monies. Additionally, they must complete ongoing inservice, coursework and mentoring components while teaching in either public or private schools.
To be eligible to begin teaching in September of 2003 or thereafter with a Transitional B Certificate, candidates must:
To continue teaching with a Transitional B Certificate, the school must provide ongoing mentoring and inservice components for the candidate in conjunction with the Alternative Teacher Certification Program at the college level. The program generally takes two years to complete with candidates completing the coursework necessary for a provisional certificate during that period. It is possible that a portion of the coursework requirements may be met through an assessment of skills and knowledge in accordance with program requirements.
Determining the Most Appropriate Route to Certification
Included with this memorandum is a checklist summarizing the requirements for each alternative route to certification (Attachment A). This can be used as a planning tool for each current and prospective teacher to assist them in determining their most appropriate option for certification. Once their most appropriate route is selected, the individual can refer to the specific requirements in the option selected to determine what components have been met and what they need to complete to obtain appropriate certification. The worksheet detailing information about each option (Attachment A) can be referenced for additional information.
A survey is included to assist school administrators in determining their agency’s staffing requirements and needs (Attachment B). In general, a separate survey should be completed for each site operated by an agency. In addition, if school age and preschool programs are operated at the same site, separate forms should be completed for each. Where a program operates several small sites in geographical proximity to each other, the data can be aggregated and the address of the primary site listed. Information reported in this survey should be determined based on the individual teacher responses to Attachment B referenced above. The survey should be completed and returned to the State Education Department as soon as possible but no later than July 1, 2003, to assist the State Education Department in developing policy recommendations and program initiatives around teacher shortage and certification issues.
Additional Information:
Additional information and the appropriate application forms for each of the different alternative routes to certification can be obtained from the Office of Teaching. An answering system is available at (518) 474-3901 or (518) 474-6440. In addition to automated information, times designated to personally speak with a representative in the Office of Teaching are available at that number. Credentials, however, can not be evaluated over the phone. For additional information, refer to the Office of Teaching website at: www.nysed.gov/tcert/homepage.htm or at the sites indicated below, or contact them via e-mail at tcert@mail.nysed.gov.
Teacher Certification Requirements
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/
SAVE Requirements
Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA)
OSPRA@mail.nysed.gov
Phone: (518) 473-2998
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/ospra/geninfo.htm
http://www.mhric.org/scss/save.html
Assessment and Schedules
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/certexaminfo.htm
Questions regarding the alternative routes to teacher certification should be addressed to your Regional Special Education Quality Assurance Office or The Office of Teaching at (518) 474-3901 or (518) 474-6440.
cc: Superintendents, Large Five City School Districts, BOCES District Superintendents
Attachment A
Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification
Limited Certificate
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Baccalaureate Degree
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![]()
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Obtaining a Limited Certificate for Teacher of Special
Education ***To be completed only once |
![]()
|
Maintaining a Limited Certificate
Meet requirements for a provisional certificate or enroll in a Transitional B Certificate Program |
Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification
Renewing Expired Provisional Certificate
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Baccalaureate Degree and Expired Provisional Certificate
|
![]()
|
Renewing an Expired Provisional Teaching Certificate for
Teacher of Special Education
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Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification
Transitional B Teaching Certificate
A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or from an institution authorized by the Board of Regents to confer degrees and whose programs the Department registers. A degree with a major or concentration in one or more of the liberal arts and sciences is acceptable for the childhood, early childhood, middle childhood education-generalist or special education areas at the developmental levels Pre-K through grade 6. For grades 7-12, a concentration in a content to be taught is required. A major or concentration is considered sequential study of at least 30 semester hours in that area. |
![]()
Introductory Component Leading to the Transitional B Certificate
Must be completed prior to employment except for candidates teaching students with special needs in Grades 7-12 who may complete 100 Hours including 40 Hours Field Experience and complete the additional 100 hours during the first semester provided there is a reduction in teaching load. |
![]()
| The candidate is awarded the Transition B
certificate, which is the first teaching certificate, obtained by a
candidate enrolled in an alternative teacher certification program and
qualifies that individual to teach in the participating public or private
schools.
Candidates must meet program standards for good academic progress for all credit-bearing coursework in order to retain the transitional B certificate. |
![]()
Inservice Component Leading to Provisional or Initial Certificate
|
Attachment B
Preschool and Agency Special Education Personnel
Agency/Site Name* _____________________________Check One: Preschool___ School-Age___
Address:_________________________________________________________________________
City ______________________ State ____________ Zip _____________
Administrator/Contact Name: ______________________________________________________
Phone : _____________________ email: _________________________________________
Total # Teachers Employed ________ # Currently Employed on Temporary License ____________
Anticipated status for 2003-2004 school year: Total # of Teachers Required: _______
Given current employees and candidates who have made a commitment for employment, indicate:
# Teachers Permanently or Provisionally Certified in the Appropriate Teaching Area**: _____
# Fully Eligible for: Limited Cert. _____ Provisional Renewal _______ Transitional B _____
# Partially Eligible for: Limited Cert. ____ Provisional Renewal _______ Transitional B _____
# Vacancies for which there are no candidates at this time: _______
(Please ensure that the total of all subcategories equals the # indicated above as Total Required.)
The following chart should reflect the summary of all partially eligible candidates who have indicated their willingness to be employed for the 2003-2004 school year and who would be eligible for one of the above alternatives to certification if missing requirements were met. Count each candidate once, including them in the column most appropriate given his/her current qualifications.
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Limited Certification |
Renewal of Provisional Certification |
Transitional B (Introductory Component Only) |
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Total Partially Eligible Candidates (All eligible candidates must have baccalaureate) |
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# current temporary license (required for all candidates) |
N/A |
N/A |
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# expired Provisional Certificate (required for all candidates) |
N/A |
N/A |
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# need to pass LAST |
|||
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# need to pass ATS-W |
N/A*** |
||
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# need CST (if available) |
NA |
||
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# enrolled in an Alternative Teacher Certification Program |
N/A |
N/A |
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# who meet 200 clock hour Pedagogical Core Study requirement including 40 hours field experience |
N/A |
N/A |
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# need child abuse workshop |
N/A*** |
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# need school violence workshop |
N/A*** |
||
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# need fingerprinting clearance |
N/A*** |
||
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# who will complete coursework by 9/04 |
N/A |
N/A |
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# who will complete coursework within 5 years |
N/A |
N/A |
***These requirements are to be completed after the introductory component is finished.
What are the primary obstacles teachers face in completing these requirements?
Does your agency have a relationship/agreement with an IHE to support Transitional B certificate holders?
What type of assistance from the State Education Department would be most useful to your agency?
Return by mail or fax to: Joanne LaCrosse, NYSED, VESID Room 1624 OCP, Albany, New York 12234, fax (518) 473-5387.
*In general, a separate survey should be completed for each site operated by an agency. In addition, if school age and preschool programs are operated at the same site, separate forms should be completed for each. Where a program operates several small sites in geographical proximity to each other, the data can be aggregated and the address of the primary site listed.
**For most teachers, the required area of certification is in special education. However, for some secondary level programs, teachers may be certified in a secondary level content area in which they provide instruction.
Attachment C
INSTITUTIONS WITH REGISTERED ATC (Transitional B) PROGRAMS
Updated 5/21/03
|
Institution |
Location |
Certificate Areas |
|
SUC Buffalo |
Buffalo |
Physics 7-12 |
|
CUNY Brooklyn College |
Brooklyn |
Mathematics 7-12/5-6 Ext.; Biology 7-12; Visual Arts; Social Studies 7-12/5-6 Ext.; Physics 7-12; Chemistry 7-12; French 7-12; Spanish 7-12; English 7-12/5-6 Ext.; Generalist 5-9; Biology; 5-9; Chemistry 5-9; Earth Science 5-9; Physics 5-9; Mathematics 5-9; Special Ed. Birth-2; Special Ed. 1-6; Childhood 1-6; Physical Ed.; Literacy Birth-6; Literacy 5-12; Childhood 1-6/Bilingual/Teacher Ext.; Early Childhood Birth-2; Speech/Language Disability |
|
CUNY City College |
New York |
Mathematics 7-12; Social Studies 7-12; English 7-12; Visual Arts; Biology 7-12; Chemistry 7-12; Earth Science 7-12; Physics 7-12; ESOL; Special Education 1-6; Special Education Generalist 5-9; Early Childhood Birth-2; Childhood 1-6/Bilingual/Teacher Ext.; Childhood 1-6; Literacy 5-12; Literacy Birth-6; Biology 5-9; Chemistry 5-9; Earth Science 5-9; Physics 5-9; Mathematics 5-9; Early Childhood Birth-2; Bilingual/Teacher Ext. |
|
CUNY College of Staten Island |
Staten Island |
Childhood 1-6; Social Studies 7-12; English 7-12; Mathematics 7-12; Biology 7-12 |
|
CUNY Lehman College |
Bronx |
Social Studies 7-12; Speech/Language Disability; Bilingual/Teacher Ext.; Speech-Language Pathologist; Audiologist; Music; Early Childhood Birth-2; ESOL; Business/Marketing; Biology 7-12; Chemistry 7-12; Earth Science 7-12; Physics 7-12; Childhood 1-6; English 7-12; Literacy 5-12; Literacy Birth-6; Special Education 1-6; Severe/Multiple Disability Annotation; Special Education Birth-2; Mathematics 7-12; Special Education English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Math, Social Studies 7-12 |
|
CUNY Hunter College |
New York |
Music; Adolescence - Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics 7-12; Social Studies 7-12; English 7-12; Latin 7-12; Spanish 7-12; Italian 7-12; French 7-12; Speech-Language Pathologist; Audiologist; Speech/Language Disability; Bilingual/Teacher Ext.; Childhood 1-6; Blind/Visually Impaired; Dear/Hard of Hearing; Special Education 1-6; Severe/Multiple Disability Annotation; Early Childhood Birth-2; Special Education Birth-2 |
|
CUNY Queens College |
Flushing |
Childhood 1-6; Music; Adolescence - English, French, Italian, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies |
|
Adelphi University |
Garden City |
Childhood 1-6 |
|
Bank Street College of Education |
New York |
Childhood 1-6; Early Childhood Birth-2; Bilingual/Teacher Ext.; 5-9 - Generalist, English, Amslan, Cantonese, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies; Special Education 1-6 |
|
Columbia University |
New York |
Childhood 1-6; 7-9 Ext. – Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Math, Social Studies, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Chinese; Bilingual/Teacher Ext. |
|
Teachers College |
Bronx |
Childhood 1-6; Early Childhood Birth-2; Social Studies 7-12; English 7-12; Physics 7-12; Chemistry 7-12; Biology 7-12; |
|
Fordham University |
Tarrytown |
Childhood 1-6; Early Childhood Birth-2; Social Studies 7-12; English 7-12; Physics 7-12; Chemistry 7-12; Biology 7-12 |
|
Hofstra University |
Hempstead |
7-12 – English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics and Social Studies; Business/Marketing; Visual Arts |
|
Iona College |
New Rochelle |
Early Childhood Birth-2; Childhood 1-6; English 7-12; Spanish 7-12; Biology 7-12; Mathematics 7-12; Social Studies 7-12 |
|
LIU – Brooklyn Campus |
Brooklyn |
Special Education 1-6; Childhood 1-6; English 7-9 Ext.; Spanish 7-9 Ext.; Biology 7-9 Ext.; Chemistry 7-9 Ext.; Math 7-9 Ext.; Social Studies 7-9 Ext.; Bilingual/Teacher Ext.; ESOL; English 7-12; 5-6 Ext.; Social Studies 7-12 |
|
Mercy College |
Dobbs Ferry |
Early Childhood Birth-2; Childhood 1-6; 7-12 – English, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies; Special Education Birth-2; Special Education 1-6; Special Education 7-12 – English, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Math, Social Studies, Spanish |
|
Mercy College |
Yorktown Heights |
Early Childhood Birth-2; Childhood 1-6; 7-12 – English, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies; Special Education Birth-2; Special Education 1-6; Special Education 7-12 – English, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Math, Social Studies, Spanish |
|
Mercy College |
Bronx |
Early Childhood Birth-2; Childhood 1-6; 7-12 – English, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies; Special Education Birth-2; Special Education 1-6 |
|
Mount Saint Mary College |
Newburgh |
Childhood 1-6; 7-12 – English, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Social Studies |
|
New York University |
New York |
English 7-12; Social Studies 7-12; 5-6 Extension; ESOL |
|
Pace University |
New York |
7-12 – English, Cantonese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies, Biology/General Science, Chemistry/General Science, Earth/General Science, Physics/General Science; 5-6 Extension; Gifted Education Extension; Bilingual/Teacher Extension; 5-9 – English, French, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies; Biology/General Science 5-9 Ext.; Chemistry/General Science 5-9 Ext.; Lote PreK-6 Extension; Amslan Extension; Visual Arts; Business/Marketing; Childhood 1-6 |
|
Pace University |
Pleasantville |
7-12 – English, Cantonese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies, Chemistry/General Science, Earth/General Science, Physics/General Science; 5-6 Extension; Gifted Education Extension; Bilingual/Teacher Extension; 5-9 – English, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies; Biology/General Science 5-9 Ext.; Chemistry/General Science 5-9 Ext.; Earth Science/General Science 5-9 Ext.; Physics/General Science 5-9 Ext.; Lote PreK-6 Extension; Amslan Extension; Visual Arts; Business/Marketing |
|
Roberts Wesleyan College |
Rochester |
Childhood 1-6; Special Education 1-6; 7-12 – English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies; Generalist 5-9; Special Education Generalist 5-9 |
|
St. John’s University |
Jamaica |
Childhood 1-6; Mathematics 5-9; Special Education 1-6 |
|
Touro College |
New York |
Early Childhood Birth-2; Special Education Birth-2 |
|
Utica College |
Utica |
7-12 – French, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies, English; Technology Education |
Attachment D
Institutions in New York State that Prepare Classroom Teachers
Total 110: CUNY 9; SUNY 16; Independent 83; Proprietary 2
|
City University of New York (CUNY) Institutions |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
|
CUNY City College |
|
CUNY College of Staten Island |
|
CUNY Herbert H. Lehman College |
|
CUNY Hunter College |
|
CUNY Medgar Evers College |
|
CUNY New York City College of Technology |
|
CUNY Queens College |
|
CUNY York College |
|
State University of New York (SUNY) Institutions |
|
NYS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Cornell University |
|
SUC Brockport |
|
SUC Buffalo |
|
SUC Cortland |
|
SUC Fredonia |
|
SUC Geneseo |
|
SUC New Paltz |
|
SUC Old Westbury |
| SUC Oneonta |
| SUC Oswego |
| SUC Plattsburgh |
|
SUC Potsdam |
| SUNY Albany |
| SUNY Binghamton |
| SUNY Buffalo |
| SUNY Stony Brook |
|
Independent Institutions |
|
Adelphi University |
|
Alfred University |
|
Bank Street College of Education |
|
Barnard College |
|
Boricua College |
|
Canisius College |
|
Cazenovia College |
|
Colgate University |
|
College of Mount St. Vincent |
|
College of New Rochelle-Main Campus |
|
College of St. Rose |
|
Concordia College |
|
D’Youville College |
|
Daemen College |
|
Dominican College of Blauvelt |
|
Dowling College |
|
Elmira College |
|
Fordham University – Marymount Campus |
|
Fordham University-Rose Hill and Lincoln Center |
|
Fordham University-Tarrytown Campus |
|
Hartwick College |
|
Hobart William Smith Colleges |
|
Hofstra University |
|
Houghton College |
|
Iona College-New Rochelle Campus |
|
Iona College-Rockland Campus |
|
Ithaca College |
|
Keuka College |
|
Le Moyne College |
|
LIU-Brentwood Campus |
|
LIU-Brooklyn Campus |
|
LIU-C.W. Post Campus |
|
LIU-New York University Campus |
|
LIU-Rockland Campus |
|
LIU-Southampton Campus |
|
LIU-Westchester Campus |
|
Manhattan College |
|
Manhattanville College |
|
Marist College |
|
Marymount Manhattan College |
|
Medaille College |
|
Mercy College-Bronx Campus |
|
Mercy College-Main Campus |
|
Mercy College-Yorktown Heights Campus |
|
Molloy College |
|
Mount Saint Mary College |
|
Nazareth College of Rochester |
|
New York Institute of Technology-Manhattan Campus |
|
New York Institute of Technology-Old Westbury Campus |
|
New York University- Main Campus |
|
Niagara University |
|
Nyack College |
|
Pace University-New York City Campus |
|
Pace University-Pleasantville Campus |
|
Pratt Institute |
|
Roberts Wesleyan College |
|
Rochester Institute of Technology |
|
Saint Bonaventure College |
|
Saint Francis College |
|
Saint John Fisher College |
|
Saint John’s University- Staten Island Campus |
|
Saint John’s University-Main Campus |
|
Saint Joseph’s College-Brooklyn Campus |
|
Saint Joseph’s College-Suffolk Campus |
|
Saint Lawrence University |
|
Saint Thomas Aquinas College |
|
Sarah Lawrence College |
|
Siena College |
|
Skidmore College |
|
Syracuse University |
|
Teachers College |
|
The King’s College |
|
The Sage Colleges-Albany Campus |
|
The Sage Colleges-Troy Campus |
|
Touro College – Main |
|
Touro College – Flatbush Campus |
|
Union College |
|
University of Rochester |
|
Utica College |
|
Vassar College |
|
Wagner College |
|
Wells College |
| Yeshiva University |
|
Proprietary Institutions |
|
Five Towns College |
|
School of Visual Arts |
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